Comments on: LinkedIn Strategy: I'm Sorry, Do I Know You?

By: prostylus

prostylus — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:02:25 +0000

BC, if you could use some additional socmed perspective from rural Western Mass, feel free to tweet me at @prostylus.

By: prostylus

prostylus — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:02:25 +0000

BC, if you could use some additional socmed perspective from rural Western Mass, feel free to tweet me at @prostylus.

By: bcavanaugh

bcavanaugh — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:32:01 +0000

Thanks Scott… I have been chatting up the topic 'round these here parts and hope to emerge with some insights on urban vs. rural approaches to social media… Thanks so much for your comment. I agree with you re: Twitter… it's my daily cocktail networking hour where I hope to meet interesting people, see old friends, talk about new ideas and have conversations that are enriching for myself and anyone listening in at that moment.. Twitter has a karmic quality for me that Linked In does not have, a streamy, lose culture that appeals to how I like to work, unstructured, free-form…

By: bcavanaugh

bcavanaugh — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:32:01 +0000

By: prostylus

prostylus — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:02:25 +0000

BC, if you could use some additional socmed perspective from rural Western Mass, feel free to tweet me at @prostylus.

By: bcavanaugh

bcavanaugh — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:32:01 +0000

By: Scott Hepburn

Scott Hepburn — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:32:56 +0000

Your point about social networking's value to professionals in rural markets is a fascinating topic. I hope you blog about it!

Maybe my beef with LinkedIn stems from not using it as prolificly as I should, or as prolificly as others to. Twitter is my preferred network, so I probably judge other networks through that prism.

I prefer Twitter as an ice breaker precisely because of it's brevity and “streaminess”. If someone jumps in with an @reply, both parties can make an instant judgment: Am I getting value from this convo? If yes, I'll follow…and connect on other platforms, often. If not, thanks for the convo…and the convo soon fades away in the stream.

By: Scott Hepburn

Scott Hepburn — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:19:01 +0000

At the risk of being a waffler, I'll concede there's a lot of validity in your argument. I suspect this isn't a "right or wrong" debate, so much as a "what's your strategy" discussion.

While some people make money online, there's a difference between making money and being a self-serving huckster. And, in my experience, a significant number of those who ask me for a LinkedIn connection with no prior context just want to fill their own coffers.

Still, your point is taken: Keep an open mind. My LinkedIn door isn't closed completely...I just keep the latch on ;)

By: David Phillips

David Phillips — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:28:27 +0000

Good post Scott,

It seems with all the twitter craze lately, everyone has forgotten about Linkedin professionally. Linkedin is also evolving with the social trends, but I see Linkedin as a powerful reverse-referral generation tool. I agree with the engagement part above and feel that ALL networking should be from the value proposition of what can we do to help each other, not what can you do for me...

Here is what I do.

You have to do a little work and create a list of potential target companies. Then, do a company search, see who you know (1st level) or who is a 2nd level contact in those companies. Then, follow the yellow brick road and ask your contacts to help you.

It is a win-win, your referral partner does nothing other than introduce you. In turn, they feel great because they were able to help you. It's a win for you because you get an endorsement from someone who knows your target. This really speeds up the process and allows you to have some control over the referral process.

Of course, if you have 100 contacts and only know 3 of them, you are going to have trouble getting 'IN'-dorsed - so connect and meet for Starbucks first!

By: Scott Hepburn

Scott Hepburn — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:32:56 +0000

Your point about social networking's value to professionals in rural markets is a fascinating topic. I hope you blog about it!

Maybe my beef with LinkedIn stems from not using it as prolificly as I should, or as prolificly as others to. Twitter is my preferred network, so I probably judge other networks through that prism.