Your LinkedIn page and profile is your online billboard. Your chance to show and share your personal brand.
So, if you do things right – not wrong.
Because too many people make too many mistakes when it comes to promoting themselves on LinkedIn.
You want to do your best on LinkedIn, the most ‘professional’ of all networks. So you can look like a pro. Hire professionally. Maybe you can even get a job as a professional.
Here is a list of seven common (and not so common) LinkedIn mistakes that make citizens of this social network look unprofessional.
Consider these to avoid getting fired before you get hired.
Yes, most of these are common sense. And yes, many people still commit these LinkedIn crimes.
But not you. Not anymore.
No more damaging your credibility. No more being vague about your expertise. No more making it difficult for others to connect with you.
Let’s literally start from the beginning.
1. No header image
why is it a problem
You’re wasting a free opportunity to differentiate yourself.
The header/background image is the first thing people see, even if it’s the boring default image. Use this to your advantage to create interest.
what to do about it
Consider some images that can improve the look of your profile. Also, consider adding some text to the image to ‘start your story’. Here are some editing tools to help you out.
Not sure where to get photos for free? Here are some sites I use often:
- remove splash
- stock photo
- stock
- pexels
- Pixabay
How do you decide which images to use? Is it light or dark? Busy or quiet? Is it testicles or is it acceptable?
“Find your adjectives” (and other tips for identifying your voice and vibration online).
Don’t worry about being perfect. Pretty much anything is better for LinkedIn out of the box.
Click the ‘Edit’ button on your profile to add the new image to the header section. It’s that easy.
2. Weak profile picture
why is it a problem
You make a bad first impression.
People can find you and then go just as fast. Because you turn people away (i.e. recruiters) away with a bad photo or even worse without a photo. Are you lazy? Are you even a real person? These are questions people will ask themselves when they can’t look you in the eye. They won’t take you seriously.
Also, minds process images 1,000 and 1,000 times faster than text.
what to do about it
Take a great photo. Then add it as your profile picture.
No need to be a pro (unless you want to). But get some head-and-shoulder shots. Choose the ones you like the most. Have a friend help you choose. Or do a Twitter poll to get advice from your fans.
No faceless outline. No logo. There is no picture of your dog. No reusing a photo that includes others.
Just a simple photo… with your smiling face… simply and clearly.
3. Weak title
why is it a problem
You are selling yourself cheap.
You’re wasting your chance to guide the conversation from the very beginning. Or, missing out on letting readers know how you can help them.
(By “title” I mean the first sentence of your LinkedIn profile.)
what to do about it
Do not restate your current job title and company. Text is valuable. Don’t repeat yourself. Don’t repeat yourself. Don’t repeat yourself.
Instead, describe what you are good at. Or describe what the reader will get from what you do. So readers will stop and resist leaving and swipe.
In other words, think of your title as the beginning of your story. 120 characters or less.
And avoid hyperbola. Sensational adverbs, stereotypes, baseless claims… all boring and useless.
4. Poor (or no) summary
why is it a problem
You’re wasting the opportunity to ‘continue your story’ that you started with your headline.
Just. Write. It.
Usually the profile is the only part your visitors will read (after your headline). Think of this episode as your elevator speech.
what to do about it
You are more than the sum of your work experience.
So don’t force your audience to tie your work experience episodes to a regular story about you. You have that part.
Here are some elements to consider for your short story:
- Who, what, why, when and how
- Basic skills (devotion to the minority, versus the majority)
- why do you do what you do
- What big problems are you solving?
- Show any number
Write in the first person singular, because it’s personal. Writing in 3rd person is smug and impersonal. I mean it.
And of course, talk like a human, not a robot. Forget jargon, clichés and false claims.
Remember the mantra… explain it cleverly. And 7 tips for writing clearly.
“I am passionate about transforming organizations into innovative, people-centered businesses with a repeatable process that delights customers.”
Oh please.
“Expert, leader, passionate, strategic, experienced, focused, energetic, creative…”
Lose them all.
