The Profile That Disappeared
Rachel was an excellent product manager. Her LinkedIn profile was well-written, comprehensive, and authentic. But when recruiters searched for "product manager SaaS," she didn't appear—even though those exact words were buried in paragraph three of her About section. Meanwhile, less experienced competitors ranked above her because they understood linkedin keyword placement.
Location matters. Having keywords somewhere on your profile isn't enough—where you place them determines whether LinkedIn's algorithm surfaces you in search results.
Understanding LinkedIn's Section Weighting
| Profile Section | Algorithm Weight | Keyword Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Primary keyword in first 40 characters |
| Current Job Title | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Use exact match for target role titles |
| About Section | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Primary in first paragraph |
| Skills Section | ⭐⭐⭐ | Pin primary keywords |
Keyword Density Guidelines
| About Section Zone | Keyword Approach | Density Target |
|---|---|---|
| First 300 characters | Primary keyword once | 0.3-0.5% |
| First paragraph | Primary + secondary keywords | 0.8-1.2% |
| Body paragraphs | Natural integration | 1.5-2.0% |
Keyword density formula: (Number of keyword instances ÷ Total word count) × 100 = Keyword density %
Target range: 1.5-2% overall density for primary keywords; 0.5-1% for secondary keywords.
The Complete Keyword Placement Priority Matrix
How ANDI Optimizes Keyword Placement
Strategic linkedin keyword placement requires balancing search optimization with natural language. ANDI helps by analyzing current keyword distribution, redistributing keywords naturally, and ensuring optimal density. Learn more about headline formulas that balance keywords with compelling messaging.
From Invisible to Discoverable
Strategic linkedin keyword placement isn't about gaming the system—it's about ensuring LinkedIn's algorithm understands your expertise as clearly as humans do. Because the right opportunity is searching for someone exactly like you today. Make sure you're findable.
Next step: Take control of your LinkedIn relationships — Try ANDI Free.
