Throughout my time as a LinkedIn user, I have received a large number of invitations to connect. Every one of these invitations can be grouped in three categories that are represented with the following real and recent examples:
Example 1:
Jorge
I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
-Joe
Example 2:
Jorge,
I am reaching out to you as a fellow member of (another online network).
I would love to connect with you to share networks.
I do understand that you might choose not to accept my invitation. If that is the case please ARCHIVE the invitation instead of saying you don’t know me.
I appreciate your time.
- Joe
Example 3
Jorge
I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. We are connected through a number of different people and the X Talent Conference group and I was impressed when I saw your profile. I am seeking to create a powerful network of fellow professionals from around the world that I can learn from, share with and develop best practice to use every day. I thank you for your consideration.
-Joe
What matters most to you?. Is it:
- How interested/beneficial it is for you to connect to Joe?
- The style of the invitation and how much ‘effort’ the inviter has made in producing a customised invitation?
- The fact that you don’t know Joe
Hi Jorge
You’ve scratched the surface here on the new netiquette.
To my mind there are fundamentally two approaches to these networks. The first is an approach that sees value in the volume of connections. The second (and my preferred appraoch) is one that sees value in the quality / segmentation of connections.
The netiquette thing gets dicey is when you get connection requests between ‘volume’ people and ‘quality’ people.
Personally I can’t see why anyone would want to have an online relationship with me when they don’t even know me - I might be downright dangerous!
I’m still coming to terms with LinkedIn at times. It’s limited functionality and clunky site make it a real hassle. However recently on my blog I discussed the fact that the new linkedin iPhone app might change all this. Would love to hear your thoughts on it
Jye, i don’t have an iPhone so won’t be able to check out the LinkedIn app anytime soon. Having said that, my expectation is that in principle no plug-in will be able to resolve functional limitations at core design level (and as you point out, there are a few).