If you knew that visitors would only read your summary, what would you want them to remember about you?
5. No (or few) recommendations
why is it a problem
Lack of advice = not confident enough in your skills.
You’re praising yourself on your profile, I get it. And of course, you are biased. Our favorite subject is the same for all of us when we talk about ourselves.
But your readers want to hear from others:
- what are your super powers
- why are you good at what you do
- who thinks this
- how did you help them
- How did they benefit
- Link to their titles, companies, pictures and profiles
what to do about it
To give
For several years, I’ve scheduled 30 minutes a month to write a few LinkedIn referrals. I targeted people I worked with, for me, and for people I respected. I did not expect anything in return. However, I started getting information from others.
Sir
Do not hesitate to ask for advice. It’s okay to ask for help.
Here is an example…
Hi Jane, I want to add some credibility to my LinkedIn profile so people can see the benefits I provide. Can you write a suggestion based on the work we did together?
Here are some thoughts to make this easier for your brain…
- What abilities, talents, and traits best describe me?
- What successes have we achieved together?
- why am i fine?
- What can I trust?
- What did I do that caught your attention the most?
- What other distinctive, refreshing, or memorable traits do I have?
Does that give me enough ammo to give me some LinkedIn love?
Number? Then I must have really screwed up.
Don’t give up on me yet. OK then…
- What effect have I had on you?
- What was my impact on the company?
- How did I change what you do?
- What have you achieved with me that you can’t get anywhere else?
- What are the five words that best describe me?
Thank you, Jane.
Okay, you can keep your voice down, but you get the idea. Help them help you.
What is the worst that could happen? They may say ‘no’ or ignore you. Good. Ask someone else.
However, make sure you get approval from the people who really matter, i.e. people in your industry or people you’ve worked with before. Just as you are not using your father as a reference, you will not want approval from your best friends or family members on your LinkedIn profile.
6. No personal message for your invitation
Do I really need to list this error? I guess so, because I get invitations like this all too often. You probably are too.
why is it a problem
You sound impersonal and offer no useful reason to engage.
Why would anyone hit the ‘accept’ button when it feels like this…
Hello.
Do you know me. We’ve never met. I have never worked together. I live far away. And I’m not sure we have anything in common.
However, why not add you (a complete stranger) to my trusted network?
Are you in?
what to do about it
Connect with a purpose. Specify this purpose in your connection request.
There may be several reasons to connect…
- You read and appreciated the blog posts
- Maybe they can use your skills in the future
- Maybe there is a reason to be partners and do business together
- you know someone in common
You don’t need to write much, actually, just don’t. Be clear and concise about your reason for attachment.
7. No content worth sharing (or consuming)
I’m talking about selected content or was created. Things you post on LinkedIn outside of your personal profile.
why is it a problem
You won’t go unnoticed if you don’t share anything on LinkedIn. You will remain invisible.
When you have nothing to share, there is no reason to be seen. And no one will be inspired to connect with you (unless they’ve met you the old-fashioned way – in person).
what to do about it
Share content you think is valuable to your network. So you can stay in the minds of your audience. So you can be seen as an expert in your field.
Do you read articles about your industry, craft or interests? Of course you do. Why don’t you share them?
It’s easy. Firstly…
- Create an Instapaper account to save the post in your browser window in seconds.
- Create a Moyens I/O account to schedule these posts throughout the week
During the week…
- When you read something interesting and worth sharing, click the Instapaper bookmark to save the post to your Instapaper list.
15 minutes every Monday morning…
- Open your Instapaper page
- For each saved article, use Moyens I/O to schedule the post for the week
This much. Here’s a complete guide to curating great content.
Whether you are marketing your business or yourself, you have a brand. Be seen as a brand that offers useful information, tips, and advice for your LinkedIn network.
Connect with colleagues and other professionals on LinkedIn in the most professional way by using Moyens I/O to plan your content in advance. Try it for free today.
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