5 bad LinkedIn habits you need to break right now

For those of you who use LinkedIn on a regular basis, you will have come across a wide range of LinkedIn users. These users range from those who know how to interact in a pleasant, engaging manner and those who really upset other LinkedIn users. I have listed 5 bad habits you need to stop now.

1. Using standard LinkedIn text

There is nothing worse that receiving a LinkedIn connection request which says “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn followed by your name. It implies that you have not put much thought around why you would like to connect with the person and it does not provide them with a good reason to connect with you. Linked provides you with other reasons to engage with existing connections. You can send them a message when they change jobs and when they celebrate a work anniversary or birthday. Again, LinkedIn provides standard text. Make a point every time to use your own text.

2. Sending product information

If there is one way to get disconnected from a new connection, send them information about yourself, your company, your product, services or solutions straight after they have accepted your connection request. This is construed as spam. LinkedIn was never developed to support this type of behaviour. You have to earn the other person’s trust and interest in you, your company and products first. Instead of sending product information, share value-adding content and build credibility over time. The connection will look at your value proposition when they are good and ready.

3. Never reciprocating

One thing that is generally expected from other LinkedIn users is reciprocation yet so many people don’t get it. If someone send you a recommendation, make a point of either asking if they would like a recommendation from you or just send one anyway. If a person endorses your skills, you should make the effort to do the same for them. You should also monitor who shares your LinkedIn updates and reciprocate. This goes for blog posts you publish on the LinkedIn publishing platform. If people comment on your updates and posts, you may want to thank them or add to their comment. The form of appreciation is noticed and will encourage people to comment, share and like your updates and posts on a regular basis.

4. Notifying people every time you change your profile

Many LinkedIn users do not even know that there is an indicator in privacy and settings where you can specify whether your connections are notified or not every time you change your profile, make recommendations, or follow companies. Most of your connections do not want to be notified every time you make a change to your profile so untick the indicator. Your connections will thank you for this.

5. Not sharing content or sharing irrelevant content

If you want to be noticed on LinkedIn, you need to share content. As soon as you are connected with someone, your updates appear in their feed. If you are not posting updates, your competitors are and your prospective clients are reading their content, not yours. Every time you publish a new post on the LinkedIn publishing platform, your connections and followers are also notified. It stands to reason that the more updates you post and blogs you publish, the more you are noticed. The more you are noticed, the more you are able to influence others and build credibility. The other thing you must adhere to is sharing content that will interest your connections. You can go off topic but ensure the content is interesting and from a reputable source.

Are there other bad habits you would like to add that I have missed? Please add them in the comments below.