LinkedIn (LI) was the topic of conversation the other day with my client. While I am no expert on that subject, I am a raving fan of courtesy, thoughtfulness and professionalism in connecting. Let’s say that you have received a LI invitation, as did my client, as shown in the example below:
John Doe has indicated you are a friend
I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
-- John Doe
Let’s say, further, that you take a look at the generic invitation and have absolutely no idea who John Doe is. You have never heard his name in the past, nor in the present. You are clueless as to who this person is and why on earth he (or she) would be connecting with you.
And you say to yourself….well, don’t be rude, don’t be a jerk, don't be a ...if John Doe took the time to send an invitation, then surely there must be something there. So then you take the time to go ‘check out’ John Doe and discover that he has four connections, an incomplete profile – no photo, limited text, no recommendations, etc.
You are hoping like crazy that he would at least have a photo – perhaps you met him at a networking event or something and would recognize his face? You go back and read the generic invitation. You see that he works at a company where you know some people. You wonder why he would have not taken the time to offer how he knows you, or who he knows that perhaps you may know.
So how about it….the next time you invite someone that you know, or don’t, to connect on LinkedIn, how about offering the who, what, when, where, why of how you know each other in words that show (and say) that you care…that you are different….that your brand takes the time to be memorable. Who knows, that person you take the extra time to write a short, original, thoughtful note may be the very person with the power to hire you, promote you, and/or advocate for you one day soon.
Would you become John Doe’s fifth connection by clicking ‘Accept’? Yes? No? What do you think?
