The Frustrations of Using LinkedIn as a Solopreneur

As a solopreneur, one of the most popular social media platforms you may be using to network and connect with other professionals is LinkedIn. With over 700 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is often seen as the go-to platform for professionals to showcase their expertise and connect with potential clients, partners, and collaborators.

However, as much as LinkedIn can be a valuable tool for solopreneurs, it can also be a source of frustration. In this blog, we'll discuss some of the common frustrations that solopreneurs may experience while using LinkedIn.

Limited Reach

LinkedIn's algorithm is designed to prioritize posts from popular accounts and influencers over posts from smaller accounts, which can make it difficult for solopreneurs to get their content in front of a larger audience who would really care about what they have to say. This limited reach can be frustrating, especially when you've spent time crafting a thoughtful and engaging post only to receive minimal engagement. This is probably because you’re not networking where you’re supposed to be.

Spammy Messages

One of the most frustrating aspects of LinkedIn is the influx of spammy messages. As a solopreneur, you may receive numerous messages from people who are trying to sell you something or who are not interested in building a genuine relationship. Sorting through these messages can be time-consuming and take away from other important tasks. Expect all sorts of messages from HR managers, people who claim to have been your colleague in the past but you barely even remember or just someone asking you to take a look at the cat video they’ve posted.

Inauthentic Networking

Many solopreneurs join LinkedIn with the intention of building meaningful relationships with other professionals in their industry. However, some users may use the platform purely as a means to gain more clients or sales leads, which can come across as inauthentic and insincere. This type of networking can be frustrating and make it difficult to find genuine connections. While it’s true that content is king when it comes to digital consumption, this may not be the case when it comes to professional networking. 

Lack of Time

As a solopreneur, your time is valuable, and managing your LinkedIn profile can take up a significant amount of it. Writing engaging content, responding to messages, and staying up-to-date with industry news and trends can be time-consuming, leaving little time for other important business tasks. Of course, there is always a learning curve in any kind of platform but one that caters to professionals shouldn’t focus on engagement because chances are solopreneurs who want results and who to get things done, won’t spend hours scrolling through their feeds looking for a post to get hooked on.

Limited Features

LinkedIn has several useful features, such as Groups and Pulse articles, that can be beneficial for solopreneurs looking to build their brand and connect with other professionals. However, these features are often limited and can be difficult to navigate, which can make it challenging to get the most out of the platform. They’re not the features you’re expecting to see from a platform known for its job-hiring expertise.

In Conclusion

LinkedIn started out as a modest hiring platform. Now, it has turned into a chaotic social network where people post about their daily hustle and a new job, and it’s not to say those things aren’t important but it’s not as useful as seeing posts targeted to a certain location or to a certain group of professionals. If you haven’t heard yet, SetSchedule is the ultimate platform for your networking and business needs. Sign up for free and discover the VIP room of professional networking.