CheckMate

This is one of those “Gee, everybody knows that, so I don’t have to write about it.” things, but based on the amount of it I’ve seen lately, I guess everybody doesn’t know, and so I will write about it.

Specifically, the stock “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” connect request.

Never, EVER send out that canned invitation. At least not to me if you really would like to connect, anyway.

Here’s why…

Forget for the moment the larger and more complex discussion about open networking, meaningfulness of connections, and so on - let’s just stick to the simple and narrow: you want to connect with someone on LinkedIn that you don’t know.

The way I see it - and so do a lot of others - is if you can’t take the time to send some kind of even remotely personalized invitation, then why should I take the time to accept it?

It doesn’t have to be anything extensive, or super special, or time-consuming to create - even something like a simple “I read your blog entry the other day about not using the canned LinkedIn invitation, and thought it was very good. I’d appreciate a connection.” would be good.

Now I’m not gonna say I’ve never overlooked my feelings about this and accepted a canned invitation from someone. But I won’t guarantee that I will from now on.

Try it - it won’t take you that long to do, your acceptance rate may just go up, and, if nothing else, you at least know you did things the right way.

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