The number of social media sites and platforms have proliferated over the last few years. Some have become huge such as Facebook and Twitter, while others have brightly burned and then faded away. The important social media channels tend to stick. People recognise their importance and usefulness. Some grow more important over time and become particularly relevant for certain segments of the community.
Such is LinkedIn. It has quickly become a social media giant among professional and business people. The days of it being just a place to dump your resume are long over, as LinkedIn now drives four times as many visitors to your home page as Facebook and Twitter combined. In addition to that, newer initiatives on the site like the ability to post content and the new ad platform bode well for the future prospects of the platform as it relates to business.
But all of that matters not a whit if you’re committing of these 7 mistakes. Check it out and see where you can make some improvements and have LinkedIn work well for you and your business.
7 Ways you can really screw it up with LinkedIn
- A lousy picture – You get one chance at this. Make your photo on LinkedIn one that speaks to your professional demeanor and will get you connections. The photos from your last big party are most likely not what we’re going to use here.
- Use your headline well – You have a mere 120 characters to tell the world what you’re about, so give it some thought and don’t settle for bland. Give an accurate headline, truthful and yet enticing, all at the same time.
- Not making the most of the Summary Section – Here you have 2000 characters to make a statement about you and your skills. Use as much as is necessary to sell the world on you. Consider it an elevator pitch if you will, and do your best to craft one that will draw interest.
- An incomplete profile – Do this and you’re telling the world that you really don’t care about the way people view you, which is usually enough reason for them to move on.
- Not posting links – LinkedIn offers you an excellent opportunity to link to your website and social media channels. Take advantage of this. If someone is interested enough in you to want to visit your site, don’t make them head over to Google to find you. Drop a link!
- Don’t spam the community – Many have tried and all have failed. LinkedIn users can smell spam at a distance, so don’t even think about it. It’s just too valuable to do it authentically.
- Not being present – Not updating your account for months at a time is a sure sign of a person unclear on the concept. Update often, make connections, and use the platform how it was intended to be used. It will pay off for you!
LinkedIn is a very important social media channel for professional and business people. Being more strategic in how you use your LinkedIn profile will allow you to take full advantage of the power and reach it has. If you market to or provide a service within the professional and business related segment, the effort you put in will pay off in spades.
