LinkedIn is a boon for entrepreneurs looking to make professional connections. In fact, you could make the case that networking has never been this easy and engaging. However, in order to take full advantage of LinkedIn, you must make sure to steer clear of these four basic mistakes.
Forgetting that LinkedIn Is About Business
While it’s true that we are talking about a social network, you should never forget that LinkedIn is business-focused, not personal-focused. Your Facebook or Twitter followers may be delighted to learn about your cat’s latest shenanigans or about the innocent prank you played on your partner, but by publishing this type of content on LinkedIn, you run the risk of coming across as childish or unprofessional to potential employers or colleagues.
No Profile Photo
On Twitter or Facebook, you may get away with using a picture of your pet in your personal profile, but this relaxed approach doesn’t work in LinkedIn. Think of your LinkedIn profile as a dynamic online CV that evolves with your experience and your online activity. Would you use a picture of your dog or your garden on your CV? Chances are that the answer is “no.” The same applies to your LinkedIn profile. Use a high-quality headshot that projects a professional image. According to LinkedIn’s data, users with a profile photo obtain 21 times more profile views and nine times more connection requests.
A Boring “About” Section
Knowing how to sell yourself is essential to establish a strong social media presence. And while this ability doesn’t come easy to many, getting some essential things right is a good start. With LinkedIn, this means crafting an engaging “about” section. These are some guidelines you can use to spruce up that section of your profile:
- Include information about professional certifications if appropriate
- Mention any bilingual or multi-lingual skills
- Talk about your accomplishments
- Use keywords that reflect your expertise
- Consider closing with a call to action encouraging users to contact you
An Unusual Level of Activity
Like other social networks, LinkedIn is pretty transparent. This means that other users will be able to get an accurate idea of how (and how frequently) you use the platform. Here you have to straddle a fine line between engagement and over-sharing. You want to show that you put in the work necessary to grow professionally by commenting on content and engaging with other relevant players in your industry. However, you don’t want to give the impression of doing little more than posting to LinkedIn. Pace yourself and know when to log off.
More Tips and Resources
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our work habits in unexpected ways. These are some previous posts you can check out for more ideas to deal with the challenges of the “new normal.”
- 3 trends every small business should consider in 2021
- How to be a better communicator this 2021
- 4 Ideas for entrepreneurs to take it easy as parents
- How to conduct successful webinars
- Adapt to new consumer trends with these ideas and tools
At the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to keep you up to date with the most relevant developments in business management and administration so you and your company can take advantage of new opportunities. Contact us by email (info@pomonachamber.org) telephone (909-622-1256), social media, or click on this link to join and start enjoying the benefits of membership today.
