The Profile That Cost Her the Opportunity
Maya had spent three years building a consulting business. She'd shifted from project management to strategic planning. She'd won awards, landed major clients, and completely rebranded her approach.
But her LinkedIn profile? Still said "Project Manager." Still featured clients from 2022. Still had a headline she'd written when she was looking for corporate jobs.
When a dream client found her profile through search, they moved on to someone else. Not because Maya wasn't qualified—but because her profile made her look like she was stuck in the past.
Most professionals treat their linkedin profile review as a one-time task: set it and forget it. But profiles, like gardens, need regular tending. Skills evolve. Roles change. Achievements accumulate. And if your profile doesn't reflect your current reality, you're invisible to the opportunities that match where you are now—not where you were two years ago.
That's why quarterly reviews matter. Not complete overhauls—just intentional check-ins that keep your profile accurate, relevant, and working for you. Here's exactly what to review every 90 days.
Why Quarterly (Not Monthly or Yearly)
Three months is the sweet spot for linkedin profile review maintenance. Here's why:
- Long enough to accumulate meaningful changes: New projects, skills, achievements, and connections that deserve showcasing
- Short enough to stay current: Before your profile gets noticeably outdated or you forget recent accomplishments
- Aligns with business cycles: Matches quarterly performance reviews, goal-setting periods, and planning cycles
- Sustainable cadence: Not so frequent it feels like a chore, not so rare you lose momentum
Set calendar reminders for the start of each quarter (January, April, July, October). Block 30-45 minutes. That's all you need to keep your profile working for you year-round.
The Quarterly Review Priority Matrix
| High Impact | Lower Impact | |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Wins (5-10 min) |
✔️ Headline accuracy ✔️ Current role updates ✔️ Contact information ✔️ Open to Work settings |
💡 Profile photo freshness 💡 Custom URL check 💡 Language settings 💡 Creator mode toggle |
| Deep Work (20-30 min) |
✔️ About section refresh ✔️ Featured section updates ✔️ Skills relevance ✔️ Recent achievement additions |
💡 Banner messaging 💡 Education details 💡 Certifications 💡 Publications list |
Start with the top-left quadrant (high impact, quick wins) and work your way through. If you're short on time, skip the lower-impact items until next quarter.
✔️ Critical: What to Check Every Quarter
These are the non-negotiables—the sections that directly impact whether you appear in searches and whether visitors stay on your profile.
1. Headline Accuracy and Relevance
- ✔️ Does your headline reflect your current role? If you've been promoted, changed companies, or shifted focus, update it immediately.
- ✔️ Are your keywords still relevant? As your work evolves, so should your keyword strategy. Review your LinkedIn profile keywords quarterly.
- ✔️ Does it represent your current goals? If you're job searching, consulting, or open to board positions, your headline should signal that.
Maintenance tip: Keep a running note on your phone of headline ideas throughout the quarter. When review time comes, you'll have options ready instead of starting from scratch.
2. Current Role Description
- ✔️ Add recent projects or initiatives: What have you launched, completed, or led in the last 90 days?
- ✔️ Update metrics and results: New numbers, impact data, or performance indicators
- ✔️ Reflect expanded responsibilities: Have you taken on new areas or reports? Document it.
- ✔️ Check job title accuracy: Promotions, reclassifications, or role changes
Your current role is prime real estate for LinkedIn search algorithms. Keep it fresh with recent accomplishments and relevant keywords.
3. About Section Refresh
- 🔁 Update your opening hook: Does the first paragraph still capture your current focus? Learn how to optimize your LinkedIn About section for maximum impact.
- 🔁 Add recent credibility markers: New awards, publications, speaking engagements, or certifications
- 🔁 Refresh your CTA: Has your call-to-action changed? (E.g., from "let's connect" to "book a discovery call")
- 🔁 Scan for outdated references: Remove mentions of past roles presented as current
Quarterly focus: You don't need to rewrite your entire About section—just update the 2-3 sentences that reference current work, recent achievements, or your positioning. Think evolution, not revolution.
4. Featured Section Currency
- 💡 Add your best recent content: Articles, case studies, presentations, or posts from the past quarter
- 💡 Remove outdated items: Old webinars, superseded work, or content no longer representative of your focus
- 💡 Check link functionality: Do all featured links still work? Are they pointing to live content?
- 💡 Optimize for goals: Are you featuring content that supports your current objectives (thought leadership, lead gen, job search)?
Your Featured section is a highlight reel. Keep it current with your best, most relevant work from recent months.
5. Skills Section Relevance
- ✔️ Pin your top 3 skills: Are these still the skills you want to be known for?
