A LinkedIn profile is a great opportunity to showcase who you are and what you can do for others. To effectively showcase yourself with your LinkedIn profile, you need to be able to tell a story that is credible and engaging. How do you tell a story on LinkedIn with your profile? There are 8 steps you need to take to optimize your profile for storytelling.

1. Creating a Great Headline

A headline is equivalent to the title of a book, essay, or story. The headline should be engaging. Like a story, the reader decides if they want to read more or move on. Using the automatic headline that lists your job title is a mistake. It is boring and makes you just like everyone else. It demonstrates that you lack creativity.

Your headline should be a short introduction showing how you help others in your current role. This is key if you are happily employed or if you are looking to advance in your current field. If you are looking to change careers, the title should demonstrate how you can take the skills and insights that you have developed and apply them to the career that you aspire to obtain. In other words, the headline should be able to answer the question “What are you looking to do or what do you want in your next role?” 

2 Uploading a Photo

LinkedIn profiles include large amounts of text. Similar to a story, text alone is not visually appealing. This is where a photo can help. When you upload a photo to your LinkedIn profile, your profile comes to life; similar to cover art on the front cover of an autobiography. Remember your profile is your story and brief career autobiography.

When you chose a picture, make sure that it is clear and makes you look professional.

3. Recording an introduction

LinkedIn also lets you record a 30-second introduction to your audience.

4. Crafting and Creating a Summary/Presentation

Your summary should reflect and expand on the headline. This is the place where you provide a brief overview that supports the headline, thesis, and title of your story. Your summary is a place to introduce yourself to your audience. It is important to keep your audience in mind. Put yourself in the place of the reader. Would you want to read your profile if the roles were reversed?

Once you introduce yourself, tell your story. Explain your background, where you are today, and where you want to be in the future. Make sure to include how your current skill set and experience have helped others and how these skills can be applied to a new role. When you list your work experience, make sure to back up your headline and summary. Think of this as your body paragraphs.

You can also share links to a digital portfolio, website, or whatever boosts your profile appearance.

5. Describing your work experience

As I mentioned above, the work experience section of your profile is the body paragraphs of your essay and story. It should be listed in chronological order. Each position that you describe should have specific examples of how you helped others in the role. LinkedIn also allows users to upload presentations and videos of their work. This can serve as a digital portfolio of your work that people can view. The next thing that I would do is obtain recommendations. You can also share your presentations from Slideshare on LinkedIn as well.

6. Obtaining Recommendations and Endorsements

A LinkedIn recommendation serves as proof that you have done excellent work in your position. These recommendations should be from coworkers, supervisors, and customers that you have served. They should serve as the conclusion to your story and essay where your claims are verified and validated. Recommendations should not be given away freely; doing that will undermine your credibility.

Endorsements are a quick way for someone to say that you are good at a particular skill without needing to write a recommendation. LinkedIn allows users to list up to 50 skills that connections can endorse.

7. Open to Work/Open to Hire

LinkedIn allows users to share if they are open to working or looking to hire. This is a nice addition to their job seeker and job posting experience. I am currently looking for work. 

As you can see, LinkedIn allows you to list 5 job titles along with your desired work type location, etc. While I chose to make my job search public, LinkedIn allows users to make their open-to-work status visible to only recruiters to protect the anonymity of job seekers. 

Recruiters and hiring managers can also share that they are hiring for roles by using the Open to Hire frame. 

8. Creator Mode

LinkedIn allows you to display 5 topics on your LinkedIn profile to show potential followers when you turn on creator mode. Creator mode also allows you to reach your audience in new ways with tools such as LinkedIn Live, Audio Event, Newsletters, and follow on LinkedIn.

Putting it all Together

Using these 8 steps will allow you to create a LinkedIn profile that can help you tell a credible and engaging story to potential customers and employers.

How have you used your LinkedIn profile to tell your story?

Share your thoughts.

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About Me

I’m a Strategic Marketer with Field Sales, Sales Enablement, Content Creation, and, Classroom Teacher/Trainer skill-sets using Marketing to drive Sales/Growth.

As a Marketer, I’ve worked with Start-Ups, a Political Campaign, and a Digital Marketing Conference.

