Having spent days. weeks, months and more than likely even years building up your LinkedIn account, connections, posts and presence can you imagine the heartbreak of having your account restricted or even closed because you broke the LinkedIn Terms of Service without knowing!
Are You Doing This?
Unfortunately, the reality is that this could indeed happen if you violate their Terms of Service. It could be something as simple as adding a tagline after your name. Yes I know, we see it all the time! People add their position, a quirky comment or an outright sales message straight after their surname on their ‘personal profile’ and this is in fact a direct violation of LinkedIn’s Terms of Service!
As I don’t want to single anyone out I’ll use my own account to demonstrate the section I’m talking about. The words I’m referring to sit here – see image below – straight after your name. LinkedIn specify specifically in their Terms of Service that only your name should be used in this section.
Use The Areas Provided
The good news is that LinkedIn provide you with plenty of space and opportunities to promote your business so do as they ask. Add that information into the headline or the about section where it belongs. The section they provide for you name is for exactly that, your name and any qualifications or letters you may hold such as BSc, BMA, OBE, MBE etc.
So whether you are an artist, an accountant, a virtual assistant, a marketing professional, a business coach, a teacher, a strategist or whatever, make sure you delete these words from the name section of your ‘personal profile’ as quickly as possible to protect your account from being restricted or worse still closed down. Those additional words have no place in the name section of your ‘personal profile’ and could cost you dearly if LinkedIn decide to take action, which they have every right to do.
For more information or if you would like some help with your LinkedIn profile feel free to contact me I’d love to help you.