An industry veteran last week got in a huff over an invitation they had sent someone on LinkedIn who rejected the invite with “don’t know.” They were upset by this and couldn’t understand how their invitation to connect could be rejected by someone in their same industry. After all, if you are looking to build your online social network shouldn't you just accept everyone's invitation to connect?
Not exactly! This example got me thinking about Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networks in regards to how people use them to create rolodexes that don’t really have any weight or metric value because they lack real authenticity. These are the people you haven’t really met, done business with or have any other real life connection with. Yet everyday we all have come into contact with these "list builders" and the trend only seems to keep growing.
I met with our social media director; Shannon Nelson, and we discussed how there are benefits to reaching out to people you don’t know online especially when you have a service that they are in need of or information that you want. However, if it’s unsolicited or there appears to be no true connection between you, the request and the person sending the invite, then it should be rejected. Yes, social media is a network of reciprocation, but as Shannon pointed out to me, LinkedIn’s tagline is: “Relationships Matter." Furthermore: "Your professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career and is one of your most valuable assets. LinkedIn exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return."
My question is – can you trust someone who attempts to connect to you that you have never met, done business with or even heard of for that matter? Is the internet creating false experts, industry gurus and those that deem themselves ironically connected for their knowledge and not because they sit on a computer all day long and buddy list?
Here are our top 5 suggestions to network with professionals via social media:
• Connect to people you would actually sit down and have a coffee with in person
• Focus on your own business, not your competitors
• Look ahead, not around
• Stay connected but don’t get incestuous
• Build trust and a relationship before asking someone to be your friend on Facebook or adding them to your list of contacts on LinkedIn.
I'd love to hear your views on this topic. Please share them in the comments!
Posted by Pierce Mattie on December 14, 2009 3:48 PM
| Permalink
