Saturday, November 25, 2006

Mistake #1 of most Linkedin users

From the profile of most Linkedin users, it seems that the most common mistake is failure to specialize.

The more specialized you are, the greater the likelihood that people will want to connect with you, and include you in their network of trusted contacts.

This is so because with virtual networking, it is rarely possible for people to meet you face to face. Hence, the only thing they have to rely on is the quality of your knowledge and expertise.

Second, by writing a profile that CLEARLY shows you specialize in something (an industry, a market, a type of served clients, etc.), you show quality of character. People who don't specialize lack focus and a clear purpose. In the long run, they fail to build sustainable value for themselves and as a result, their own market value goes down relative to other more aggressive professionals and careerists.