| Not "feeling the love" that is supposed to come from | | | | invitation to connect. If you're lucky, they'll just ignore |
| networking on sites like LinkedIn? You're not alone! | | | | you. Multiple times. Your feelings might get hurt, but |
| It's not easy to "get connected" successfully | | | | at least you won't score any penalty points. |
| regardless of how many people tell you LinkedIn is | | | | If you are thinking of adding them to your network, |
| the holy grail of professional networking. | | | | make no assumptions. Test the waters offline before |
| Here's how to minimize residual damage to your | | | | issuing an invitation to connect to be on the safe |
| self-confidence and sense of worth when they're | | | | side. |
| just not that "LinkedIn" to you. | | | | In the middle is everyone else. They may or may not |
| 1. It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You! | | | | know you but, if you can get up the courage to |
| LinkedIn advises connecting only with those you | | | | send an invitation to connect, there is a 50/50 chance |
| know and trust. Which is great if you know a lot of | | | | they'll accept if for no other reason than you look like |
| people. Not so great if you're looking to meet new | | | | someone they really should know (or at least give |
| folks to expand your network which is how most | | | | the appearance of knowing) or because they actually |
| people are "sold" on the system and why they are | | | | do know you and have decided to give you that |
| using it to begin with. | | | | "virtual seal of social approval". Others may accept |
| Who needs another time-consuming networking tool | | | | because they have an agenda of their own to pursue |
| to stay connected with people you already know? | | | | and you look like someone they can safely approach |
| You have a relationship with them and probably keep | | | | with it sooner or later. |
| in touch regularly via other ways and means. | | | | Then there are the people who send you an |
| Don't be surprised if you find people you know on | | | | invitation to connect with them. Now you get to |
| LinkedIn, issue an "invitation to connect", then don't | | | | decide who's in and who's out. What's your standard |
| hear back from them. If you look closely, you may | | | | "acceptance" criteria going to be? |
| find they set up their profile a long time ago, never | | | | 3. Make a More Memorable First Move! |
| did much of anything with it, and aren't all that active | | | | You can approach people you don't know on |
| in LinkedIn anyway (if at all). Not much of a problem | | | | LinkedIn but if you just send the boilerplate text |
| then. | | | | provided for an invitation to connect don't expect |
| What is a problem is when these same people | | | | many acceptances. Send a personal message; give |
| respond to your invitation with a "Doesn't know" tag. | | | | them a reason to want to connect. You'll be much |
| Get enough of these and LinkedIn will ban you | | | | more successful. |
| forever. Ouch! | | | | 4. Tell a Better Story! |
| 2. It's Not Who You Know, It's Who WANTS to | | | | Just how "attractive" are you on screen? LinkedIn is |
| Know You! | | | | not a "meet market" for professional socializing. In |
| LinkedIn has a defined social hierarchy. Don't act | | | | fact, they only recently started letting members post |
| surprised. Every society has a "pecking order"; this | | | | photos on the site. But don't expect to see much |
| one just happens to be online. | | | | "action" in the networking game if you haven't put |
| At the top of the hierarchy is the "open networkers". | | | | much effort into your web presence. |
| They call themselves LIONS (for LinkedIn Open | | | | Your professional profile tells a story about your |
| Networkers). They typically have hundreds, if not | | | | connection worthiness. You still have to "sell" yourself |
| thousands of connections and advertise their | | | | if you want to make decent connections; your |
| openness to connecting with anyone. This does not | | | | "rejection" percentage will be high if you don't do a |
| mean you don't have to check their profiles; your | | | | good job of it. |
| "invitation to connect" can still be rejected. But it | | | | 5. Go for Group Gold! |
| does mean chances are good they'll accept thereby | | | | Does your profile read virtual wallflower? Check to |
| making it possible for you to grow your network by | | | | see if you meet the criteria of specific groups or |
| connecting to them. The downside is you're not likely | | | | associations. Then make group connections and |
| to have a lot in common with a LION (unless | | | | display your badge of acceptance (group label) on |
| choosing them wisely) which could make building | | | | your profile. Depending on the label, your "connection" |
| ongoing relationships harder. | | | | attractiveness could increase many times over. |
| At the bottom of the hierarchy are the "closed | | | | When using social networking tools like LinkedIn don't |
| networkers". These folks accept invitations to | | | | take anything that happens or doesn't happen in |
| connect based on highly-defined | | | | cyber-space personally. We all hunger for belonging, |
| known-only-to-themselves criteria. Approaching them | | | | acceptance, validation and love; it's just more |
| is very risky. Even when you know them, worked | | | | productive to look for these things in places other |
| with them, and possibly are even close personal | | | | than online. |
| friends with them, they still might reject your | | | | |