More Things to Stop Doing on LinkedIn

It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t a left you, without a dope beat to step to.

You know you’ve been blogging a while when this is the second blog post with that same Aaliyah song as the title, okay? But sometimes I feel like if I don’t give some people advice on the regular, they straight up screw everything up. And LinkedIn connectors, I am coming for you.

I’ve previously written about LinkedIn No-Nos and most of those were pretty basic. I mean, remembering to add a picture and capitalize your name? Obvious.

Now we’re going to get more into issues that seem like common sense to me, but given the number of people I see either doing them or not doing them, as the case may be, clearly need to be brought up.

 

Take some advice from @marenhogan and stop doing these 7 things on LinkedIn... now! Share on X

 

1. Thanking me for every post.

STAHP! I know that people think that thanking me for every post makes them “engaged” but…it doesn’t. It makes you look like a stalker with way too much time on your hands. Every single time I post something, I get some automated message immediately, which makes me think you didn’t actually read the post. There’s literally no way this can make you look good. If you’re a jobseeker, it looks like you’re desperate for my approval and do not understand how social media works. If you’re a potential client or vendor …yeah it basically says the same thing. Bonus: The same goes for liking every single one of my updates. I hate it. Stop it. I bet other people hate it too.

 

2. Having a weird icon or image for your picture.

Bravo for remembering to put up a picture, and even more bonus points for not stretching it out or smooshing it into square dimensions instead of asking any sixth grader to help you with online image editing software. But dang, Spongebob? On a professional network? Betty Boop is really the image you want people to think of when you’re emailing them about a position you have open or when you ask for an introduction to their hiring manager? No, I will answer my own question. NO, it is not.

 

3. TopIinked is this generation’s LION.

I feel like everyone knows who’s who on LinkedIn, and if not, there are lots of percentage lists to help you out. I never connect with LIONs or Toplinked if I can help it because adding them to your network is basically saying “I would like to be SPAMMED daily.” Just say no to fake honorifics.

 

4. Weirdo Titles.

I get that you have a really cute title like oh, say, Chief Marketing Brain, but no one really wants to hear it. How are you going to appear in search results if someone is looking for a marketing consultant or CMO? Answer is that you won’t. Now, if you’re the CEO of a rapidly growing agency that blows its competition out of the water, you can probably use whatever title you want, but not if you want me to connect with you. Do as I say, not as I do.

 

5. Stop hitting on women.

It’s super annoying. While the majority of articles and anecdotes seem to place the blame squarely on me, I am sure there are some women out there who think it’s okay to violate this OH SO BASIC of rules. Go to Tinder, head to OKCupid or check out Eharmony but please, keep your comments about personal appearance to yourself on LinkedIn (and InMail!) Really, I shouldn’t even have to say this.

 

6. Reply All.

Welp, I cannot even believe I have to say (type) this aloud but stop sending a huge mass email to everyone please! I can see everyone else you sent it to and I’m not flattered. Even worse, chances are, the one person that replies to your ridiculous recruiting email that ASKS ME TO DO YOUR JOB FOR YOU, is going to do the same thing and send his reply to all of us. For the love of holiness…

 

7. Guilt trippin’.

This happens on email and now has spread its insidious claws into the world of LinkedIn. Look, I didn’t ask you to reach out to me to sell me your stuff. I didn’t send a demo request or even join a group. So don’t act all butthurt when I decide not to respond to your cold InMail. Subject lines like “In case you missed it…” and “A few minutes of your time…” are a DEAD giveaway and ride the line of guilt tripping.

 

Other Branchers weighed in with their LinkedIn pet Peeves including, recruiters adding you when they have NOTHING to do with recruiting in your field, pointless endorsements for things like ‘organization’ or ‘strategy’ and people asking for recommendations before they even like KNOW YOU.