LinkedIn Etiquette - Introductions
I’ve been noting a few things about social networking that I thought I’d bring up, and comment on. This post is on introductions within LinkedIn.
The issue that always comes up is, do you use the generic template to do an introduction? The template looks like this (thanks Scott!):
Most people say you need to change the template if you want to be effective. That’s probably true if you are sending out tons of invitations to connect, especially to people that don’t know you very well.
What do I think? It doesn’t matter. I don’t care. If you invite me to connect, and you use the generic template, it doesn’t phase me.
I don’t change the template when I invite (I don’t invite much)… and the few times that I have I change it to “Yo.” That’s because I invite people that I already have a relationship with - and they are expecting it (see Jack Yan’s comment). Shoot, I don’t even really read the invitation, I just go and accept (I do scan to see if there is anything different, a request, etc.).
But if you want to send something different, or be “unique,” there is a post by industry expert Scott Allen that is a must read. This is the most clever thing I’ve seen on the topic… he brings in examples from WorldWIT founder Liz Ryan and career expert Daniel Sweet - you have to read the post but here are some teasers:
From Liz:
VALLEY GIRL
I???m like, totally using this LinkedIn thing, and it???s like, everyone???s doing it and if you???re like, not connected, you???re like, so not even ANYONE. So I???m all ???let???s connect,??? and you like only have to hit this one button and stuff, so like do it, and let???s GET TO KNOW SOME PEOPLE!!
From Scott:
SMS (When is LinkedIn Mobile Edition coming out?!?)
u hv 2 chk out li
gd biz tool 4 u
From Daniel:
HANS & FRANZ
I saw you on LinkedIn and you seemed like kind of a Girly Man. But, read my e-mail now, hear my next week, and believe me in a month, if you connect to me, your network will be PUMPED! UP!
Click on the link to the right if your pathetic Girly-Man finger can handle it.
So now you know where I stand - what do you think? Is this going to change how you do invitations?