I’m certified in Inbound Marketing with classes in Marketing, Product Management, Product Marketing, SEO, SEM.

Before teaching, I was an Outside Sales and Marketing Rep. selling and marketing dental products to Dentists using consultative selling, trade show marketing, field marketing, and market research.

I publish Sales, Marketing & Social Media Today a blog covering industry events and trends.

I’m seeking a full-time role in:

Inbound Marketing, Digital Marketing, Content Marketing, Product Marketing, Demand Generation, Social Media Marketing, Sales Enablement Enablement, Sales Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Employer Branding, Recruitment Marketing.

Open on title, industry, company, location, and level. Reach out on LinkedIn or at dan@dangalante.com to start a conversation.

Trends in the US Auto Industry: Key Insights from the 2026 Auto Forum New York

I covered the Automotive Forum New York, the day before the New York International Auto Show. This event connects Automotive thought leaders with Manufacturers and Dealers. Attendees learned about trends and insights in the Automotive industry that focus on the dealer side of the business.

The auto forum started with an economist who analyzed the US Economy as a whole, followed by Thomas King, President, Data & Analytics Division, Chief Product Officer at JD Power, who analyzed the US auto industry, addressing the issue of disappearing EV Tax credits, a surge in lease returns that will reshape the inventory and demand planning. Thomas also addressed the issue of softening trade equity and the rise of subprime lending.

The State of the Automotive Industry

Thomas shared some interesting statistics and analysis. 

The total and retail vehicle Sales in the US for the first quarter are 3.7 million, down from a year ago on a retail basis are 2.9 million or 9% per week.

Vehicles were sold with larger discounts than the previous year at $3300 per unit. This has a negative impact on manufacturer profitability. In terms of new vehicle sales last year, the industry set an all-time high for money spent on vehicles. A great result, but a 7% decline. In terms of retail confidence on a per-unit basis, it was down $50 or $2. Retail volume was $6.1 million, a strong number that was down 10% from a year ago. 

The Automotive Industry is in good shape based on the data.

Prices are rising for vehicles. On average, a new Vehicle costs $46000, up $1000 from last year. Tariffs did not impact pricing because manufacturers absorbed them, as passing the cost to consumers would decrease sales. Manufacturers’ profitability remained stable. Manufacturers are planning to increase Sales and Market share. 

EVs are not driving Sales. With EV incentives gone, consumers are shifting to Gas Vehicles. Manufacturers are shifting back to more gas vehicles to meet consumer demand. 

In terms of lease payments, the average last year was $636 per month, and now it is $650, a modest increase for 36-month leases. With rising lease prices, dealers have a chance to convert lessees to new car buyers with 2.4 million leases ending this year. 13 percent of financed leasing sales are on loans that are 84 months or longer. Subprime lending can help increase sales if it is monitored and controlled. Subprime lending increased in the 1st quarter. 

Trade-ins were a selling point for dealers with the supply constraint back in 2022, with the average price being $29000. Vehicles traded in have lower equity because customers paid above sticker price back in 2022. 

Rising fuel prices will hurt new vehicle sales on leases because, as lease payments go up, the amount spent on gas decreases. However, people whose vehicle costs $46000 on average are less sensitive to rising gas prices. Car buyers who do not lease cars are less affected by rising gas prices. 2.8% percent of income is spent on fuel. 

Lower interest rates will make car buying and leasing less expensive. 

Consumers are on track to spend $623 million on new vehicles. Consumer spending predicted to be at an all-time high. Retailer profits are expected to be $25.4 billion, down from $28.9 million a year ago.

Volume is the same as last year, with the total number being 16.3 million and 13.6 million for retail.

Improving the Customer Experience at Auto Dealerships

A panel discussed how to improve the customer experience. Liza Borches and Rob Cochran shared their insights. The panel suggested being transparent to build customer trust, especially with pricing. Customers want to know how much a car will cost. Transparency also applies to service. Service is a profit center for dealers; this is an opportunity. Currently, there is a shortage of technicians. When customers see a price, they want to know if this is the final price. OEMs can improve the customer experience for customers by listening to and providing customers with what they want based on their needs. 

The panel also shared that dealer must use AI to automate their processes without losing a human touch. 

