11 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU LOOK DUMB ON LINKEDIN
LinkedIn is an awesome place to build your career. When used right, it helps you make new connections and grow your network, and find great work opportunities. The trouble is, it’s one of the platforms people are often unsure about. How do you know if you’re using it well? LinkedIn is a professional social network. That means it’s essential you know what you’re doing. The last thing you want is to look unsure.
Here are some of the biggest mistakes users make on LinkedIn that are guaranteed to make you look dumb:
1. Having an incomplete profile
LinkedIn is somewhere you can network with other professionals and build contacts. That means having a complete profile is essential. Leaving it incomplete or missing out lots of details can hinder your chances. It makes you look lazy and doesn’t show off all your amazing skills and experience. Take the chance to show off!
2. Not having a profile photo or using an unprofessional one
This may seem like a no-brainer, but having a profile picture on LinkedIn is a must. Have you noticed the ones without? They look less professional, don’t they? That’s why you need to make sure you have one uploaded. Also, you need to ensure your profile picture is suitable for the platform. Your holiday shots might look good on Facebook or Instagram, but on LinkedIn, always stick to a professional headshot or something similar.
3. Not customizing your professional headline
Your headline is one of the first things visitors will see on your page. It sums you up professionally, and it’s what most people will read first. As you can imagine, not customizing this headline is a big mistake! Not only will it make you less searchable, it will also make it much harder for you to stand out. After all, first impressions count!
4. Not updating your contact information
Imagine you’ve just spent loads of time making your profile perfect. You’ve sold yourself and are attracting lots of attention from the right people. How upset would you be to discover your contact info is wrong or missing? Think about how many opportunities you might miss. Not only does it make you look unprofessional, you could be missing the chance of a lifetime! Don’t make this mistake – make sure all your information is up to date at all times so people can get in touch!
5. Overdoing your LinkedIn status updates
Going overboard with your status updates is another LinkedIn error. Yes, you should be posting regularly. But if you find yourself updating your status all day, it can get annoying, especially for regular users. Have a maximum number of posts – we’d recommend no more than three a day – and stick to it! Aim to space these posts out regularly. And remember, focus on quality, rather than quantity.
6. Glorifying yourself
No one likes a show-off. If you find yourself bragging in an over-the-top way, you might want to stop. Most people will find this annoying after a while. Like we said, you do want to promote yourself – that’s part of what LinkedIn is for. But you need to do this in moderation. You don’t want your posts to be all about you – it’s best to strike a balance.
7. Not proofreading your posts
Missing the occasional comma or making a spelling mistake may seem like not a big deal – and it’s very easily done – but it can have a big impact on how you come across to others. To avoid this, make sure you proofread all your posts. It doesn’t take long, and it can make a massive difference in how professional you appear to your readers!
8. Sugarcoating your responsibilities and accomplishments
When you’re listing your responsibilities and accomplishments, try not to sugarcoat anything. Be honest about everything you’ve achieved in the past, and make sure you don’t downplay anything. If you’ve got lots of experience in something, write about it! Think about all the things you’re proud of, and be sure not to miss anything out.
9. Lying about your employment records
This is a huge no! Lying about your employment records is tempting, and most of us know someone that’s lied when applying for a job or on their regular CV. But guess what? Chances are you’ll get caught. And when you do, not only will it make you look stupid, it could destroy your chances of landing a great job.
10. Not joining the right groups
Joining the right groups is just as important as your connections – if not more so! Like choosing the right people to network with, this will affect how much success you have with the platform. Try and join groups that are relevant to your industry. Interact with others regularly, and make sure you share and like posts that are of interest.
11. Not checking your inbox regularly
LinkedIn’s all about reading relationships. So, that means keeping on top of all your messages. It’s very easy to lose track of messages, but keeping up to date is so important. Make sure you check your inbox daily and take the time to respond to any messages. If you don’t, you run the risk of looking like you don’t care.
If you want to learn how to use LinkedIn to your advantage, check out our new online video course “‘How To Create An Amazing Linkedin Profile.”
