With over 380 million users, it’s no secret that LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. There is no other network like it offering you unbelievable opportunities to meet thousands of people on a daily basis, many of them key professional contacts that you would never have the opportunity to even know existed before.
So, whether you’re setting out on a bold new job search, or simply want up upyour LinkedIn profile rankings, to make the most of your LinkedIn social strategy starting out on the right foot is imperative.
Here are the 5 very basics on what not to do … and how to fix them.
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Not using a photo
The odds of your profile getting viewed are over ten times more likely with a photo than without one.
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Using a photo that is not professional
Bathroom mirror selfies, or sitting at a restaurant table with your partner surrounded by bottles of wine and beer do not, I repeat do not, a good first impression make. Ditto cropping your spouse out of your wedding photo.
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Not spending any time on your LinkedIn profile.
The message you send is clear. You really don’t care or can’t be bothered. Okay but some of these you are competing with for jobs or sales will be taking a great deal of time to make sure their profile targets exactly who they want influence with their LinkedIn profile.
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Not updating your LinkedIn status
Many people make the mistake of setting up their LinkedIn profile and consider the job done. Wrong. In order to keep your profile in LinkedIn’s radar, you need to be posting something, even if it’s just an update to your job description or career ambitions, at least once a week to let viewers know that you are active and participating in their LinkedIn community.
Join a few groups and commenting on a discussion or two is another very easy way to show activity on your profile.
A tip about LinkedIn and key word indexing:
Know your top five strengths that you want to be recognized for. Then use those exact five words in your profile – repeatedly. If your top skill is project management, use your top five project management competencies in your summary and throughout your employment history. This will help the right audience find you. -
Not managing your LinkedIn privacy settings.
You can tailor your privacy settings so that your new connections don’t show on your profile updates. This can be very important if you’re currently employed and don’t want others to see the tell-tale signs that you are job hunting. (Who’s Viewing your LinkedIn profile?)
Unless you’re in sales, increasing your connections on LinkedIn may send the wrong message to your current employer. To change what others can see on your LinkedIn profile, sign in, then from the drop down menu click settings and you’re on your way.
Remember here on LinkedIn there are millions (now think six degrees of separation) of would-be employers, prospective clients and potential referrals who are going to be seeing your profile at some time or another, so make it a good one.
Bon voyage and happy sailing. See you all here on LinkedIn!
More LinkedIn resources to help you increase your profile views:
Explore LinkedIn Job Search Resources
By the Numbers 125 Amazing LinkedIn Statistics
The Right Keywords for Your LinkedIn Profile
How to Get Found by Employers
Your LinkedIn Job Search Starts With Getting Found – Here’s How
Barbara Ashton is President and Chief Recruiter at Ashton & Associates Recruiting Inc. A senior executive search consultant with over 30 years experience helping businesses to hire outstanding employees. She is a leading social recruiter with close to 12,000 LinkedIn followers.
Ashton & Associates Recruiting … Helping you hire right. Every time.
Ashton & Associates Recruiting Inc. Placing Powerful People.
Offices in Kamloops and Kelowna serving BC industry leaders.
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This post has been approved for public release by Barbara Ashton. All certified posts carry this Google Authorship link to Google.
This post has been approved for public release by Barbara Ashton. All certified posts carry this Google Authorship link to Google.
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