Since time immemorial, social proof has empowered businesses and professionals to grow from their humble beginnings to multi-million dollar powerhouses, be it through word of mouth or social media. With the rise of competition in the market have come new methods for attracting clients and buyers. Today, social media accounts stand as a digital portfolio for prospective customers to decide whether or not to consider professionals for their needs. With most buyers spending over 87% of their time researching on a variety of digital platforms, adding your professional achievements can set you apart from the rest much quicker – especially by knowing how to add awards to LinkedIn profile.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through all the steps involved in adding your achievements and accolades to your LinkedIn awards section and provide tips for making the most out of it.
What Are LinkedIn Honors and Awards?
Imagine if you wanted to buy a house but nobody had heard or appreciated the builders before, or if you wanted to cast a high-profile superstar for a major movie production you’d poured your heart into, but you knew nothing of the people applying.
LinkedIn’s Honors and Awards section removes this ambiguity and adds to your reputation, as it’s designed for professionals to highlight their major achievements across their career. Similar to an online CV, adding these reinforces your credibility, expertise, and value as a professional.
Not to mention, having this section can reinforce your personal brand and differentiate you in searches. Similar to the awards section on a website, these can create a stronger professional presence, catching the eye of recruiters, and potential clients who may be searching for someone with your skills and achievements.
How to Add Awards to LinkedIn Profile
Adding awards on LinkedIn is a pretty simple and straightforward process. Follow these steps if you’re logged into the desktop version of the platform:
After following these steps, you should have a polished LinkedIn awards section that presents your achievements to your prospective clients.
How to Add Awards to LinkedIn Profile on Mobile
If you’re on the go, you can still easily add awards through the LinkedIn mobile app. The process is quite similar, however, navigating the controls changes based on the device you’re using. Here’s how to fill out this section on your phone:
- Navigate to Your Profile: Tap on your profile icon and select View Profile.
- Add Honors & Awards Section: Scroll down, tap Add Section, and find Honors & Awards under the Accomplishments heading.
- Input Award Information: Enter the award title, issuer, date, and a brief description, then click Save.
Remember, keeping this section updated and well-formatted is crucial, as it makes it easy to showcase your expertise and achievements in a clean, professional manner.
Should You Add Media to the Honors and Awards Section?
Similar to your portfolio, adding media can be beneficial based on the need. Including photos, videos, or PDFs in your LinkedIn awards section can make your profile more engaging, but discernment is key. Follow these best practices when deciding whether to add media:
- Images: Attach an image if you’ve taken a high-quality photo of the award, certificate, or event.
- PDFs or Badges: Certification badges or digital awards can further validate your achievement, leaving no room for doubt.
Similar to content you see in push notifications or while researching on a website, including media can add an appealing visual element, however it’s best to use it selectively to avoid overwhelming your potential clients.
What Types of Awards Should You Add on LinkedIn?
As individuals, there are a multitude of talents and skills we hold. Even beyond startups, we wear many hats. But imagine if you were attending a face-to-face meeting with a potential client, you may shy away from elaborating on the wins you’ve made while engaging in your hobbies, even if you can knit a mean sweater.
Similarly, when you’re deciding what types of awards to add on LinkedIn, focus on selecting those that support your professional brand. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
- Industry-Specific Awards: To really carve out your niche in the industry you’re in, include accolades along the likes of Top Innovator in [Industry Name] or [Industry] Excellence Award.
- Workplace or Internal Recognition: If you’ve worked at an organization at some point, mentioning awards such as Employee of the Year or [Position] Leader, can greatly emphasize your contributions within an organization and provide proof of your skills.
- Academic Achievements: If you’re just starting out or if you’re working in more research-driven fields, honors like being in the Dean’s List or specific scholarships work well in adding credibility to your profile.
- Community and Volunteering Awards: Consider adding awards related to community service, such as the Community Leadership Award, which adds personal depth to your profile. While these may not be entirely related, if you’re volunteering to further the cause within your industry, it can definitely boost your LinkedIn profile. For example, if you’re a Fintech professional and you teach financial literacy and budgeting best practices to underprivileged youth.
