LinkedIn is as professional as it gets when compared to other social media platforms. Unfortunately, this means it’s much less forgiving of mistakes. We all know that the first impression is everything. Hence, errors often cost you potential business opportunities and damage your credibility.
Don’t make these..13 common LinkedIn mistakes
Don’t automatically connect with everyoneÂ
Aggressive Selling
Never Moving the Conversation Offline
Mistake #4 – A boring headline that doesn’t trigger an emotion
- Mistake #5 – Large chunks of text. Break it into small paragraphs and use visual aids.
- Mistake #6 – Spammy posts. Keep your feed fresh with original content.
- Mistake #7 – Amateurish photos. A captivating photo can make or break your post.
- Mistake #8 – Underestimating the importance of the cover image
Details matter – having a cover photo that matches your overall marketing tone shows that you pay attention and are professional. Similarly, avoid a simple and generic screensaver.
- Mistake #9 – Having a Flimsy Summary
Failing to provide information about your company and its services or products results in zero credibility for your business.
- Mistake #10 – No Recommendations
Having no recommendations means that you don’t have any customers who like your offerings enough to vouch for your business.
- Mistake #11 – Not Personalizing Your URL
If you don’t bother changing the automatic URL LinkedIn has given you, your potential customers will have trouble finding you. Instead, make your URL clear, expressive, and easy to remember.
- Mistake #12 – Lack of Engagement
A company that doesn’t reply back to its customers’ comments is an example of poor customer service. Unfortunately, since people decide what to buy based on what they see online, this could severely damage your sales.
And finally..
Mistake #13 – No Personalization
Finding the right balance between being professional and showing your brand’s personality is key! You need to show your customers what differentiates you from your competitors. Lastly, never underestimate the power of the ‘human touch’.
Watch this video on personal brand building for more inspiration:
Obviously, the same rules of the physical world also apply, i.e. don’t be disrespectful – but that’s just common sense. For more tactics on how to make the most of LinkedIn while keeping your credibility intact, the LinkedIn Professional Marketer Certification has got you covered!
