8 Things You're Doing Wrong on LinkedIn (& How to Fix Them)

I've been up to my eyeballs in all things LinkedIn over the past several weeks. That's because I was putting the final touches on the just-launched 3rd edition of our Ridiculously Awesome LinkedIn Kit, an easy-to-digest ebook that outlines simple steps you can take to maximize the impact of your LinkedIn profile, leverage the latest tools and options LinkedIn offers, and show up as your absolute best self professionally.

I mean, don't we all want to do that?

From my vantage point, we sure do. Over the past decade, I've helped hundreds of people jazz up their LinkedIn profiles and learn how to use LinkedIn strategically to entice recruiters, position themselves as thought leaders, and build connections with people who might help them advance their careers (and vice versa).

Through this work, I've also seen plenty of, shall we say, "less-than-best-practices" -- things that can minimize your successes, or even work to your detriment if you're really botching things up.

We don't want you to botch things up.

So let's talk about some common blunders people make on LinkedIn, and how to avoid them:

? 1. Setting Up Shop... and Then Doing Absolutely Nothing

You may laugh, but it’s not at all uncommon. LinkedIn is an interactive platform. As in, it’s designed for you to interact with others. Sure, you might be “found” if you simply have a decent LinkedIn profile, but odds are you’ll have FAR greater, lasting results with LinkedIn if you actually use it once in a while.

Need ideas on how you can make the most out of LinkedIn? Head over to my LinkedIn Learning course, "How to Become a Thought Leader and Advance Your Career " or check out "Finding a Job on LinkedIn " with Oliver Schinkten.

? 2. Connecting With Someone Amazing then Squandering the Moment

When you invite people to connect (or they invite you), it’s probably for a reason, right? So when they say yes, don’t squander that opportunity to chat it up.?

A simple, “Great to connect with you, Lisa. I enjoyed meeting you at the Supply Chain Management Conference. Don’t be a stranger and, please, let me know if I can help you out in any way down the road!” will go far. Don't let your shyness or self-doubt get the best of you. Reach out!

? 3. Never Posting a Thing

The "Start a Post" feature is simply a brilliant way to stay top of mind with your professional network -- every time you post or share anything, this appears in the news feeds of everyone in your network. What should you post? Try links to industry-related articles, updates on professional events you’re attending, and/or questions posed to your audience specific to topics in your field.

If you’re a long-term job seeker, you can certainly mention you’re seeking and ask your network for support, but you’ll want to use care to not use this real estate to regularly bemoan your ongoing search. Instead, stay on the radar of the people in your network, continually positioning yourself as someone who is knowledgeable, engaged and passionate in your field of expertise.

? 4. Lazing Out on the Connection Requests

Generic connection requests are for schmucks. LOL, but seriously ... take the time to add a personal note every single time you invite someone to connect with you on LinkedIn. Even if it’s going to be obvious why you’re connecting, send a personal note.

? 5. Take, Take, Taking, Yet Never Giving Back

The number one way to alienate and annoy the people in your LinkedIn network is to continually take, take, take and never give anything back. Always be mindful of this. Be helpful to people every time you see an opportunity to do so, whether that’s by writing a recommendation, endorsing someone’s skills, making an introduction or answering a question they’ve posed. The more you give, the more you get. Basic life rule.

? 6. Forgetting That This Is a Professional Social Media Platform

Social media is just that, social. Of course it is. But LinkedIn is not to be confused with Twitter, Facebook (er, Meta) or Snapchat. LinkedIn is a professional social media platform.

Thus, if you intend to use it to entice and influence other professionals, you’ve got to use care in everything you post, including comments you make in discussions. Because guess what? They all go out on blast to the people in your network (again, in their news feeds).

So, before you get in a knock-down, drag-out with someone who's just posted something you vehemently disagree with, take a couple of deep breaths and remember why you're on LinkedIn. Everything you post and every way in which you interact should align with this goal.

? 7. Wimping Out on Asking People for Recommendations

I'll never forget the time a client I had agreed to meet with in person came strolling into my office with a tattered folder full of recommendation letters. The letters were glowing, for sure, but guess what? The only people who ever saw them were those who came face-to-face with my client and her tattered folder of recommendation letters.

LinkedIn recommendations are arguably far more valuable than paper ones because everyone can see them, any time they check out your profile. So, don't be afraid to reach out and ask people!

? 8. Making it Glaringly Obvious to Your Boss or Coworkers that You're Searching for a New Job

This may be the crowning faux pas of LinkedIn usage among covert job seekers. When you rarely (or never) use LinkedIn and then *POOF* suddenly have 75 new connections, join eight new groups (including ones specific to jobs and job search) and have 12 new recommendations (realize, folks, these are date stamped), what do you think the colleagues in your LinkedIn network are going to think (Or worse, your boss)?

If you've been all-but-absent from LinkedIn for ages and then become a power-user overnight, you may trigger a few raised eyebrows among coworkers. My best recommendation to avoid this?

Pace yourself. View your LinkedIn profile as a work-in-progress (always) and your participation as a marathon, not a sprint.

Thanks for giving this a read. If you'd like to dig into more of my LinkedIn, job search, and career development tips:

1. Grab a copy of the just-updated Ridiculously Awesome LinkedIn Kit . (What you just read is an excerpt from it. ) And save $10 with promo code STEER10 if you order by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 31, 2022.
2. Pre-Order?"Do This, Not That: Career" ?from your favorite retailer. (Launch date is Jan. 10, 2023!) You'll find 80 more quick and actionable lessons that will help you navigate job search, develop your career, and sashay your way through the toughest workplace dilemmas.
3. Check out my self-paced video courses on LinkedIn Learning. You'll find a complete list of my courses (and can grab a free, one-month subscription to LinkedIn Learning) right?HERE .
4. Subscribe to Steer Your Career. Join me right here to receive monthly updates, actionable advice, and even members-only discounts on our products and services. (If you're already a subscriber and know someone else who might benefit from these tips, be sure and share this with them.)