AI’s Impact on Car Buying

A panel AI in Auto discussed how AI is transforming vehicle buying and dealership operations. Jason Goldberg, GM, Global Client Development, The Trade Desk, Liam Golightley, Vice President, Customer Success, Podium, Jenni Newman, Editor-in-Chief, Cars.com, Brian Abrams, VP, Product Management, CDK, shared their insights. Brian Abrams moderated the panel. 

47 percent of consumers are using AI to date, and 64 percent of consumers use AI in their car shopping journey, but they want a human touch at the dealership, according to Cars.com. 70 percent of consumers are undecided on the make and model of a vehicle, according to Cars.com. AI is shortening the buying process by helping consumers become more informed faster. 67 percent of auto dealers are using AI, and their Business Development Center. AI is transforming the way consumers buy vehicles and how dealerships operate. 

What’s next for OEMs, Dealers, and Manufacturers?

Senator Bernie Moreno, a former car dealer, advised dealers and manufacturers on improving relationships with one another and the US Government in the One on One with Senator Bernie Moreno panel. John Fitzpatrick, CEO, Force Marketing, moderated the discussion. 

He shared about affordability in America. The Senator shared how the administration stopped California from submitting its own set of emissions standards. The goal is to have one set of emission standards to sell more cars abroad. He discussed removing the market distortion that EV mandates imposed on the auto market. EV mandates cost the industry 100 billion dollars. This is money that could have been spent on innovating cars and the industry as a whole. 

Bernie discussed allowing US automakers to collaborate on expensive new technologies to compete with Chinese Automakers. He described having Chinese cars here as a national security issue because they have cameras and would need to be connected to US infrastructure, a big risk.

The Senator discussed making more affordable cars, offering a $25000 car as Honda does. He also discussed service in the dealer franchise model. Dealers and Manufactures need to improve how they handle warranty issues for customers. 

It was a great event with many great panels. I learned a lot about the automotive industry.

I want to thank J.D. Power, NADA, and the New York International Auto Show for having me as their guest.

The 2023 New York Auto Show is happening at New York’s Jacob Javits Center.

I had the privilege of covering the New York Auto Show on press and industry days. The show opened with the World Car Awards Breakfast.

I want to congratulate Hyundai for winning multiple awards with its all-new Ioniq 6 EV including the World Best EV Award, World’s Best Design, and 2023 World Car of the Year!

Congratulations to all of the other finalists as well.

I rode along in the Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV on one of the multiple test tracks at the show. It was an exhilarating experience!

The show consists mainly of EVs and hybrid vehicles. There are two levels including using EV test tracks where you can a do ride-along. There are fun exhibits that I recommend that you experience. I rode along on all of the test tracks experiencing various EVs. 

The Jeep track simulates a mountain and off-road driving experience.

If you are interested in learning about EVs, Charging Stations, and electric power there are displays and resources to explore at the show.

You can find additional pictures posted on Instagram.

There were also some new vehicle roll-outs and major press announcements from Kia, Hyundai, Chrysler, Ram, VW, and many others. You can see some of them below. Kia Press Conference The all new EV9.

Hyundai Press Conference and Reveal Kona N Line, The All New 2024 KONA Electric

https://www.youtube.com/live/oMuxsvlzfW8?feature=share

The Ram 1500 REV all Electric Reveal!

https://fb.watch/jNiJGD2R2b/

VW ID. Buzz Atlas Peak Edition Press Conference 

Chrysler and Autism Partnership

I enjoyed the Subaru Loves Pets campaign at the show. Subaru is partnering with animal nonprofits to get pets adopted, especially pets that are disabled and traumatized.

The show is open to the public as of yesterday at the Jacob Javits Center located at 429 11th Avenue New York, New York 10001. How to get to the Auto Show. The Auto Show runs from Friday, April 7th, through Sunday, April 16th, 2023. The hours are as follows Monday — Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm. General admission tickets are $21 for adults and $ 7 for children. If you want early access for this Friday or Saturday tickets are $45 for adults and $7 for children. Tickets can be purchased here.

What are you hoping to see at the auto show?

If you have attended the auto show, what was the most exciting thing you experienced?

Share your thoughts.