The Biggest LinkedIn Mistakes and How to Fix Them

1. No Professional Headshot Profile Photo

“An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance!” The absence of a LinkedIn photo can be interpreted as, “I’m too busy to take this seriously.” Spend the time and money and get a professional headshot. And look the part, make sure you’re dressed professionally for your photo. Update your LinkedIn banner cover photo. This is the background image at the top of your profile. Recruiters search through hundreds of profiles, and your use of imagery might just get their attention.

Solution:

Here are 5 Key Elements of a Good LinkedIn Profile Picture:

• Professionally taken photograph
• Professional attire and dress code
• Cheerful Positive Smile and Attitude
• Current and Recent Photo
• Right size headshot and resolution

2. Lack of a Good Introductory “Banner Headline.”

This title appears right below your photo and name, making it one of the first things people see. Think of this field as your answer to, “What do you do?” BUT, do not list your job title!

Your brief reply might be, “Manufacturing and Technology Leadership” OR “I bring next-generation products from design into the marketplace.” Be creative and personalize your headline banner with a quote or slogan to stand out.

Solution:

Your headline needs to answer 3 questions:

• What do you do?
• Who do you help?
• How do you help them?

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3. Maximize and Optimize your “About” Summary

Just like an entrepreneur pitching a startup or a writer trying to introduce a screenplay to a producer, you have an idea to sell. That idea is you.

Use first-person pronouns: It’s okay to say “I” — people expect to hear from you directly. Referring to yourself in the third person is for the resume. Your LinkedIn profile should be more personal and focus on making connections.

Avoid the overused buzz phrases and cliches: “What I bring to the table…” OR I’m a team player who enjoys collaborating with others.” OR I am a people person who enjoys working with teams.

Solution:

Go one step further by describing what a “team player being” means to you: “I lead collaborative teams that bring out the best in others and myself to creatively address problems and brainstorm solutions.”

Make it meaningful: While the content of your “About” statement makes it all about you, the connection it makes is all about others. The goal is to present and showcase WHO you are. WHY do you do what you do? How are you successful? And what is in it for your next employer?

4. Work Experience Section Without Substance?

Just as with your resume, you should use an accomplishment-first approach. I suggest including 3-5 action=result bullet points for every job you have listed on your LinkedIn profile.

Here is a sample of a good bullet structure: “Led a team of twelve colleagues in six countries in launching a new product line that exceeded initial sales projections by 18%.”

For your past jobs: Use the same approach, highlighting your top accomplishments.

Share credit with your team: If you worked on a project with others, tag their names in your LinkedIn post (especially if you’re a mid-level manager who directed the team while others did the work). This in no way dilutes recognition of your efforts.

Incorporate keywords that are relevant to your industry: Employers scan for keywords that indicate your skills and level of expertise. One way to identify these keywords is to read job descriptions in your industry and take note of specific qualifications. Then make sure those same phrases are included in your profile.

Keep updating and refreshing: As you achieve more accomplishments, add new bullet points and remove older ones.

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5. Not Being Proactive with “Recommendations.”

Endorsements are a great way to build credibility. For example, your profile might show that Bob Smith and five other professionals endorse your social media skills.

But recommendations are a huge cut above because they require more than just the click of a button. The most powerful ones are written by genuinely enthused people whose expectations you exceeded.

Something to keep in mind: a thoughtful and well-written recommendation from a peer who speaks with specifics can do more to distinguish your profile than generic comments from people who are many levels above you.

Solution:

Take the time to personally invite each person to provide you with a recommendation by reminding them of your skills and what you did for them. Read ‘How do I ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn‘.

6. Not Enough Activity and Posting

While you want to keep an active profile, you don’t want to be so active online that it looks like you’re never working. Recently, the online activity of an executive I was considering hiring raised a red flag for me. When I checked out his LinkedIn profile, it appeared he was online multiple times a day — blogging, tweeting, and commenting on anything and everything.

Solution:

Use the 5-3-1 Formula daily to become a LinkedIn Power-user:

Five (5) Likes  on other posts

Three (3) thoughtful comments on other posts

One (1) New post by you. i.e., shared the article with opening comments, blog posts, etc.

7. Not Editing for Grammar and Typos

The worst thing that can happen is having a profile with a lot of poor grammar and typos. Have someone else look at your profile to notice any imperfections.

8. Not Creating a Personalized URL LinkedIn Profile Hyperlink

When you originally subscribed to LinkedIn, your profile link gets added with extra random (alpha-numeric) letters and numbers, which are generated by the computer and added to your URL. You must personalize it with your name. If your name is not available, try variations, such as markjames444 or mark.jamescoaching. My LinkedIn profile is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjamescpc/

Not only do executive coaches help you avoid things like these common LinkedIn mistakes, but the best of us shorten the time you spend in transition! Check out our Executive Career Transition Coaching service.

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