3 Mistakes You're Making on LinkedIn (And How to Fix Them)

Here's the hard truth: you're probably using LinkedIn all wrong.

I know, I know. Is that too direct? But stick with me because this might be exactly what you need to hear today.

For years, I watched brilliant service providers struggle to get clients on LinkedIn. Coaches posting consistently but hearing crickets. VAs with mad skills but zero leads. Social media managers who could work magic for their clients on Instagram but couldn't seem to make LinkedIn work.

Sound familiar? Don't worry, you're not alone.

The LinkedIn Problem Nobody's Talking About

After 15+ years on LinkedIn (yes, I'm that old), I've discovered something crucial: success on LinkedIn starts BEFORE you even log on.

That award-winning digital agency I used to work for? We won gold awards and worked with names like Kofi Annan, yet struggled to find clients on LinkedIn. Why? No clarity in our positioning. We kept changing what we were selling, which meant constantly attracting different types of people and chasing our tail.

Hard lesson learned.

The 3 Critical Mistakes You're Making on LinkedIn

Mistake #1: Treating LinkedIn Like Instagram

LinkedIn is NOT Instagram. It's not about likes and hearts. Your focus shouldn't be engagement for engagement's sake.

Instead, ask yourself: "Am I building trust and authority?"

This is especially true if you work in areas where people may not openly engage with your content (finance, mental health, etc). Low engagement doesn't mean your strategy isn't working.

Mistake #2: Posting Without Converting

You're sharing valuable content. Great! But it's not leading anywhere.

Your posts aren't designed for conversion. They don't start conversations or captivate your audience enough to make them reach out.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Your Existing Connections

You already have warm leads in your LinkedIn network. Even if it's just 10 people!

I once worked with a mentor who started with only 10 connections and signed a client. She was shocked when I told her to pay more attention to LinkedIn, but the proof was in the pudding (or the invoices, in this case).

The Good News? You Don't Need to Post Daily or Go Viral

You just need a content strategy that makes you visible to the RIGHT people.

3 Powerful Strategies to Start Using Today

1. The Client Mirror Method (or "What's In It For Me, But For Them")

Stop thinking about what you do. Start thinking about what your clients experience.

Instead of "I create social media content for coaches," try "One of my clients went from struggling to post on LinkedIn to signing their first high-ticket client using this one content shift."

Show your audience what's possible for THEM. Make your content about them, not you.

2. The Wildly Visible Approach

Being wildly visible isn't about going viral or reaching millions. It's about DEPTH, not breadth.

It means being in front of the right people – your ideal clients.

How? Use LinkedIn search to find your ideal clients and engage with their content. Drop strategic comments on key industry posts. Tag and mention key people in value-driven posts.

For example, if you're a VA for coaches, comment on posts from business coaches so their audience starts noticing you.

3. Connection Instead of Engagement

Posting for engagement is a mistake. You don't want likes; you want LEADS.

End posts with a direct, easy-to-answer question. When people respond, reply in a way that invites deeper conversation. Then, if appropriate, move to DMs with a simple, non-salesy follow-up.

Instead of "Here's my tip for getting better at LinkedIn," try "Have you tried this before? What's worked for you when posting on LinkedIn?"

Remember: Content is Just the Bridge

Your LinkedIn content is simply the bridge from their problem to you as their solution.

Comments are content. Sharing articles (with your perspective) is content. Photos work really well on LinkedIn. Even simple text posts can be powerful.

The key is consistency and clarity.

Are You Ready to Shine on LinkedIn?

If you're tired of wasting time on strategies that don't work...

If you're sick of Googling solutions that are out of date...

If you're ready to be the star of your business...

Then it might be time to get some support. Because showing up and taking the right actions on LinkedIn has helped my business grow year after year. Clients reach out to me in my DMs, I get invited to speak at conferences, and I'm able to work less while earning the same (or more).

And I want that for you, too.

Ready to see these strategies in action? Watch my free LinkedIn masterclass where I dive deeper into these techniques and show you exactly how to implement them in your business. In just 60 minutes, you'll learn proven strategies that have helped clients like Kimberly Drain sign TWO new clients after just one training. Click here to watch the webinar now

About Elaine

Elaine Walsh McGrath is a LinkedIn specialist with 25+ years of experience in marketing and advertising. She worked with major brands like Colgate and Kenco before pivoting to help small businesses and service providers shine on LinkedIn. As a special needs mom to a daughter with Down syndrome, she understands the importance of strategies that work efficiently without wasting precious time.