Top 5 things you must never do on LinkedIn!

Two weeks ago I wrote an article all about LinkedIn's Publishing Platform being available for all to use. While this is sensational news for small business and particularly useful if you do not have a personal blog there are some pitfalls that everyone needs to be made aware of. I would like to share my top 5 things that you must never do on LinkedIn. 1. Auto Post from another social media Platform This is number one because it really ticks me off, and I am sure I am not the only one. Seeing twitter handles, hashtags and short twitter messages fed into LinkedIn not only looks lazy, but really does your professional image absolutely no credit at all! 2. Spam the newsfeed There is absolutely no logical reason to spam your newsfeed and annoy any followers you have been successful to secure. My advice to is have 1-2 updates that enhance your professional image and brand on a daily basis. Best times for updates are before and after work, and during lunchtime. 3. Lurking If you want to appear as a expert or influencer in your field, lurking in the shadows will not be productive. To get you out of your comfort zone, join 1-5 groups relevant to your field or profession and aim to be active at least once a week. You can be active by asking a question, sharing a interesting article or answering a topic you feel confident about. If you are self-employed, this will encourage the attention of perspective partners and new customers. If you are employed, you will get noticed by HR personnel, head hunters and even your boss. 4. Connect with anyone and everyone Can I kindly remind you that again....this is not facebook or twitter. You want to connect with people you have met or work with. You want to connect with people that are in your field of expertise or industry. 5. Neglect your LinkedIn profile Now that you are writing articles, talking in groups and connecting with your peers now is NOT the time to forget about your profile. Keep your profile up to date with a current professionally taken photo, awards, courses through work or externally and any other contribution that enhances your online profile. I hope you find the above informative and helpful. Any other pet peeves, ideas or avenues that can improve your LinkedIn experience? Please share! Posted by:Amanda HoffmannAmanda Hoffmann Follow See all Amanda's posts