Mistake #1 – No Connections
If you think people are going to magically search for your profile and find you, then think again. More than likely, you’re never going to be found at all unless you put some work into making connections.
Not only should you make connections, but you need to make the right connections. If you’re looking for a job, find recruiters and HR managers in your field of work. If you’re looking for clients, make connections with people you believe would need your services.
LinkedIn isn’t just a place to toss up a résumé; it’s a social network. You need to have connections in order for it to be any real use to you at all.
To start making connections, first find a few people in your field and request to connect with them. These could be recruiters, employees, or any other similar type. Just be sure they’re in your field.
Next, look at their connections in order to find other people you can connect with. You can then personalize your request to connect by mentioning that you have a connection in common. This will help you form more connections. Eventually people will start requesting to connect with you.