5 Cringeworthy Mistakes You're Making on LinkedIn (and What To Do Instead)

By Kristi DePaul

You've been on LinkedIn for a minute now. Maybe even a decade, or almost two. (Hey, that's me...I signed up in 2006!)

But you have a sneaking suspicion about your activity on the platform. How do you know you're actually doing it right?

Here are five mistakes I've seen many folks make—from newbies to seasoned execs, and everyone in between. What makes them especially cringeworthy? They show a lack of knowledge of the social network's purpose and core functionality, and also...a real lack of effort.

Few people want to look like they're phoning it in. I'm betting you don't, either.

1) Your boilerplate "About" section. This is the very section where you've got a chance to unabashedly share the magic of who you are and what unique, incredible value you bring to the world (and to your work)...and you're gonna sleep on it with a template? Simply stating that you're an [adjective] [role] with a demonstrated history of [something supposedly meaningful].

If you just read that and are thinking "oh no...that right there sounds like mine" you might be one of the About section offenders. But it's an easy fix!

Start by making a list of what makes you special: Your individual ethos/philosophy on life, your biggest accomplishments (personal and professional), your favorite hobbies, your mission in your career, all of it. Be a little spicy if that's you. Be self-deprecating, if that feels natural. Brag a little, but acknowledge it so you're not too high on that horse.

Here's mine. ⤵️

Can you tease out the major themes? These are the experiences and beliefs that have shaped my life and my writing:

• Loss of loved ones 💔

• An evolving identity 💭

• International/intercultural living 🌍

• Supporting others' dreams 🎈

• Creating greater access to opportunity 🔑

What are yours? (Best if you figure this out yourself vs. asking AI.)

Go on. Start writing.

2) Your chronic reposting. Maybe you've seen them...I call them LinkedIn Zombies 🧟‍♀️ 🧟 These are the pros who reflexively share others' posts but never add a word of their own. Nobody knows what they truly think or feel, or even IF they can think or feel. They have one foot on the platform, and one in the proverbial LinkedIn grave. 🪦💀

Alright, maybe that's a bit too dramatic! Still, let me be clear: Reposting without adding any commentary whatsoever doesn't help, encourage, educate, inform or persuade anyone to think or do anything.

So if you're just interested in ticking the box of "I shared another one of Sam's posts, so that's something!" Well, I think Sam and everyone else would get a lot more out of it if you simply told us WHY this thing matters and what we should think/feel/do about it.

Moreover, LinkedIn pundits say the algorithm (the invisible hand guiding which posts get a boost vs. buried) doesn't favor reposts. The algorithm is changing all the time and attempting to game it or outsmart it is pretty pointless.

The most worthwhile thing you can do is write like you're talking to a human and share things that others will find useful, insightful, otherwise emotionally stirring (amusing, disappointing or infuriating all count). Read Contagious by Jonah Berger to learn more.

3) Your generic comments. Commenting on others' posts with "Great work!" "Inspiring" "Congratulations, Andrea!" ...or anything else vague and/or AI-generated makes it look like you're putting in the minimal amount of effort and also, it's a wasted opportunity.

• Someone landed a new role? Wish them well, and offer a tip or two as they settle into their next gig, or (if you'd genuinely like to) invite them to catch up so you can learn more about what they'll be doing and how you might be able to help.

• A former student won an award? Heap on the praise, and ask them what they're planning to do now that they've achieved [X].

• A colleague shared their struggle?  Offer your sincere support and/or pose a thoughtful question about what they're seeking to learn, do or overcome.

• An industry leader analyzed survey results?  Engage in a dialogue about their take, and offer your insights or interpretation based on your own experience.

This should be contextualized and feel comfortable. If you're veering into uneasiness, you're probably trying to hard. That's going to be obvious to you and to anyone reading it, so let's shift directions.

Treat your commentary as a consultative conversation. Be you. But be you adding some value by showing your support, dropping knowledge and/or posing thoughtful questions.

Comments are incredibly useful and grossly underemphasized as a means for growing your LinkedIn audience and influence. Start using yours to signal to others about the topics that matter most to you and how you're able to contribute in meaningful ways.

4) Your network gatekeeping. Yes, LinkedIn will (oddly) encourage you to only accept connection requests from people you know. That's puzzling to me, as it's not in their best interests, nor is it in yours. Here's why: Exclusively connecting with folks you've actually met costs you in terms of reach and visibility.

By limiting yourself to engaging with your "real life" network only, you're essentially eliminating the possibility of being discovered by anyone outside of your industry, geography or and/or resume (such as former companies and past educational institutions). You're effectively saying "Nah, I'm good" to the plethora of updates and information silos that you could otherwise be privy to, across all levels of seniority and experience. And you're choosing to stay within a bubble that may reflect a far less diverse reality than the field in which you operate or the markets you'd like to enter.

So, it's a bit silly really.

My advice: Accept any requests that seem legitimate from accounts in your industry/professional areas of interest.

☑️ Do they have a photo?

☑️ Is their profile filled out?

☑️ Do they have at least a few other connections or followers (20 or more)?

If yes, hit accept. Those who immediately pitch you via DM are easily blocked. Before you know it, you'll be growing and interacting with all kinds of new and hopefully wonderful people. And there's nothing better than that.

5) Your assumption that minimal activity is enough. Posting once a month or commenting a few times a week makes a piddling impact on those in your network, and it doesn't do your LinkedIn presence any favors, either. Remember this: Effort compounds.

Even an incremental activity shift will start to bear fruit over time. For example, if you begin posting original content 1-2x per week and spending just 15 minutes a week meaningfully commenting on others' posts (ideally right before you publish a post), you'll begin to see metrics snowballing.

True, it won't happen right away and you're unlikely to "go viral," but that's not the point. Impressions will increase. Others will take notice. People will begin reacting to and/or sharing their thoughts on your posts. Conversations will begin. Relationships of all kinds will deepen, if only slightly, through small, intentional touchpoints. Months will go by, and you'll have planted all kinds of seeds in all sorts of places.

A new quarter will begin, and your expertise and your thoughts will reach people you don't even know in the networks of those who have interacted with your content. Gradually, you'll notice colleagues or new connections reaching out. People will eagerly seek your input. You'll become aware of new information and opportunities.

And it'll all happen because you got started today.

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P.S. Not ready to dive into the deep end just yet? 🏊🏼‍♀️ You don't have to do it on your own! I work with folks like you to enhance your LinkedIn profile, get comfortably into a posting cadence, make smart and not cringeworthy comments, and intentionally craft their presence on the platform. Learn more below.

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