How to Avoid Making These 7 Linkedin Mistakes

How to Avoid Making These 7 LinkedIn Mistakes

LinkedIn has quickly become a social media powerhouse among professional and business people. The days of it being merely a place to dump your resume are long past, 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 pertains to business.
Unfortunately, a lot of us are strapped for time and already burdened with way too many tasks, fail to take the time to optimize our LinkedIn so as to receive the full benefit it offers. Let's attempt to help you change that right this moment.
7 Ways you can really blow it with LinkedIn

1. 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.
2. Use your headline well - You've got a mere 120 characters to tell the world what you're about, so think it over and don't settle for bland. Give an accurate headline, truthful and yet enticing, all at the same time.
3. Not taking advantage 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 draws interest.
4. 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 generally enough reason for them to move on.
5. Not posting links - LinkedIn offers you a great chance 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!
6. Don't spam the community - Many have tried and all have failed. LinkedIn users can smell spam at a distance, so don't even consider it. It's just too valuable to do it legitimately.
7. 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 the way it was intended to be used. It will pay off for you!