The Dumbest Thing You Can Do on Your LinkedIn Profile

The Dumbest Thing You Can Do on Your LinkedIn Profile

If you’re treating your LinkedIn profile like your resume — stop.

Your resume is an instant-read document designed to get past search bots and into recruiters' hands. It’s concise, bulleted, and purely professional. It’s not written to engage but to check boxes.

Your LinkedIn profile, on the other hand, is your welcome sign. It’s your storefront, the place to show what you’ve done and how you help people. It should be engaging, useful, and story-driven — not just a blah listing of job titles and duties.

Here’s why this matters:

? A resume is about the past. It lists your work history, skills, and accomplishments in a straightforward, keyword-driven format.

? A LinkedIn profile is about your value today. It should speak directly to your ideal clients, collaborators, or employers, stating how you can solve their problems.

? A resume is read by recruiters. It’s written for HR teams and hiring managers scanning for qualifications.

? A LinkedIn profile is read by everyone. Potential clients, partners, employees, and industry peers may look at it before you even know they exist.

How to Fix It

If your LinkedIn profile reads like your resume, flip the script:

  • Make your headline more than a job title. Instead of "Marketing Consultant," try “Helping B2B Brands Grow with Data-Driven Marketing Strategies.”
  • Use your About section to tell a story. Why do you do what you do? Who do you help? What results do you get? Speak to people, not at them.
  • Think beyond job descriptions. In your Experience section, don’t just list responsibilities— share impact. How did you make a difference? Why should anyone care?
  • Write for humans, not bots. Resumes are keyword-heavy. Your LinkedIn profile should be conversational and engaging.

Your LinkedIn profile isn't a requirement — it’s an opportunity. Make it work for you.

What’s the biggest mistake you see people make on LinkedIn? Drop it in the comments!

Want to grow your small business? I help coaches, consultants, and other small business owners like YOU build a strong brand, position yourself effectively in the market, and craft messaging that resonates and generates leads. Schedule a complimentary Power Positioning Call to uncover your differentiators and attract your ideal clients.

#linkedin #coaches #consultants

Dr. Joe Perez

?Data Analytics Expert ?Internat'l Keynote Speaker ?CTO? ??? ?Amazon Best-selling Author??Senior Systems Specialist ??? ?? ?Gartner Peer Community Ambassador of the Year 2023

2 小时前

Thank you for sharing this timeless wisdom, Wendy. It's not always obvious, so eye-opening points like these are useful and relevant.

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Gordon Beach

President of BeachBunker Golf Media.

16 小时前

Some great tips here Wendy Marx

回复

If your LinkedIn profile is just a list of job titles, you’re making it harder for people to see what you actually bring to the table. One thing that works well is adding proof-case studies showing revenue impact, testimonials from past clients or colleagues, or specific data on how your work improved efficiency or growth.Wendy, profiles that showcase measurable outcomes stand out, attract the right connections, and open more doors.

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Anusuya Medhi

GIS Consultant|Certified Project Management Professional l RS&GIS Trainer|GeographerlTop Person Ambassador

20 小时前

Great share

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