Part III: LinkedIn Networking Mistakes
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As we already spoke about the mathematical details for messages such as the length and the structure of messages as tools of communication, it is time to move on to the deeper layer of the behind the curtains communication. Communication and credibility is a broad field and incorporates much more than words and obvious information. So besides the written communication there is a part of the communication and important impressions made by the look and appearance of your profile and your behavior on the network. So here we’ll go through the most important things that you need to take care of in order to avoid bad looks and boomerang effects of some not so thoughtful steps.
Mistake 10. Not building your profile properly
Building your profile is important and you must do it with care. Many people just don’t pay attention to details and skip personalizing their LinkedIn public profile and profile URL. Also, many just don’t care about the default mess of letters and numbers at the end of the URL. Change that to “yourname” or as close as it is possible.
After that please do put a photo. Branding and career marketing are about creating connections. People want authenticity and believable profiles. A profile without a photo is just unreal.
After completing these basics, moving on and participating in the network is also important. Include links to your website, blog, VisualCV, twitter or other online profiles, so that people can get more information about you and have an idea about what you are up to.
Another mistake people make is that they don`t take care that their professional headline and this detail must be searchable and brand your value and resonate with your targets and ambitions. Make sure that your relevant keyword phrases show up in your headline so that recruiters and decision makers sourcing top candidates by searching LinkedIn will find you.
Moving forward you must collect recommendations. It is ok to have 1 or 2 for start. Collect recommendations that will reinforce you.
Another detail that is often underestimated is the Summary section with value proposition and differentiation positioning statements. The summary is the place where you capture attention and have people convinced to show more interest in your profile. Enrich the details in your summary, put numbers and brand names of your companies and customers.
And do not treat the ,,Interest,, section as unimportant as many people do. This additional section at the bottom of your profile is the place where you`ll reveal your passions and enhance the human touch. As much as it seems unimportant to you this helps hiring professionals get a real feel of your personality. And in the end why not connect with people that share your passions and hobbies even when it comes to business? Work includes emotions as well, so give both yourself and the hiring professionals a chance to stay on the sweet side of life.
And lastly, complete your profile, for real to a 100%. Take care of grammatical errors and typos. And don’t make the mistake of not reinforcing your executive brand throughout your profile. If you want to rise to the top of LinkedIn searches, completing your profile up to 100% is of great help.
Here’s what you need to be 100% complete:
A current position, Two past positions, Education, Profile summary, A profile photo,Specialties, At least three recommendations
Mistake 11. Working your LinkedIn Membership
Neglecting the profile activity is also a common mistake. You should update your profile and refresh it on a regular basis so that your network keeps you in mind and knows what you are doing. This also stands for the activity in groups. You should join appropriate groups, participate in discussions and start your own conversations. Post articles and information that is helpful to other members. This will raise you up in the network as someone who is wanted to be around. Do not over- invite people if you do not want them to have you reported as spam or having people click on the ,,I don`t know button,,.
Accepting everyone in your network is also a mistake. Take a look at the profiles before you accept them.
Further – do not make the mistakes of not personalizing the default invitation for the connect message. Make the effort and change the default “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” message to a different personalized message.
If you are missing out to include a link to your LinkedIn profile within your email signature is also a mistake that you surely want to avoid.
Near the end, it is time to say a word on the spammers mistakes – the ones that abuse the LinkedIn Groups to promote themselves in an unwanted way. So instead of taking the good way with participating in discussions that will elevate them to a wanted resource of knowledge and a desired connections, the spammers take the wrong road of unproved self promotion. This can easily turn away people and put you on ignore.
LinkedIn is a professional network and you should check on company profiles as well. Research companies profiles, be market intelligent. Demonstrate business intelligence. Find out about them and their employees.
Overlooking the LinkedIn Jobs tab is also a mistake. LinkedIn brings many job postings, some of which are exclusive listings.
Positioning yourself as an expert, requires to ask questions and provide answers
Lastly, using and incorporating the latest updates and possibilities that LinkedIn is offerin as tools, such as for example the LinkedIn and Twitter interface and synchronizing the content. Omnichaneling is the new reality and you must take caution in adapting it.
Mistake 12. Talking too much (or too little) about yourself
A conversation that is out of balance is a mistake. You move with balance through the conversation, to talk the right amount of talk, and to listen the right amount of listening. You must provide some information about yourself and get your connections interested and you must know how to listen to their story. This is difficult to achieve since there are different kinds of personality on the other side – some won`t leave you a second to come to a word, and some will be a stone cold , hard to take any kind of information out of them. Most of them are somewhere in between, but you have to adjust a lot to meet their character, ask more questions if they are the quiet type, and hold the checkpoints if they are the chatty type. Just be aware of your roles and keep the balance in communication.
Mistake 13. Not following up
Having good valuable conversations is a great way to start a mutually beneficial professional relationship – but this road doesn’t end there. Rather than letting it go to waste, keep in mind the destination, ask to stay in touch, exchange emails. Depending on the context, it might be appropriate to schedule a time to see them again, schedule a meeting to talk again.Don’t be that person who collects connections but fails to develop valuable relationships, invest time in building the network and invest time in relationships. Remember you move forward to what you give attention to, so create and enhance a circle of people you admire and enjoy being around.
Mistake 14. Looking unprofessional on LinkedIn
LinkedIn advertising services provide many benefits, but LinkedIn is just not the place to look unprofessional. LinkedIn is just not the place to look unprofessional. So take care of your appearance. Being professional it`s more than plenty of certificates, diplomas and skill set. It is a wider thing – it is a culture – a business code of honor. So in this manner do not act as offender- there are consequences on both sides- your side and the receiver’s side. The key to successful networking is credibility, good will and willingness to connect. All of these can be harmed by inappropriate behavior.
