8 Signs Youre Using LinkedIn Wrong

8 Signs Youre Using LinkedIn Wrong You surely know by now that LinkedIn is one of the best networking, job search, research, and general professional growth tools out there. But how do you know if youre using it right? Or maybe the most impactful, even if dramatic, way to think about it How do you know if youre using it wrong?Here are 8 signs that youre using the platform incorrectly 1. No one is accepting your requestsIf you meet someone in person and add him or her quickly (think within 48 hours) and you dont get an acceptance within a week, maybe this person doesnt use LinkedIn all that much. But if this is a common trend (think this tends to happen to you a lot) its likely time to look at how you are adding people.The 1 mistake I hear about (and binnensee with connection requests) is not including a short note. This is an important piece because it offers context of who you are. It doesnt need to be complicated in fact, LinkedIn will prevent you from sending a note more than 300 characters. Something like this does the trickHi Michelle, It was great meeting you at the Women & Work fest on Tuesday. I wanted to add you to my LI network.- Sara 2. You have fewer than 100 contactsYou gotta play to win. If youre not actively adding people, or accepting requests, youre simply not using the tool to its full capacity. If you are struggling with who you want to add, use the feature that pulls in your email contacts then add from there. 3. Youre not connected with your current or former colleaguesIf you wait to add contacts after you leave a company youre using LinkedIn wrong. I suggest people add real-time (no it does not give the impression that youre looking for new work--it simply means youre a thoughtful professional) 4. You dont have a pictureAt its core LinkedIn is a social networking site. Photos are a central part of networking platforms. As a species we are visually oriented and a photo helps fuel this need. elend having a photo--and a photo viewable publica lly aka people who are not already your connections--is something you need to change immediately. (Seriously, if you still dont stop reading this article and change that now.) 5. When you log-on you have to filter through loads of requestsWhat this means Its been too long since youve last logged on. If you have to wade through a series of requests youre behind on your upkeep. Log on at least two or three times a week (if youre in active job search mode it might be closer to once or twice a day) to keep your requests current, skim what thought leaders are saying, and see if there is any new relevant to companies youre following or your areas of interest. 6. You dont follow any thought leaders or companiesAlong with staying connected with your network, LinkedIn enables you to stay connected with thought leaders in your industry as well as companies who you are interested in, admire, may want to work for one dayor who competes with your current company To use the platform to its fulles t capacity be sure to follow companies, organizations, and leaders. 7. You dont have the app on your phoneSome people prefer to limit which apps they have on their phones, but if youre a working professional with aspirations of growth the LI app should be on your phone and not only when youre job searching 8. Youve never clicked on a strangers profileYes someone can see that youve viewed his or her profile no it is not creepy. This is not Instagram alerting this person that youve viewed his or her story or accidently liked a photo from 3 years ago. This is LinkedIn--part of the point of this social networking site is to help you pique someones professional interest one of the best ways to do this is to visit the profiles of people who are in similar fields, or a field you might be interested inIf you fell into any of these traps take a moment and amp up your LI game Its often the small stuff like this that can help in the long run.___Jane Scudder is a certified leadership and person al development coach she helps individuals and groups get unstuck. She builds and leads original workshops and training programs, consults with organizations of various sizes, and is Adjunct Faculty at Loyola University Chicago. Find out more atjanescudder.com