LinkedIn is like Facebook for professionals. Sure, it’s a social network, but it’s for professionals & businesses to connect, showcase their expertise & products, and share information. It’s okay (and encouraged) to have some fun and let your personality shine.
Don’t be afraid to be quirky and creative. However, remember, this is your professional profile and it will be viewed by other professionals & potential employers (and even potential clients). That being said, here are a few things not to post on LinkedIn:
1. Inappropriate or questionable pictures
Just say no to photo evidence of:
- The bar crawl with your friends the past weekend
- The beer bottle pyramid you made in college (unless you’re a brewer or an artist)
- Any drinking pictures from “crazy times” in high school (underage drinking = not a good Throwback Thursday post)
- Halloween parties with questionable costumes
If it’s not something you want your parents/grandparents, boss, or clients to see, it doesn’t belong on LinkedIn.
2. Hashtags
LinkedIn supported them for a short time, but hashtags currently serve no purpose on that platform. If that changes, then, by all means, include them; until then, save them for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and other networks that do support them for aggregating similar topics.
3. Complaints and negative comments about:
- current or past employers
- competitors
- current or former coworkers/employees
- current or past clients
Any negativity you post in a professional setting can follow you throughout your career. If you’ve badmouthed a previous employer or client, potential employers or clients may wonder if one day you’ll be saying similar things about them. It can bring your integrity into question. Keep your posts positive, valuable, and classy.
4. Statuses that are too personal
Remember, your LinkedIn profile is your professional representation online. Do your coworkers and boss really need to know the details you want to post? Ask yourself if what you’re about to post would be considered TMI (too much information). If so, it’s better off on a different network or not published publicly at all. Adding a personal touch to your posts can help you stand out and you do want to stand out, but for the all the right reasons.
Think about what you’re posting to public forums. In the case of LinkedIn, if you wouldn’t bring it into work or a client meeting with you, then it probably doesn’t belong on your profile. As Britney Fitzgerald puts it in a Huffington Post article, “If you wouldn’t put it on a resume, or say it in an interview, then it’s probably not for LinkedIn either.” Happy posting!