26June 2022
LinkedIn is an invaluable resource for networking and getting leads for your business, but it can also be disastrous if you don’t use it correctly.
Here are some tips for making the most out of your LinkedIn profile, how to make more connections, set up your profile effectively, and get the results you’re looking for!
Mistake #1 – No Connections
If you think people are going to magically search for your profile and find you, then think again. More than likely, you’re never going to be found at all unless you put some work into making connections.
But you need to make the right connections. If you’re looking for clients, make connections with people you believe would need your services.
First, find a few people in your field and request to connect with them.
Next, look at their connections in order to find other people you can connect with. Personalize your request to connect by mentioning that you have a connection in common. This will help you form more connections. Eventually people will start requesting to connect with you.
Mistake #2 – No Profile Photo
A professional profile photo is a vital component of your profile, but many people seem to skip this element. While getting a job or making business connections isn’t (or at least shouldn’t be) about appearances, having no profile picture is a big red flag to a lot of people.
You’re about seven times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have a photo than if you don’t have one. It’s just like if you’re shopping online for something like an apartment or a car. If there’s no picture, you’re likely to believe something is wrong with it.
Mistake #3 – Being Generic
In a sea of thousands, perhaps millions of people who are competing for exactly what you want to achieve, you must stand out. You may want to make yourself look generic because you think if you’re too “over-the-top” it could scare people off, and that’s certainly possible.
You need to make sure you fill your profile out completely and make it original without being cheesy or bizarre. Don’t call yourself something like “The Marketing Guru”, because that sounds well… Silly. Think of creative ways to stand out without making yourself look strange.
Mistake #4 – Making Too Many Notifications
When you make a change to your profile, your contacts will be notified on their news feed. This is done even after something as simple as correcting a typo.
As you might imagine, this could become incredibly frustrating to your contacts, because their feed will be clogged with all of these updates that may not even be important.
Mistake #5 – Endorsing Connections Randomly
A lot of people seem to think that endorsing their connections will get their connections to later endorse them, however this is a huge mistake.
Only recommend people whose services you have used directly and whom you can truly personally recommend. Never sacrifice your own reputation to help boost someone else’s, because it can backfire on you faster than you can imagine!
The only exception would be if someone asks you if you know someone who can help with creating a sales funnel. In which case you could respond with something such as, “I do, but I haven’t personally used his services.” If the person is still interested, then you can pass on their contact information.
Mistake #6 – Blatant Self Promotion
Let’s face it; everyone on LinkedIn is there to promote something. That’s what the network was made for. But you have to be considerate of your contacts and add value at the same time. You can’t just promote yourself constantly and expect anyone to pay attention to you.
Instead of just constantly promoting yourself, you should focus on keeping yourself relevant to your contacts.
Here are some ideas:
✅ Post helpful information for people in your industry.
✅ Post links to news related to your industry.
✅ Offer help to others when they ask.
Keep up with current industry trends and share the information.
Occasional self-promotion is fine, but if you can think of creative ways to promote yourself while adding value, such as an “advertorial” style blog post, you can promote yourself without upsetting anyone. Not only that, but people are more likely to work with you if they don’t feel like you’re being overly pushy.
Mistake #7 – Using the Default Background Cover
Research shows that we remember about 20% of what we read, but a whopping 80% of what we see.
That’s why people with a custom background get more connection requests, more engagement, and more job interviews.
Your background cover is prime marketing real estate! Using LinkedIn’s default background is like having a billboard on a highway with thousands of cars passing by and no message to catch their eye.
That’s a huge missed opportunity to stand out from the competition. The good news is, now you know!
Mistake #8 – Ignoring the Summary
Your summary is an important part of your LinkedIn profile and a vital component on LinkedIn. Think if of it like an elevator pitch.
People are incredibly busy. They don’t have time to dive headfirst into every single profile and read word for word. They check the summary first to see if there might be a good fit for their purposes. If there is no summary, they may just move on without a second look.
Mistake #9 – Headline Horrors
The headline is the most important part of a sales page, because it grabs attention immediately. The same is true for your headline on LinkedIn. You need to pay special attention to this section.
One major mistake people make with regards to their headline is to put something generic like their job title. Never use a headline such as “account manager” or “sales associate”. Do you realize how many other people are doing exactly that?
In order to really make the most of LinkedIn, you MUST stand out!
Don’t use anything too silly or outlandish, and definitely don’t use anything that could be controversial! This is a business network, and you must remain professional.
A good headline lets people know who you are and what you can do while also being engaging and interesting. Experiment with a few until you find one that really works for you.
Recap
LinkedIn is a great place to network and make important business connections. But if you’re not using it correctly, it can actually end up harming your reputation.
Keep in mind that above all, LinkedIn is a social network. That means you have to respect the same basic rules as any other social platform.
Remember these key points:
✅ Make contacts, especially in your industry.
✅ Don’t spam your contacts, even accidentally. (Be careful!)
✅ Fill out your profile completely.
✅ Create a custom background image.
✅ Use a clean, professional photo.
✅ Use a clever headline.
✅ Only endorse those you really trust.
Remember, your profile is not about you, it should be focused on your target market, on those you wish to connect with.
As long as you observe these elements, you’ll probably get what you want out of LinkedIn. Use common sense, and you’ll reach your goals quickly and easily, whatever those goals happen to be.