LinkedIn has been hailed as ‘Facebook for professionals’, as
is by far one of the most popular and unique networking sites for all
industries today, bringing together contacts from across the globe and changing
the way we do business forever. When used properly and to its full potential,
LinkedIn is one of the key resources for the growth of any business and any
professional individual’s career, but if errors are made, as they commonly are,
it can have a detrimental effect to the business growth and your professional
reputation. That’s why we have put together our guide to the common errors
people make on their LinkedIn profiles, and how to avoid making them.
Spelling and Grammar
One of the major mistakes that could impact your
professional career and reputation is so simple it is something people rarely
even think twice about. But grammatical and spelling errors are far more common
than they should be on professional profiles, and for those looking to make the
right impression of both themselves and their business this simple mistake
could prove fatal when it comes to building business relationships and
attracting new prospective clients or employers.
Would you really want to work with someone whose profile
didn’t read well and was riddled with mistakes? So how do you avoid this
happening to you? Simply write up any changes to your profile using Microsoft
Word first as it has a built in spelling and grammar checker, and if in doubt,
ask someone else to proof read it for you to ensure it reads well and is
mistake free.
Bios, Skills and
Expertise
The LinkedIn profile is designed to read like your online
CV, and like too many people do on their own CV, people often exaggerate their
skills and expertise on their profile. This may seem like a good idea at the
time, but in reality it is a false representation and is bound to come back and
bite you. Whether you are applying for jobs via LinkedIn or just wanting to
connect with other professionals, be honest and proud about what your
achievements and skills are.
When you connect with people you have worked with, if the
relationship is on good enough terms it is good to ask them for recommendations
or endorsements for your skills and expertise, as this shows future clients and
employers that you have a proven track record and help you stand out above the
rest.
Profile Images and
Status Updates
Although LinkedIn shares these traits with the social
networking site Facebook, that doesn’t mean they should be used in the same
way. Too many individuals on LinkedIn use unprofessional photographs and update
their status with things such as “Just finished Christmas shopping, yay! J”. Consider the people
you are connecting with and the purpose of your profile on LinkedIn.
Do your professional contacts really want to see a picture
of you and your partner on holiday or hear about your Christmas shopping? The
purpose of the profile image is to put a professional face to the name, so ask
someone to take a headshot of you especially for this purpose, and as for the
status updates, keep it professional and tasteful.
Don’t forget your
Please and Thank Yous
Politeness costs nothing, and just as you would exchange
pleasantries if you were networking face to face, you should do the same on
LinkedIn. If someone gives you a recommendation or endorsement a Thank You
email goes a long way, as does a Congratulations to someone who has just
achieved a new position, and a Please when asking someone for their help.
Labels: linkedin, linkedin company pages, linkedin company profile