Note: ensure you keep this section free of errors such as typos and missing or extra spaces to make the most of this section.
Tips for Using the Honors and Awards Section Effectively on LinkedIn
Include Relevant Awards Only
Keeping relevant accolades optimizes and maintains the flow of your profile, which can catch the eye of potential clients. Choose honors that highlight skills related to your current or desired industry. For example, if you’re in tech, add awards that showcase your coding or project management expertise. Any additions to your LinkedIn honors and awards should be relevant and showcase your unique strengths and your growth in your career.
Avoid Overcrowding Your Awards Section
Less is more when it comes to LinkedIn. Listing too many awards can dilute the impact of each one. Stick to your most significant accomplishments, such as industry awards or certifications that reinforce your expertise. Aim for a LinkedIn awards section that is both impressive and streamlined.
Best Examples of Honors and Awards on LinkedIn
When listing your professional achievements, a little creativity can help you stand out. Here are some examples that demonstrate how to structure descriptions to help you stand out from the rest:
🥇 Top Digital Marketing Specialist 2023 – Recognized as a leading marketing specialist for achieving a 50% increase in campaign ROI across multiple sectors.
🥇 Community Impact Award – Honored for leading a sustainable energy initiative that provided resources to 15 underdeveloped communities, awarded by XYZ Foundation.
🥇 Healthcare Innovator Award – Recognized by the Global Data Science Association for developing a predictive model that improved diagnostics accuracy by 30%.
🥇 Dean’s List – Consistently achieved Dean’s List for outstanding academic performance in marketing studies.
Using detailed descriptions that highlight specific outcomes or contributions will make your LinkedIn honors and awards examples shine.
➡️ Justin Welsh
Justin Welsh is a renowned sales leader, entrepreneur, and writer who has helped build two companies beyond $1 billion in valuation and helped raise over $100M. As an advocate for solopreneurship, Justin often highlights the need for building your internet brand as a professional. Naturally, his Honors and Awards section on LinkedIn reflect his expertise as a leader.
The honors chosen by Justin include being invited as a speaker for leading industry events including three by SaaStr, one event by Global Ventures, and one by the highly prestigious Municipal Information Systems Association of California, better known as MISAC.
➡️ Joe Pulizzi
As the founder and former CEO of the Content Marketing Institute and The Orange Foundation, a bestselling author of books including, ‘Content Inc.’ and ‘Epic Content Marketing’, and the creator of two podcasts and multiple newsletters, Joe has had a profound impact on the professional world. In fact, he even coined the term Content Marketing over 23 years ago.
To add to his profile as an already established leading force in the world of content, Joe added his most prized achievement to his LinkedIn:
➡️ Adam Grant
As an esteemed leader in organizational psychology, a highly influential force in management thinking, and as one of Wharton’s best rated professors, Adam Grant has significantly added to how businesses operate today.
For his Honors and Awards section on LinkedIn, he adds not one, not five, but an astounding 49 accolades and achievements. That being said, we still recommend keeping your achievements crisp to streamline your profile. For the sake of brevity, we’re adding just a few here:
➡️ Clara Shih
As the CEO of Salesforce AI, founder and board chair of Hearsay Systems, angel investor and board member for companies such as Perplexity and Starbucks, Clara has carved the path forward for the global tech industry time and time again.
Clara’s honors and awards highlight her massive influence on the world as we know it, and how millions of people experience the world today, be it while grabbing a cup of coffee or while hitting targets as a sales representative.
➡️ Nithin Kamath
As the Founder & CEO at Zerodha & the Rainmatter Foundation, Nithin enabled millions of individuals across India to take charge of their financial narratives through his work as a Fintech leader.
To exemplify his already incredibly impressive digital presence, Nithin has included relevant awards to further his position as an industry stalwart.
Conclusion
Adding awards to LinkedIn is a powerful way to boost your online presence and build your digital foundation as a professional. By including the Honors and Awards section on LinkedIn, you’ll effectively showcase your expertise, demonstrate credibility, and make a positive impression on prospective clients and buyers. To know more about how you can further optimize your social media marketing strategy, schedule a call with us today!
