The fatal error people make on LinkedIn

Imagine walking into a shop, but there are no signs telling you what's for sale.

You see a lot of things but have no idea what’s worth buying.

It's like it's all in foreign language, you have no idea what it is or if it's worth buying.

That’s exactly what’s happening on LinkedIn every day, because most people are making a fatal error - they don’t clearly communicate how they help their clients.

It’s shocking how many profiles and posts you’ll scroll through, and still have no idea what the person actually does.

There’s industry jargon, vague accomplishments, or worse - nothing at all about how they help. Here’s what they’re missing:

1. They don’t make it obvious. It’s not enough to list your job title or throw out buzzwords like “strategy” or “leadership”. People need to know exactly what problem you solve and how you can help them.
2. They assume people get it. They believe their audience already knows what they do. But here’s the truth - no one is going to spend time figuring it out. Your message needs to be crystal clear within seconds.
3. They forget to tell people in their content. Your LinkedIn feed should consistently explain how you help others. It’s not just about being active; it’s about making it obvious what you offer and why people should care.

The biggest problem with all of this?

Potential clients have no idea what you sell or how to buy from you.

If you don’t make it easy for them, they’ll move on - fast.

Why do people make this mistake?

It’s simple - they don’t think about it.

They get so wrapped up in writing clever posts or updating their profile that they overlook the most basic question: "How do I help my clients?"

They assume people will figure it out, or worse, they believe it’s already clear.

But the reality is, people spend seconds deciding if your profile or content is worth their time.

If you’re not spelling it out, you’re losing them.

Articulate their problem better than they can

There’s a great saying in marketing:

“If you can clearly articulate the problem better than they can, they automatically believe you have the solution.”

This is the secret to creating instant trust.

When you describe your audience's pain points in a way that resonates, they feel understood.

They see their struggles in your words and instinctively believe that you have the solution.

When you clearly describe the problem they’re dealing with, people automatically assume you have the answer.

That’s the power of clarity.

If you can describe their problem better than they can, you’re already halfway to winning them over.

How to fix it: spell out how you help

Here’s what you can do right now to make sure your profile and content clearly communicate how you help:

1. Headline and About section: These are the first things people see, so make sure they’re doing the heavy lifting. Ditch vague job titles and jargon. Spell out in plain terms who you help, what problem you solve, and how you do it.
2. Your content: Every week, you should post about how you help people. This is where many go wrong - they post random thoughts or motivational quotes but forget to remind their audience of the solutions they provide. Whether it’s a case study, a client testimonial, or a simple post explaining how you solve a specific problem, make it clear and repeat it often.
3. Featured section: This is your storefront. If someone clicks through to your profile, this section should immediately show them what you do and how you can help. Add case studies, client wins, or even a direct call-to-action like “Here’s how I help clients increase their sales by 30%”.
4. Be repetitive: People don’t mind hearing how you help them, as long as it’s useful. Don’t assume once is enough. Be obvious and clear in your profile, your content, and your interactions. Reinforce it constantly, so no one has to guess what you do.

Here’s why this clarity matters

Clarity isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s what gets you results.

When people instantly understand how you can help them, they’ll trust you more.

They’ll connect with you faster. They’ll be more likely to reach out, engage, and take that next step.

Here’s what happens when you make it clear:

• Your audience immediately understands that you get them.
• You stand out as someone who knows what they’re talking about.
• People stop scrolling past your content and start paying attention.
• You get more enquiries because people can finally see how you can solve their problem.

This isn’t just about words on a screen - it’s about creating real business opportunities.

When you make your value crystal clear, people are more likely to see you as the expert they need.

And that’s how you grow your business.

Ask yourself: is it clear?

Take a few minutes to audit your LinkedIn profile and content. Ask yourself:

• Is it clear what I do?
• Can someone who’s never met me understand how I help people within seconds?
• Does my content back this up consistently?

The truth is, clarity wins.

On LinkedIn, you don’t have the luxury of a second chance.

If someone has to think too hard about what you offer, you’ve already lost them.

Your mission is to make it obvious.

You don’t want people to scroll through your profile or posts wondering, “How can this person help me?”

Instead, you want them to instantly know: “This is exactly the person I need to talk to.”

Don’t leave it to chance.

Spell it out.

Make it obvious.