I remember staring at my LinkedIn profile a few years back, feeling utterly stumped. I’d spent ages crafting what I thought was a pretty decent summary, full of all my skills and achievements.
And … nothing!
No one was reaching out, no interesting conversations were starting. It was frustrating, to be honest. I just couldn’t work out what I was doing wrong.
It turns out, many of us fall into similar traps, often without even realising it. Our profiles end up feeling more like a digital wall than an open invitation to chat.
Based on my own experience, I’ve learnt a few things that might resonate if you’ve ever felt disheartened by your lac of LinkedIn activity, despite investing a lot of time into your profile.
Common Profile Pitfalls Blocking Genuine Engagement
Here are a few things that often get in the way of starting those important conversations:
- Vague or brag-heavy headlines: We often write headlines that are factual but forgettable, like “Senior Marketing Manager at XYZ.” It tells people what you are, but not how you can help them.
- An ‘About’ section that’s all ‘I’ and no ‘you’: If someone reads your ‘About’ section and only learns about you, rather than how you can solve their problems, you’ve missed a trick. It needs to be less focussed on your accolades and more on the challenges you have overcome.
- Featured content that’s buried or irrelevant: That long case study might be brilliant, but is it old? Does it immediately invite someone to say, “Hey, I’d like to find out more?” Often, it’s just sitting there, not really serving a purpose.
- No clear call to action: If you don’t offer a gentle nudge, something like “Let’s chat!” or “Ask me how …” people won’t know what to do next. It’s like hosting a party but never telling guests where the snacks are.
Quick Fixes to Make Your Profile More Approachable
The good news is, small changes can make an impact.
- Your Headline: Trigger curiosity. Instead of just your job title, try connecting your role to who you help and the specific change you bring. For example, swap “Senior Project Manager” for something like “Helping B2B SaaS teams scale through smarter onboarding.” It immediately tells someone if you’re relevant to them.
- Your ‘About’ Section: Talk with them, not at them. One highly effective approach I’ve observed from top LinkedIn profiles, is to start with a question that speaks directly to their pain point: “Struggling to onboard your first 50 customers?” Then, include a short story or example of how you’ve helped someone with that exact problem. Perhaps: “Last year, I helped onboard 75 people in just 4 weeks, cutting churn by 15%.” This section is a fantastic spot for a strong summary of yourservices, aimingfor around 1,000 to 2,000 characters to really tell your story. Close with a friendly invite, something like: “Feel free to reach out if this resonates, happy to share how it worked.”
- Your Featured Content: Show your relevance pin a short video or a one-page summary that clearly explains what you do and how you help. Add a caption that invites engagement, such as: “Click to see how we helped Company X reduce onboarding time by 30%.” It’s important to show the results.
- A Clear Invitation for Next Steps: Beyond your ‘About’ section, make it easy for people to connect. Think of ending your profile summary with a clear ask: “Connect if you’d love a copy of our onboarding checklist.”
Position Your Profile as a Conversation Catalyst
Your LinkedIn profile is a foundation for developing an authentic personal brand.
The key is to write like you’re chatting to a friend over coffee, use “you” and “I,” contractions, and friendly transitions. Always lead with the value you can offer and invite those next steps.
Profile Section ‘Speed Fix’ Checklist
- Headline: Define your role + the value you bring + your audience.
- Fast Tip: Think “I help [audience] achieve [key result] through [what I do].”
- About: Follow a Problem → Story → Outcome → CTA flow.
- Fast Tip: Start with a question that resonates with your ideal client.
- Featured: Use visual or concise content with clear context.
- Fast Tip: Use a “Click to…” preview to entice clicks.
- Contact: Ensure your contact info is easy to find and invite connection or a direct message.
- Fast Tip: Close your ‘About’ section with a clear ask.
The Wrap-Up
Let’s shift how you perceive your LinkedIn profile.
Imagine it less like a stiff CV and more like you: the friendly host of a networking event. Your profile should greet people warmly, show them why they matter, demonstrate to them how you can help, and then gently invite them into a conversation.
You’ll see a significant change when you move away from that formal “CV-style” tone towards a more human, engaging voice.
Don’t forget, a well-written LinkedIn profile will also amplify your messaging, content, and commenting strategy. So give these quick fixes a try and let your profile start doing the talking for you.
We’d love to hear if these pointers helped!
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