12 LinkedIn profile mistakes you don't want to make

I've reviewed many profiles as a workshop facilitator and LinkedIn trainer. Some profiles are well constructed, while others miss the mark.

For the profiles that miss the mark, it's usually a matter of mistakes LinkedIn members are making. Mistakes that can easily be avoided.

The mistakes I've seen LinkedIn members make range from a poorly done photo to typos and spelling errors. However, when I think about 12 egregious mistakes not to make, the following ones for jobseekers come to mind.

1. Posting a poor photo. The advice to not post a poor photo hasn't reached enough ears, as there are still those who have poor photos. Think about what a photo of you skiing on the slopes of Killington says about your value as an employee? It says you're a helluva skier but not much about your brand.
2. Writing, "Unemployed" in the headline. Even, "Seeking next great opportunity" doesn't say much about your talent and potential to help future employers. This is prime real estate for branding yourself, so why waste the allotted 120 characters on words that don't show your value.
3. Bragging in your Summary statement. Writing that you're the solution to every problem will get you nowhere, save for an immediate click on the back arrow. Providing proof, such as quantified results, goes a lot further than making outlandish claims of greatness. Oh, and clichés, ditch those as well.
4. Being dishonest. Forbes advises against lying and 9 other mistakes. Don't be dishonest in your Employment section. Employers can smell a liar like a bloodhound smells a man on the run. Don't write that you achieved 100% customer satisfaction just because it sounds good. A "near perfect" rating is more acceptable and easier to defend at an interview.
5. Copying and pasting your résumé to your profile and leaving it at that. I advise those starting out to make this first step, but then you have to modify it to fit its purpose, which is a vehicle for networking. A good thought to keep in mind is that your profile is an extension of your résumé; employers aren't expecting to see an exact copy of it.
6. Writing dense paragraphs. Think about the reader of your profile. Put yourself in his/her shoes. Would you be able to easily capture information in a 10-line paragraph? No. Keep your lines to 3-4 paragraphs at most. Professional résumé writer, Laura Smith-Proulx, gets this concept well--I don't think any of her paragraphs exceed 3 lines.
7. Neglecting LinkedIn's tools which are meant to enhance your value. Use the tools LinkedIn gives you, such as Skills and Endorsements, Interests, Media, Certifications, and Awards. This is what makes your LinkedIn profile more dynamic than your résumé. Speaking of the Media feature, Hank Boyer provides a great example of using it, so check them out.
8. Not letting people in your network know about significant changes. You should update your connections when you've made major changes, e.g., a career change, received awards, published articles, etc. Of course your network doesn't want to know when you added a comma to your Summary.
9. Love it and leave it. Although your profile is fairly static--you don't change it often--revisit it from time to time to make sure all the information is current. The other day I sat with a customer who told me he hadn't touched his profile in over a year--didn't even know his password.
10. Failing to ask for and write Recommendations. Even though I think this feature is growing out of favor--due to the increase in the popularity of Endorsements--Recommendations are a great way to increase your branding by describing you as a great worker (receiving them) and as an authority (writing them).
11. Not customizing your LinkedIn profile's URL. Often I see business cards, résumés, and other marketing documents with the default URL listed on them. This shows a lack of savvy; whereas the contrary shows awareness of LinkedIn. Don't waste 250 business cards by not customizing your LinkedIn profile URL.
12. Expecting your profile to be a panacea for your current situation. Some of my customers think that a great profile will land them a job immediately. But there are other aspects of your LinkedIn campaign that play a role in landing that coveted job, such as accumulating quality connections, reaching out to your connections, participating in groups, and more.

Your profile is your online presence. Potential employers might judge you based on what you say and show on your profile. If they like what they see, your chances of success will be greater. If they don't like what they see, it's on to the next profile. So be sure not to make the 12 mistakes listed above.

This post originally appeared on Things Career Related.