This time it is personal - minding your manners on LinkedIn
Making the right impression when you want to build rapport with someone is vital, not least in business.
Yet on the premier online network LinkedIn the majority of introductions are abrupt and use the standard ‘I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn’. This undermines you!
It is often claimed a whopping 93% of communication is non-verbal and while frankly that is questionable, there is no doubt in the real world we make decisions based on much more than mere words. Yet when it comes to connecting with people online, all you have is the written word so you need to make it count. Which incidentally, is why you shouldn’t use Twitter language on LinkedIn.
When you bump into someone you know it is rare to limit your greeting to some bland statement, yet so many do it on LinkedIn! So make it personal.
Keep in mind that, as we have blogged, you should only be linking with people that you know on LinkedIn and following this recommended approach there are four reliable ways I identify people I know to connect with.
- Networking
- Suggestions
- Networks
- Updates
When I have been networking I will go through the business cards of the people I met and talked to and feel I want to pursue a professional relationship with. Then I search for them on LinkedIn and upon finding them with invite them to become LinkedIn. I will insert my own text that clarifies where we met, often what we talked about and why I want to become LinkedIn with them.
Another way is through LinkedIn itself. It will suggest people you might know through clever algorithms that look at your network and existing links; it has the uncanny ability to find people you do know. Here a personalised introduction is important as you may not have seen them recently.
Do look closely at the connections of those in your network. Why rely upon LinkedIn to suggest people to connect with when you can look for yourself. Unless they have protected their network, you can see all their connection and it does stand to reason if you know someone, it is likely you will know others they know too.
Finally, LinkedIn will send you updates of the activities of your connections. There are many ways to see this from Hootsuite through to an RSS feed. We received an RSS feed in Outlook which reveals any activities of our connections, from recommendations and updates, through to the all important new connections – sometimes I know those connections and will invite them to become LinkedIn.
Remember many of your connections will also see your updates and who you connect with, which makes it vital you service your account if you want to use it to promote your business.
Oh yes, a speaking of making the right impression I should credit CarbonNYC on Flickr for letting me use the photographs
If you would like to explore how best to use LinkedIn in more detail and how best to leverage it for your business, please do contact Morgan PR.