8 Most Common Myths About LinkedIn You Need to Know

LinkedIn is a great tool for advanced businessmen in all industries, but there are still a lot of myths surrounding this social network. LinkedIn can really be helpful when you know how to use it correctly. Some myths we’ve collected may even surprise you and help you understand the platform better.  

Myth № 1: You can only message members you are connected to.

Actually, you can also message people who are in the same groups as you are in or by using Premium Inmails. Try to join groups that are related to your industry or areas of interest and expertise. Use those for sharing your insights and knowledge and start building new relationships that will help you reach your goals on LinkedIn.

Myth № 2: LinkedIn is just a social platform.

If you think this is simply a social platform, you’re wrong. LinkedIn is popular among business professionals. You can even sell your product on this platform. When making B2B purchasing decisions, 50% of buyers use LinkedIn.

Try social features like LinkedIn Stories or LinkedIn Live, they will help you connect with your audience. LinkedIn is a good opportunity for professionals to find collaborators or even prospects. 

Myth № 3: You can only connect with people you know well.

Fortunately, you can connect with anyone and invite someone to connect with you, even if they're not your best friend. The best connections are the connections that are mutually helpful in building a relationship.

If you want to connect with someone, simply send a personalized invitation, or ask someone in your network to make an introduction.

Myth № 4: LinkedIn is only helpful for those who are searching for a job.  (STRATEGIC PLANNING)

LinkedIn can help you gain insights and knowledge at every point in your career. This is not just a tool that is used only to look for a new job or to connect with your employees. It's a platform for people to show off their expertise around a subject and grow relationships with like-minded people. It can also be used for the strategic planning of your professional brand. 

Don’t forget to update your profile regularly even when you're not searching for a job, you have big chances to use those connections when you really need them. It’s also wise to follow groups, channels, influencers, and company pages to stay informed and get new insights. This will help you find potential business opportunities.

Myth № 5: Accepting invitations from people you don't know will open you up to spam.

If you see that someone is acting inappropriately, you can delete them from your network or flag them to LinkedIn's support team as a spammer.

Myth № 6: If you update the profile, everyone who you’re connected with will be notified.

You can control almost all things happening to your network. When you go into "edit" mode on your profile, choose an option at the bottom of the page that asks if you want your network notified of profile edits and turn this on/off as you see fit.

Myth № 7: There are secret features that get unlocked when you hit 500 connections.

LinkedIn stops to display your number of connections on your profile after 500, but nothing will happen. If you want to achieve a successful network, don’t forget to improve the quality and quantity by boosting relationships with your connections. This will help you achieve more opportunities with like-minded professionals in your industry.

Myth № 8: You should only post content about your industry and company.

It’s important to share anything that represents you and your professional brand. Actually, LinkedIn is not just about work, it’s also about your skills, projects, and connections. So, you can post your own content or repost something some news you find interesting.