Social Media
Five things you should stop doing on LinkedIn
By Brian Basilico
Brian is a nationally recognized speaker, author, trainer and adjunct professor. He brings over 30 years of marketing experience to his award winning internet marketing company, B2b Interactive Marketing, Inc. Brian is a syndicated blogger, and has been featured as an guest expert in Entrepreneur and Inc. magazines, as well as various news articles, radio shows, and podcasts.
LinkedIn is the ‘GO-TO’ place for business people.
It’s great for connecting with that latest new prospect, to get questions answered, or just connecting up with people that you face-to-face network with. But just like every popular social media hangout, it is filled with people who could care less about you and the un-written rules of etiquette. They are trying to exploit the system for their own personal gain. Granted, most people are simply trying to connect and play nice in the sandbox, but I have seen more than one person personally kill a LinkedIn group by being all – me, me me, buy, buy, sell, sell sell. Have you seen that?
I recently had a person ask to connect from the UK, and then proceeded to tell me they are lonely and looking for a relationship… Really? That takes Relationship Marketing to a whole new level!
Relationships are not only the goal, but the main goal.
How could anyone maintain a relationship without understanding that it’s all about give and take? By the way, that female from the UK is a guy who just wants to take my money!
If you are semi-active on LinkedIn, you have certainly seen people who treat Linkedin as their personal fish barrel for sales. They just keep shooting and you keep swimming. Some users just give up and don’t swim (don’t check in and check out), while others bite (and that’s what keeps them shooting). I will have to assume that if you are reading this you are not one of them (the one’s who keep shooting or the one’s who have given up). Those people will not want YOU to read the following 5 tips.
1. You Are Not a Company, You Have a Name – Please don’t create an account or set your name to ‘My Company.' People may give your company money, but they do business with people… and other people on LinkedIn hope and expect that you are a person, and not just a faceless brand. LinkedIn offers business pages for your business brand, and you can promote it there! Be yourself, be real, and don’t just be a company!
2. You are not John and Jane Doe – Unless you are a cross dresser, you are John OR Jane. I can understand how some people use Facebook or Twitter as a married couple (or domestic partners), but don’t expect people to refer to you as “You Guys and Gals.” Create a separate account for each of you and we will be more apt to connect (That way, we don’t tell your wife bad guy jokes). Split personalities leads to less interaction and that’s not why you use social media or want to!
3. You Have a Face, Use it – I can’t find your logo at Starbucks. Meaning if I am meeting up with you for the first time, I want to know what you look like. Having a blank image or your logo does you and nobody else any no good. People use it to choose whether to connect with you or not. You are your own personal brand even if you represent another business or brand… treat it that way! P.S. Please get a professional headshot. Your speedo picture from 1970 may be funny to your friends, but not to a potential million dollar client.
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The point of this post is we are all part of a bigger picture. The more we can help each other, and help others, the more it gets us to a place where we are relevant and respected. If all you want to do is hawk your wares… I believe there is still flea markets out there. Good luck with your copied DVD’s!
I would love to hear your thoughts and comments?
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