10 Things You’re Doing Wrong on LinkedIn

This entire blog series taught you how to be better on LinkedIn or how to include things to make your LinkedIn profile generate more action

But with all those things that are right, we also need to talk about what things you could be doing wrong that disinterest potential clients and colleagues. I'll give you 10 here, but if you want more help, you'll need to check out our LinkedIn Courses to give you an even better look into how to make yourself a LinkedIn rockstar.

1. You Don't Have a Good Photo of Yourself

One of the first things I look for when I add someone on LinkedIn is their profile photo. You want to make sure that your photo is professional, well-lit, and high-quality. How are people supposed to add you if they don't know who you are?

You can even show your fun side with your outfit, by smiling, or by your background, just make sure your colors stand out in the crowd!

Also, don't forget to keep it work-appropriate, and not post pictures of you from a party or of you and your family. Keep it simple and just to yourself, since that's who people are looking for.

2. You Don't Have a Header Photo

When people visit your profile, the first things they're going to see are your profile photo, your header, and your bio. If you don't add a photo to your LinkedIn header, it automatically appears as a blue, patterned background. While that might not sound so terrible, you're missing a key area where you can showcase what you do and who you are. Remember, some of your contacts on LinkedIn may not know you in real life, so it's important to show who you are online in as many ways as possible.

This is a great spot to put some basic contact information like your email, phone number, and social media handle so you can be easily found.

3. Your Bio is Boring

You know when you go up to meet someone and shake their hand, and they only give you short sentences on who they are and what they do?

If you've ever walked away from a conversation like that thinking someone wasn't the most interesting person, then you can bet that people are thinking the same thing about your bio on LinkedIn.

Don't just give the same old "My name is ___ and I work at ___ doing _____." Tell us who you really are!

Show your personality and your true colors, because that's what makes a client or a connection choose you.

We can also help you craft a bio that's attention-grabbing and shows you off.

And check out our blog on How To Make Your LinkedIn Profile More Interesting for a more in-depth conversation about your bio.

4. You're Missing Information

Everything from your current workplace to your former college is important to connect with others. It gives people common ground with you and allows them to see where you've been. So put where you work and have worked, where you went to school, what clubs/fraternities/sororities you joined. When someone finds common ground with you, they're way more likely to connect.

5. You Don't Have Your Contact Email Up

If people don't know how to contact you, why would they? Yes, they could potentially use LinkedIn's messaging system, but it would be so much easier if they had a direct way to contact you. Plus, people are more likely to reach out to you if they know exactly where to go. Make sure the "contact email" section of your profile is filled out to avoid any confusion.

6. You Don't Have a Website for People to Visit

Whether it's your company website or your personal website, you need to make sure that you have somewhere for your visitors to go so they can learn more about you and what you do. LinkedIn makes it handy and puts the box for your website on the right-hand side of your profile for easy access and to get it seen.

7. You're Not Connecting with Your Old Friends

Old friends, bosses, colleagues, and fraternity/sorority members are all great people to connect with. Your goal in LinkedIn is to connect with as many people as possible to up your Social Selling Index (There's a whole article about that here).
It might be years since you've spoken to some of these people, but reach out and send them a message of how you used to work together or how you were in the same classes and send that connection request!

Still not sure how to approach everyone? Check out our LinkedIn Lead Generation services and we'll do it for you

8. You're Not Joining LinkedIn Groups

Same goes for you joining LinkedIn Groups. Join all that you can and all that you fit into. There are Groups for everything, colleges, interests, occupations, places to live, etc. Five important ones to join are your alma mater, an industry group, your local businesses group, your favorite hobby, and a one for professional networking. These Groups hold valuable information and people for you to utilize.

9. You're Not Using Dux Soup

AKA the greatest lead generation tool on Google Chrome for LinkedIn. Dux Soup automates visiting profiles and sending connection requests to those you're searching for. What would take you an entire day to search now will only take you a couple of hours. It's a great way, especially if you've reached a connection hump, to meet new people and offer your services to them.

10. You're Not Active on LinkedIn

Last but not least, you need to remember that LinkedIn is a social media network, so in order for you to see results, you need to be social, too. Be sure to comment on other's posts, and like their articles. Post your thoughts and news clippings from your favorite sites that are relevant to your industry and timely. It doesn't matter how many connections you have on LinkedIn if you don't interact with them.

We can even do the interactions for you in your voice with an exact understanding of who you are as a company. You can see our Social Media Automation services here.

And if you need help, that's completely okay! We're here for you to learn more about platforms like LinkedIn and how you can use them to turn social into sales ™. Just message us and ask us how!