- LinkedIn is not spelled Linked In
- Generic messages are not often appreciated. Make LinkedIn personal
- Put building relationships before sales and not vice-versa
- Ask for recommendations one at a time; skipping the bulk method
- Leave any form of negativity offline
- The “friend” option is not an option
- Do not ignore the summary section
- Do not use a nic-names or pseudo name
- Make sure your photo is recognizable
- Do not build your profile and then let others do the work
- Be kind to those in your network without expectation
- Blog and take advantage of long posts to share, inspire, and move people into action
- Always include a “call to action” in your summary
- Provide your contact information
- LinkedIn is your “Chamber of Commerce”, Facebook is your “Local Pub”, and Twitter is your “coffee shop”. Treat each platform accordingly
- Be active in groups
- There are no editors on LinkedIn, so get the help you need
- Don’t copy. You are fabulous just the way you are!
- Watch the tone of what you write
- Include your own note when sharing articles, links, etc.
- LinkedIn is a networking site so it is not just for job seekers; it is for all professionals
- Speak to your targeted audience
- Do not write in 3rd person. It is your profile so make sure you are not detached from the content
- Do not forget to use the background image for marketing purposes
- Follow image guidelines
- Do not forget the power of visuals
- If you are not seen, you will not be heard
- Use characters to enhance your profile but do not overdo it
- Customize your vanity URL and market it
- Rearrange sections of your profile to make it work for you
- Watch what you write. Both “motivated” and “responsible” are considered BUZZ words to avoid
- Leverage @mentions in your status updates
- Skip the Selfie, Silhouette, Pet-Pal, and Family Photo. Professional profile photos only!
- Use Saved Searches to never lose those important leads
- Use the relationship Tab and create a LinkedIn rolodex
- Your LinkedIn profile is not your resume so do not cut and paste
- Concentrate more on building relationships instead of adding connections
- If you own a business, creating and maintaining your own Company Page has multiple benefits – it is a public platform to build your brand, extend your reach, enhance your SEO, and actively engage with your followers
- Do not let you tagline default to your title in your experience section. Build one with key words
- LinkedIn works if you understand it, build it, and work it. So, get to it!