subject: Using LinkedIn - Are You an Open Networker Or Selective Connector? [print this page] Using LinkedIn - Are You an Open Networker Or Selective Connector?
There is two schools of thought when it comes to networking on LinkedIn. Most people are either an open networker or a selective connector.
Open networkers are people who believe in building as wide a network as possible, regardless of how well they know this person, if at all. Selective connectors are, well, more selective.
Some people connect with people on LinkedIn whose products or services they would be willing to recommend. Others wait to develop a relationship outside of LinkedIn first, before deciding if they trust the person enough to connect on LinkedIn.
What are the pros and cons of each style?
If you're an open networker, you will have a larger social media network. Having a larger network means you have a bigger pool of people to draw on if you are looking for an expert, a product or service, or help of some kind.
The downside: you won't personally know everyone on your list. You may get messages and invitations that are of little or no interest to you. Since LinkedIn limits - thankfully - the number of people you can send messages to in bulk, if you're sending a message to your network, it will take longer to search your list of connections for people who should receive your message. (You'd never just send a message to everyone on your list right?).
The biggest downside to being an open networker is also its biggest upside in disguise. When you connect to people you don't know, you don't know anything about them - who they are, what they do, how you can help them, how they can help you.
However, if you take the time to read people's profiles and use LinkedIn to interact with them appropriately, you may get to know them. And you never know who might turn into a valuable resource.
If you're a selective connector and know people before you link to them in LinkedIn you won't have as much unwanted email. You'll know exactly who in your network should receive certain messages and exactly who can help you. You'll know exactly who you can help and how. The downside is you won't be expanding your network. You won't get unexpected support. In this case, LinkedIn really just becomes a back-up database.
What does Andrea do?
I guess I could be considered a Slightly Selective Open Networker. As a general rule, I accept all invitations I receive. Yes, occasionally I get requests from my network that I can't help with, but they are always respectful and appropriate. I've never felt spammed.
The biggest upside to being an open networker is I've met some really great people as a result. Yes, a large percentage of my LinkedIn connections are strangers. However, some of these strangers have turned into valuable resources, colleagues, joint venture partners and even friends.
Basically, I treat my online networking the way I treat my real life networking. When I go to a networking meeting I don't refuse to give my card to someone because I don't know them yet. It's standard practice to introduce yourself and exchange business cards.
I may collect ten or fifteen business cards at a particular event but only really connect with one or two people. True, those other cards may sit in my card file unused. At some point I may even look at the card and forget why I kept it and toss it. On the other hand, I may run into this person again some day. Over time, we may develop a relationship.
The key is, I never know who will become a valued part of my network whether on or offline. I use LinkedIn to connect with people who might be of help to me down the road or who might need my help. Yes it takes more work to manage an open network, but in the long run I think the benefits outweigh the costs.
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