12 LinkedIn profile killers (and how to fix them fast!)

12 LinkedIn profile killers (and how to fix them fast)12 LinkedIn profile killers (and how to fix them fast)Lets face it, most of us create our LinkedIn profiles and then leave them there sad and alone while barely feeding or watering them*.And it shows.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWant to make aya that the next big headhunter or recruiter doesnt skip right over your profile? Try some of unterstellungNo profile at allWould you believe that not everyone actually has a LinkedIn profile? Top executive leadership and career coach Pat Roque says not having one is a fatal error since there are over 500 million professionals using the platform. Roque, who teaches courses including How to Rock Your LinkedIn Profile suggests creating a profile and challenging yourself to add at least 500 new connections this year.An unprofessional photo (or none at all)Roque reminds us that research s hows having a profile photo makes you 14x more likely to be viewed by others. She advises following follow this suggestion from Lydia Abbot, Blog Editor Content Marketer at LinkedIn Make sure your LinkedIn profile picture is up-to-date (within the past few years) and reflects how you look on a daily basis your hair, glasses, makeup, etc.Typos, inaccuracies or mistakes aplentyIf you make mistakes when describing yourself it shows you dont care and that you will make mistakes for the people are considering hiring you or working with you, cautions Bill Corbett, Jr., who regularly speaks on the topic of improving your LinkedIn profile and trains whole sales teams on amping up their LinkedIn presence. Laziness and carelessness are not messages that help your career, Corbett advises hiring somebody to proof your profile.Not honoring the algorithmGoogle isnt the only search system to rely heavily on keywords. Roque says to Be sure to use searchable keywords in your headline, summary, key words, job titles, and skills.Ignoring the built-in free career toolsDont forget to take advantage of LinkedIns Summary tool, recommends David Bakke of Money Crashers. You can highlight career accomplishments and achievements. Leaving this blank looks unprofessional and more importantly unappealing.Thinking LinkedIn is FacebookLeave the bro stuff for your more private social networks, LinkedIn is about building your professional life. Dont post items that are personal that dont relate at least in some way to business, Corbett cautions. Doing this makes you look silly and out of touch, as well as unprofessional.Forgetting to include a Call to ActionGosh, your profile is impressive sitting there all fixed up and everything. But is it doing anything for you? Roque offers this suggestion Always share an easy way for interested hiring managers or collaborators to reach you, such as inviting them to a virtual coffee.Failure to respondIf somebody sends you a message, respond. Its basic com mon courtesy even if its not the best fit. Failure to do it is rude and hurts your reputation, says Corbett.Omitting important accomplishmentsIn trying to pare down your profile, Roque says you might be leaving out important volunteer efforts, anything to show your community spirit and personal interests beyond the obvious job and education history. Think about what you might do when faced with 20 similar profiles. Youd probably choose the person who seems more connected to their world beyond the office. It proves them well-rounded beyond their cube.Being all about the hard sellAt this point, most of us recognize someone who is always only pushing their own professional agenda. Corbett calls hard selling on LinkedIn marketing kryptonite, instead of killing Superman these actions kill your reputation. And people wont respond positively to that hard push. People will run away from you instead of running to youNever say anything bad about somebodyWhile the president freely uses his soc ial media platform to tweet about anyone who displeases him, its probably not a wise move for anyone concerned with their own reputation. And its an even worse idea on LinkedIn. Being critical of people publicly on LinkedIn is not a good strategy for building relationships, said Corbett. Besides, you have nothing to gain from ragging on your competitor and you never look good doing this, even if the person is a complete idiot.Not publishing or posting articlesIf your job search feels stalled or you just want to perk things up a little, Roque thinks its a great idea to keep your profile fresh by writing or linking to think pieces or people relevant to your industry.- - - *Though some people really do shovel on the fertilizerYou might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes yo u can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people