In yesterday’s post I talked about Open Networkers and Selective Connectors. If someone is obviously an Open Networker, feel free to send them an invitation to connect, even if you don’t know each other.
But what if they’re a Selective Connector or you’re not sure? How do you get connected without offending them or getting in trouble with LinkedIn?
Get Introduced
When you look at someone’s profile on LinkedIn, lower down on the right-hand side, LinkedIn tells you exactly how you’re connected.
If you’re not 1st degree connections (directly connected to each other) LinkedIn will tell you who in your network is also connected to the person you want to know.
That is the key. You can request a LinkedIn introduction from this mutual connection. When you do this, you write a note to the introducer telling them why they should pass along their introduction.
This note needs to be well-written showing how the introduction will benefit the other person and letting the introducer know that you will be respectful of the connection. Many Selective Connectors are very protective of their connections so you need to be really convincing.
Note that not everyone will pass along an introduction so make sure the mutual connection knows you pretty well.
Cyber Stalking – not that way
If you don’t have a mutual connection, or you can’t get this person to pass along the introduction, don’t give up. Try cyber stalking the person you want to meet. I don’t mean this in the creepy, sexual predator way. I mean it in the smart, tech-savvy business-professional way.
Does the person you want to meet have a blog? Read it, share it with your social networks and make comments – thoughtful, intelligent comments. Are they on Twitter? Follow them and start retweeting and commenting on their posts. Are they on Facebook, YouTube or Google Plus? You know what to do.
Next check out their LinkedIn profile and see what LinkedIn groups they belong to. Join a couple of them.
Now LinkedIn policy means you can invite fellow group members to connect but don’t do it yet. Start participating in the group by adding thoughtful, intelligent comments. Be especially sure to reply and comment on your target’s posts.
The key is that you want them to start recognizing your name and face. You want them to start thinking: “Wow! This person (you) is smart, savvy and everywhere!”
Once you think you are on your target’s radar, in one of the group discussions send them a private reply and tell them you really like what they contribute to the group and you would like to further the relationship. Would they mind if you sent them an invitation to connect? If you’ve done your work, at this point they should be receptive.
Occasionally someone will ask why you’re asking and not just sending an invitation request first. You can tell them you know some people dislike getting invitations from people they don’t know and you didn’t want to offend them. This respectfulness will increase their trust in you and make it more likely they’ll accept an invitation to connect.
I hope after reading this post you have a better idea of how to use LinkedIn to run and grow your business. Now I have an invitation to you. If we’re not already connected on LinkedIn please send me an invitation to connect with a note that you read these blog posts. If you do, I promise to accept!
Andrea Stenberg
Have you ever had someone you really wanted to connect with on LinkedIn even if you didn’t know them? Please leave a comment and share your experience.
