This week’s post was inspired by an Invitation I received one morning to Connect on Linkedin.

Now I’m not in any way, shape, or form, implying I am a LinkedIn expert. I am not. However, I do know a few things about social media and networking etiquette, and this invitation did NOT meet the requirements or standards of either.

This lovely gentleman wishing to connect sent the following custom note with his invitation:

“Terry L. – hope you are well!

Curious – Are you interested in hitting goals faster?

If so, you can have a (free) secret new hack to Hitting Your Goals Faster.

…and It’s not about working harder

If you’d like to see how it works, just reply “YES”

If you’re not interested, no sweat.”

Hmmm … really? First of all … “Terry L?” Might as well have said to whom it may concern. I don’t know about you, but I like to at least snuggle and maybe get a kiss in before hopping right into bed with someone. It’s one thing to get a message with a sales pitch of some sort AFTER the invitation  to connect. But to get the pitch IN the invitation? Nope. 

Who are you, and what makes you think I’d even be remotely interested in what you have to offer when I don’t know the first thing about you?

So here are 5 tips from this non LinkedIn expert.

1. Send an invitation with a personal note letting them know who you are, where you met them or how you might know them, and why you want to connect.
2. Once the person has connected, get to know them. Find out about them, and let them get to know you because you’re posting and sharing things on LinkedIn that confirm and establish what you do and give them a reason to WANT to do business with you in the future.
3. If, if, and only if, there is a real connection there and you feel they have something that would benefit you – or there is some synergy there to collaborate, see if they’d like to have a quick 10-15 minute phone call with you to explore it. But do NOT waste their time.
4. Do not pitch to them until after you have established a relationship and have at least a little bit of that know, like and trust thingy going on. Don’t pitch sales stuff. Don’t even pitch free stuff – unless they ask for it, or indicate that they really, really need something you have to offer.
5. And above all … do not, not, not export your LinkedIn contacts and add them to your mailing list. Accepting an invitation to connect with you on LinkedIn is NOT and invitation or permission to add them to your mailing list. So just don’t! Ever.

LinkedIn can be a very valuable tool in your social media and networking arsenal. But like anywhere else, get to know someone first, and develop a relationship, before you ask them to hop into bed with you.

That being said … if you’re a speaker or business coach and would like to connect, send me an invitation. Let’s get to know each other!