- ✔️ Add new competencies: Skills you've developed or certifications you've earned this quarter
- ✔️ Remove outdated skills: Technologies you no longer use or skills no longer relevant to your positioning
- ✔️ Request endorsements: After adding new skills, ask 2-3 colleagues who've seen you use them to endorse
6. Contact Information and Settings
- ✔️ Update email, phone, and website: Ensure all contact info is current and functional
- ✔️ Review Open to Work settings: Are you still looking? Has your target role changed?
- ✔️ Check profile visibility: Do your privacy settings still match your goals?
- ✔️ Verify custom URL: Still accurate and reflective of your current brand?
💡 Important: Tasks to Review (But Not Always Update)
These items don't change every quarter for most people, but they're worth checking to ensure they still serve your current goals.
Profile Photo and Banner
- 🔁 Is your photo still current? Major appearance changes, new brand photography, or more polished shots warrant updates. Understand the psychology behind LinkedIn photos and banners.
- 🔁 Does your banner messaging align? If your positioning, value proposition, or focus has shifted, update your banner
- 🔁 Are visuals consistent across platforms? Check that your LinkedIn brand matches your website, business card, and other materials
Recommendations and Testimonials
- 💡 Request new recommendations: From recent clients, managers, or collaborators (aim for 1-2 per quarter)
- 💡 Give recommendations: To people you've worked with—often prompts reciprocation
- 💡 Feature your best: Ensure your most relevant, recent recommendations are prominently displayed
Experience Section Updates
- 🔁 Past roles: Generally static, but update if you remember significant achievements you forgot to include
- 🔁 Volunteer experience: Add new volunteer roles or board positions
- 🔁 Consistency check: Ensure all dates are accurate and there are no unexplained gaps
🔁 Track Performance: Quarterly Analytics Check
Numbers don't lie. Take 5 minutes to review your profile's performance and identify trends:
- Profile views: Compare this quarter to last. Are views increasing, decreasing, or flat?
- Search appearances: Which keywords are people using to find you?
- Viewer demographics: Are the right people (industry, seniority, location) viewing your profile?
- Post engagement: If you're creating content, what's working? What's not?
- Connection growth: Is your network growing with relevant connections?
Action step: Based on your analytics, adjust your strategy for next quarter. If views are down, revisit your headline and keywords. If the wrong audience is finding you, refine your positioning.
Seasonal Considerations for Your Linkedin Profile Review
Each quarter brings unique opportunities to update your profile strategically:
| Quarter | Seasonal Focus | What to Emphasize |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan-Mar) | New Year positioning | New goals, fresh focus areas, planning-mode keywords (strategy, planning, roadmap) |
| Q2 (Apr-Jun) | Execution and results | Early-year wins, Q1 results, momentum-building language (launched, achieved, delivered) |
| Q3 (Jul-Sep) | Mid-year assessment | Half-year metrics, summer projects, preparing for year-end push |
| Q4 (Oct-Dec) | Year-end showcase | Annual achievements, awards, certifications, forward-looking positioning for next year |
How ANDI Simplifies Quarterly Profile Reviews
The biggest barrier to consistent linkedin profile review maintenance? Time and decision fatigue. Staring at your About section wondering what to update. Struggling to articulate new achievements. Questioning whether your headline still works.
ANDI makes quarterly reviews faster and more effective by:
- Generating headline variations: Quickly test 5-10 options that reflect your current positioning without starting from scratch
- Refreshing your About section: Update specific paragraphs with new achievements or focus areas while maintaining your voice
- Drafting achievement bullets: Turn "I did stuff this quarter" into compelling, results-focused descriptions
- Identifying keyword opportunities: Spot where your profile might be missing emerging keywords in your field
- Suggesting Featured content descriptions: Write compelling context for new case studies, articles, or presentations
Instead of 45 minutes of head-scratching, your quarterly review becomes a 15-minute strategic check-in where ANDI handles the writing heavy lifting, and you handle the decision-making.
Your 30-Minute Quarterly Review Template
That's it. Thirty minutes, four times a year. The compound effect of these small, consistent updates keeps your profile current, competitive, and working for you—even when you're not actively thinking about it.
Small Updates, Compound Results
After implementing quarterly reviews, Maya's profile transformed from a time capsule into a living document. Each quarter, she spent 30 minutes updating her wins, refreshing her positioning, and showcasing recent work. Nothing dramatic—just consistent, intentional maintenance.
Six months later, that dream client found her again—this time through a different search. But now her profile told the right story. Current. Relevant. Credible. They reached out immediately.
Your linkedin profile review doesn't have to be a massive project. It just has to be consistent. Set the calendar reminder right now for the start of next quarter. Block 30 minutes. Follow the checklist.
Because the opportunities that match where you are now—not where you were two years ago—are searching for you today. Make sure they can find the real you.
Next step: Take control of your LinkedIn relationships — Try ANDI Free.
