5 LinkedIn Updates To Make In December To Triple Your Inbound Messages In January

As seen on Forbes.

As 2025 winds down, December is often seen as a quiet month for professional networking. While many people slow down, focus on holidays and postpone career-related tasks until January, this pause creates a powerful opportunity for you to prepare your LinkedIn profile to stand out just as recruiters, clients and collaborators return with renewed energy in the new year. Here are five essential LinkedIn updates in December that can help you significantly increase your inbound messages in January.

Update Your Profile Photo

Your profile photo is the first impression people have of you on LinkedIn. Before anyone reads your headline or summary, they see your picture. A professional, high-quality photo can instantly build trust and credibility, while an outdated or unclear image may cause people to scroll past your profile.

Ideally, your photo should be less than 12 months old, well-lit and show you dressed appropriately for your industry. You don’t need an expensive photoshoot. Using a high-end smartphone, take your photo showing a friendly expression, clear focus and professional appearance. These can dramatically improve how approachable and credible you seem, increasing the likelihood that people will reach out to you.

Review Your Professional Summary

Your professional summary tells your story. It explains who you are, what you do, and where you are headed. Over time, skills evolve, goals shift and achievements grow, which means your summary can quickly become outdated if not reviewed regularly.

December is the perfect time to revisit this section and ask yourself whether it still reflects your current ambitions and expertise. Are you highlighting your most relevant skills? Does your summary clearly explain the value you bring? Updating this section ensures that when someone views your profile in January, they see a version of you that aligns with your present career direction, not last year’s goals.

Check Your Education Section

The education section is often overlooked, yet it plays an important role in profile credibility and search visibility. Make sure all institutions, degrees and certifications are spelled correctly and accurately listed. Errors here can appear careless and may reduce trust.

Ensure that your school or institution has an official LinkedIn presence and is properly linked. This not only improves profile completeness but also helps LinkedIn’s algorithm better understand your background. A clean, accurate education section reinforces professionalism and makes your profile more appealing to recruiters and connections alike.

Customize Your “About Me” Section

The “About Me” section is your opportunity to speak directly to your audience. Invest time in making this section accurate, impressive and direct. Use simple language, focus on outcomes and avoid unnecessary jargon. Think of it as a short personal pitch that invites conversation.

Instead of a generic description, this space should clearly explain who you help, how you help them and why your experience matters. A strong, well-written introduction can turn a profile visitor into an inbound message. When done well, your “About Me” section can be one of the most powerful drivers of your LinkedIn connections.

Update Your Password

While this may not seem directly related to inbound messages, security plays a critical role in maintaining a professional online presence. Updating your LinkedIn password at least once a year helps protect your account from unauthorized access, which could damage your reputation or connections.

A compromised account can send spam messages or inappropriate content to your network, undoing years of relationship-building. By updating your password in December, you ensure your account is secure as activity increases in January. A secure profile is a trustworthy profile, and trust is essential for meaningful professional conversations.

December is a perfect time to prepare for the new year in your career. By updating your profile photo, reviewing your professional summary, checking your education section, customizing your “About Me” section and securing your account, you position yourself for success. These updates help ensure your LinkedIn profile accurately reflects your current skills, goals and professionalism. When January arrives and activity surges, your refreshed profile can attract more attention, build stronger trust and ultimately help triple your inbound messages.