5 Common Mistakes When Improving Your Linkedin Profile

On the hunt for a new job? Well, you’re probably going to need to work on your LinkedIn profile strengths. 

First impressions are critical to your success in building business relationships, which just happens to be one of the primary functions of LinkedIn.

Yet, even as it’s more important than ever to have a high-impact LinkedIn profile strengths, there are some common mistakes that one of my clients never realized that they are doing which is pretty easy to avoid.

I often get the question, “What are the Common Mistakes on How to avoid getting bad impressions from your Linkedin Profile Stenths?”

1. Boring and Undescriptive Headline

One of the gravest LinkedIn mistakes you can make is to create a boring or undescriptive LinkedIn headline. Your LinkedIn headline is the MOST critical part of your profile because, along with your name and profile photo, it is the first thing anyone will see when they find you in the search results or land on your profile.

Your headline will determine whether a viewer will choose to click on your profile or click away.

Your headline should also include keywords you would like to be found for. These could consist of your position or the services you offer. You can also include a client-focused statement that will capture a viewer’s attention and entice them to click to learn more.

To ensure your headline creates a great first impression and helps you stand out, check out this guide on creating the perfect LinkedIn headline.

2. Unprofessional Profile Picture

LinkedIn is not Facebook, Instagram or any other social media platform. While it can be amusing to have a profile image featuring fun locations or your friends, family or pets, such a profile image is inappropriate on a professional platform such as LinkedIn.

To create the best first impression, add a professional profile picture, where you are recognizable, professionally dressed, smiling and looking straight at the camera against a neutral background.

3. Grammatical Mistakes and Typos

Surely, it’s no surprise that candidates demonstrating a strong grasp of the English language are more desirable. People assume they’ll be better written and verbal communicators and leaders on the job. Even with the spelling and grammar checks built into our word processors, it can be easy to make an error when putting together your LinkedIn profile, especially in the Summary or Experience section.

Proofread each section of your LinkedIn profile before you post it, and ask your friends to look it over as well. The worst way to make a first impression with recruiters or hiring managers is to have them find a simple mistake and doubt your job skills going forward.

4. Blank Summary or Current Experience

Your summary section is the perfect place for you to make a first great impression on the viewer. Leaving it blank will rob you of the opportunity to tell your readers about yourself, your expertise and your clientele. When writing your summary, speak to your audience directly, be it your ideal clients, strategic partners or employers.

If you don’t grab their attention, they will click away, and the opportunity to create a business relationship with them will be lost.

Your current experience should describe what you’re doing right now in your current position or in your business.

A compelling current work experience section should:

• describe the company you work for (or own),
• share the most inspiring information about the company (such as a USP and mission or vision statement),
• describe the products or services you offer, the benefits they provide, and the types of clients you serve.

5. Profile Is Written Like a Resume

Unless you are a job seeker, your Linkedin profile should not be written like a resume. This impersonal way of talking about yourself can turn off potential clients, partners or other people you’d like to connect with.

Write your profile in the first person, and speak directly to the people you want to connect with. Explain whom you help and how you help so the readers can imagine the benefits of receiving your service or using your product.

Avoid LinkedIn Mistakes that Damage Credibility

Everybody makes mistakes, but some errors, like the 10 LinkedIn mistakes discussed in this article, can cost you potential business opportunities and even damage your credibility within the business community.

LinkedIn is a professional network and can be much less forgiving than Facebook or Twitter. Familiarize yourself with the LinkedIn etiquette, and act accordingly, especially if you use (or hope to use) LinkedIn for professional purposes.

If you want to learn more go and Book a Free Call Here!