LinkedIn is a great social networking tool that allows you to connect with people on a professional level. You can use it to promote your business, help with your job search, get feedback on business-related topics, and in many other ways. Connections are key to getting the most out of LinkedIn; however, unlike other more public social media platforms (like Twitter), making connections on LinkedIn is not always as simple as sending an invite. To increase the likelihood of having your connection request accepted, do something most people fail to do – send a personalized note.
LinkedIn is not a place where you are likely to befriend a random person. So when establishing a connection, you need to explain why you want to connect and what you have in common. It helps to mention something about a mutually beneficial conversation and a business purpose. If you have several contacts in common, be sure to point this out as well. You can also state that the LinkedIn algorithm suggested that you both be friends if this is the case. Establishing a personal connection (whatever it is) will significantly improve your response rates.
Be sure to also leverage your relationships on other social media platforms within LinkedIn. For example, try to chat with people on Twitter first to establish a connection. Then you can later reach out to them on LinkedIn to strengthen your relationship.
A personalized message is a great way to increase your LinkedIn connections. But remember, if you have nothing in common with someone, don’t necessarily expect them to accept even if you write a note.
Comparz provides user reviews and rankings of software services and tools for small and mid-sized businesses. Click here to view Comparz' business software reviews and rankings.
I get a lot of requests for references on LinkedIn. Many of them I’m happy to do, others not so much! If you’re requesting a reference, I suggest you only do so from people you have a bona fide relationship with that’s relatively current. Also, since references on LinkedIn should be relatively brief, I think you might want to ask the person providing the reference to address one or two topics, ie. your design skills, knowledge of a particular pieces of software, etc., that are important to you.