Stop Treating LinkedIn Like Facebook.
Rolodex was LinkedIn before LinkedIn. Maybe if you think this way, it will work harder for you.
LinkedIn is for your business contacts. Keep your friends on Facebook. Yes, people and brands promote themselves on FB. But I'm not talking about FB, nor the business side of FB. Let's save that for another day.
If you have 500+ contacts on LinkedIn and don't know most of them, then you aren't making the most of LinkedIn. I have about 400 contacts myself. I can honestly say about 80 percent are business contacts. Out of that 80 percent, I've had a real business relationship with about 70 percent. Meaning, we've worked together at some point or we've been in touch about working together. Mind you, this over several years.
If you have a small list of contact names, it's nothing to be embarrassed about as long as your network works for you. LinkedIn isn't (or shouldn't be) a popularity contest.
I found my last job through LinkedIn. One of my contacts told me about this position. Through LinkedIn, I've worked with people around the world and never saw or spoke directly to them and they were successful ventures. That's the difference between having a list of good contacts and just collecting names. That's the power of LinkedIn.
How do I make good contacts?
So if you are just trying to be anonymously popular, stroke your ego on Facebook. LinkedIn is about work. Make it work for you. And yes, of course, you can be my LinkedIn contact and FB friend too. But it only works when you now how to separate business with pleasure with social networking.
LinkedIn is for your business contacts. Keep your friends on Facebook. Yes, people and brands promote themselves on FB. But I'm not talking about FB, nor the business side of FB. Let's save that for another day.
If you have 500+ contacts on LinkedIn and don't know most of them, then you aren't making the most of LinkedIn. I have about 400 contacts myself. I can honestly say about 80 percent are business contacts. Out of that 80 percent, I've had a real business relationship with about 70 percent. Meaning, we've worked together at some point or we've been in touch about working together. Mind you, this over several years.
If you have a small list of contact names, it's nothing to be embarrassed about as long as your network works for you. LinkedIn isn't (or shouldn't be) a popularity contest.
I found my last job through LinkedIn. One of my contacts told me about this position. Through LinkedIn, I've worked with people around the world and never saw or spoke directly to them and they were successful ventures. That's the difference between having a list of good contacts and just collecting names. That's the power of LinkedIn.
How do I make good contacts?
- I participate in group discussions. People learn to trust you through your knowledge and expertise
- I make an effort to answer back if I'm contacted
- Sometimes it's not as fast as I'd hope, but I make the effort to deliver on my commitments
- I only reach out to those I've worked with or want to work with
- I accept invites from those who want to work with me not spam me
- I don't stalk people
So if you are just trying to be anonymously popular, stroke your ego on Facebook. LinkedIn is about work. Make it work for you. And yes, of course, you can be my LinkedIn contact and FB friend too. But it only works when you now how to separate business with pleasure with social networking.
Posted by Clifton Simmons at 6/29/2011 9:24 AM 
Categories: You've Been Schooled, Agency Life, Jobs and Contacts
Tags: Facebook LinkedIn social media
Categories: You've Been Schooled, Agency Life, Jobs and Contacts
Tags: Facebook LinkedIn social media
I complete agree with you. I have a personal rule for Linkedin, that if I have never spoke to you in a professional manner then I will no add you. I have over 600 contacts but I've received advice from over 90% and the rest are my college friends that I feel will be something in the future. Another thing I don't get is people sending their non-professional tweets to LinkedIn. If you're going to that, I don't see any reason for having a LinkedIn, since you're saying things that will prevent you from getting hired.
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