Myths About LinkedIn That Will Hinder Your Success

LinkedIn is the "Facebook of professionals," and truth be told, it's one of the most powerful recruitment platforms in the world. This highly professional social media platform can make or break your career, which is why anyone who's looking to climb the corporate ladder has an account.

With all the power that a well-managed social media account can wield, it's not surprising that a lot of myths about LinkedIn tend to persist. Though some of these myths are relatively innocuous, others tend to be serious career killers.

Surprisingly, a lot of these myths persist—even among the brightest in the corporate world. Do you believe any of these terrible LinkedIn myths?

Myth 1: LinkedIn is solely for job searches.

Nope! This is actually one of the most pervasive myths about LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great tool for job seekers that want to switch positions, sure, but it's way more than that.

Professionals who are happy with their position can find new sales leads and add presitge to the company they work for with a well-run LinkedIn profile. Business owners who want to network with others in their field and develop a new level of credibility also have a home on the platform.

Simply put, LinkedIn is great for establishing your credibility, building your personal brand, and expanding your network—regardless of whether you're looking for a job or not.

It's way more than just a job hunting platform. That's why there are so many LinkedIn tips for entrepreneurs and settled-in employees online.

Myth 2: You're being disloyal to your company if you're on LinkedIn during office time.

This is another one of the most common myths about LinkedIn that people fall for, and once again, this is just totally untrue. Many people choose to go on LinkedIn during work to find out what major thought leaders are doing during that time.

Sales staff and managers also use LinkedIn as a way to communicate with outside groups and get leads. Recruiters and HR-focused companies tend to use it to build relationships with businesses or for sourcing candidates.

Depending on your position, LinkedIn can be another tool of the trade.

Myth 3: You should only accept requests from people you know.

Not quite true. Though this is the official stance of LinkedIn and though it could be possible that hackers are targeting your employees, the truth is that being hacked via LinkedIn is highly unlikely.

You never know where that next job offer, relationship, or big lead will come from. Social networks are for social networking, so by all means, do it.

Myth 4: You shouldn't accept requests from coworkers.

This is one of the few myths about LinkedIn that doesn't really make much sense. Wouldn't you want to establish connections, if only to show that you have support from your coworkers? Moreover, isn't it useful to have access to your coworkers via a platform that they use off-hours for professional reasons?

Myth 5: LinkedIn profiles should basically be online resumes, with your job role as your headline.

It's understandable why this is one of the most pervasive myths about LinkedIn. Since LinkedIn is a recruitment tool for most of the big companies in the world, most people tend to treat LinkedIn profiles like their own online resume.

The problem is? It's boring, and in many cases, can even backfire when trying to attract top recruiters. If you want to make your profile pop, add some life into it and stop treating it like a bland resume page!

Myth 6: It's okay to "clique up" on LinkedIn with your best friends.

For reasons beyond my understanding, a lot of people tend to view LinkedIn as "just another social media platform" and add all their friends in it as a result. Some even do it exclusively, snubbing contacts that could end up bolstering their career.

This is a grievous mistake and is a hallmark of unprofessionalism. Leave Facebook for friends, and use LinkedIn for your own professional work.

Myth 7: Premium account holders are the only ones who really benefit from LinkedIn.

Though this is one of the more unusual myths about LinkedIn, it's still pervasive enough to address. Yes, paying a bit for Premium may end up giving you better standing and more visibility—but by no means is it ever mandatory.

The truth is that just having a LinkedIn profile puts you ahead of the game. Using it regularly and knowing what to say definitely can make a massive difference, as long as you allow it to do so.

Myth 8: It's okay to flirt on LinkedIn.

This is one of those weird myths about LinkedIn that shouldn't even have to be discussed—but has to, since people can be really dense. LinkedIn is a professional networking site. Flirting is not professional.

It's a risky move, and in reality, flirting on LinkedIn makes you look like an idiot who lets their private parts do the thinking for them. There have been cases in which people have been fired for getting sexual on this site, or passed up for jobs. Don't be one of them.

Myth 9: Endorsements are not worth it.

Yes, we've all had people who have endorsed skills they don't have pop up on our lists, but in reality, endorsements are great to have. When you get a lot of endorsements, you get a lot of credibility in certain skills. Believe it or not, many recruiters look at endorsements when they choose to talk to a candidate.

If you want to avoid the pitfalls of one of the most surprising myths about LinkedIn, work on your endorsements. It's just that simple.

Myth 10: No one reads your blogs on LinkedIn.

Last but not least, let's talk about your blogs on LinkedIn. One of the most ridiculous myths about blogging on LinkedIn is that people don't read blog posts. This is not true in the least bit.

Many people on LinkedIn have gotten job offers, new business contacts, and an engaged audience through their blog posts. So, if you think your voice doesn't matter, you're wrong.