You arrive at a networking function. Business cards – check. Breath mints – check. Dressed to impress – check. No spinach between your teeth – check. Smart phone on vibrate – check.
You do a panoramic sweep of the room and decide where to start mingling. Before you can get to your intended target, a gentleman walks over to you, says “Hi, I’m Jim”, smiles and hands you his card . You glance at the card and before you can read the tagline, he’s onto the next person as you watch him repeat that action with each person in the room. He never stops for conversation. A handshake. Doesn’t ask a question. I mean brotherman is on auto pilot – he’s got people to meet and contacts to make.
I have a few questions for you . . . What’s the initial feeling you have? What thought goes through your mind? What is your impression of that person?
CONNECT ON LinkedIn WITH PURPOSE: Make a Great Impression Every Tim
We miss vital opportunities everyday to become memorable, helpful and give that all important great first impression.
I see that just about every time I receive an invitation to connect on LinkedIn (and it drives me nuts and I can’t be the only one). Where are our manners? What happened to introducing ourselves? Finding something in common with the person? Asking if this is their first time at the group?
Whether you’re online or meeting in person, some of the same rules apply.
Here is your standard LinkedIn invitation:
Promise me you’ll never do this again – I mean a Pinky Promise
Say it with me “I promise to never send out another standard LinkedIn invitation”
Give your LinkedIn invitation a Personal Touch
When I receive an invitation to connect from someone I don’t know, I always wonder how they found me. Do you?
Here are a couple that I sent out.
Here are eight ideas on how to personalize your LinkedIn invitations:
- Explain why you want to connect and mention where you met them.
- Came across your blog while I was searching for xyz.
- I enjoyed your blog post/Facebook/tweet about __________.
- Just moved to the area and looking to connect with people here in (insert city).
- Former colleague? Ask how they are doing or mention meeting for coffee to catch up.
- I realize we have a mutual acquaintance, Joe Smith and wanted to get in touch with you.
- I noticed we’re in the same group and LinkedIn/work in the same city.
- Great meeting you at the convention. Let’s keep in touch.
So please head on over to LinkedIn, connect with a few people (Pinky Promise in mind), and don’t forget to send me an invitation: www.linkedin.com/in/genniaholder
I must admit, I have an account, but I’ve not really done anything with it yet. I do get those invites all the time, but I ignore them. I guess it is time for me to look more into it and at the same time mind my manners. Great advice. Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Liz,
Ohh get on it. I’m a big fan of LinkedIn. I’ve had great success using it and I know you will too.
I admit I am guilty as charged. I keep hearing from you and a few others whom I respect that LinkedIn is so important, but I just haven’t “felt” it yet.
Maybe this was the part I was missing.
Thank you for the reminder that we’re creating actual connections and not just adding names to our connections list.
I always tell people to forget that it’s called social media, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. Getting caught up in what it’s called can hold us back. Think of it as building relationships with people you want to build your network with, where you have the opportunity to be social instead of salesy. Takes the pressure off. You like connecting people, so LinkedIn is a perfect place for you to add into the mix, introduce people, etc. Oh this sounds like another blog post 🙂
Hi Gennia,
It was a pleasure to connect with you on LinkedIn and an equal joy to have inspired this post. Thank you.
You’re so right that when we think of connecting online as building relationships, we won’t be as prone to treat it impersonally.
One drawback to extending personal invitations, I’ve been told, is that some of the mobile devices don’t allow for personalizing the LI invitation. Since I only use my laptop for extending and accepting LI invites, I haven’t had this experience.
We’ve been discussing this in one of my LI groups, so I’ll share your post there.
Flora, yes our connection is a powerful example of how connecting should be about building relationships, as opposed to just having a large number of connections.
For those using LinkedIn on mobile devices, a great thing to do would be going back and sharing a link to an article of interest to them or letting them know you enjoyed a blog post, tweet or Facebook update. It’s about being personal, providing value and making a great first impression, especially if that person is potential client/donor/sponsor. Oh and thank you for sharing on LinkedIn.