Why You Won’t Be One of My LinkedIn Connections

Here’s Why You WON’T Be Becoming One of My LinkedIn Connections:

1. You haven’t personalised your message asking me to connect. People who have sent a message with their invitation definitely get my attention first!

   Another technique that my Connection Carol Roberts highlighted is to accept Connection Requests from people who haven’t attached a personal message, (only if they’re profile and LinkedIn headline intrigues you). Then, gently nudge them with a message asking what prompted them to Connect with you. If you don’t get a response it demonstrates they are not active on LinkedIn or are just after boosting their Connection numbers, so hit ‘delete’. If they do respond you’re looking at a blossoming relationship!

2. Your profile is devoid of enough detail for me to ‘get’ you. Your headline in particular deserves a lot of time and consideration. Often, I’ve heard people say if someone’s headline ‘grabs them’ they’re more likely to accept an invitation from them.

   When it come to writing your Summary – an often daunting task – just say it as it is! Tell me what you’ve done, what you are doing and where you’d like to go! Imagine we haven’t met – what is it about you would I might like to know?

3. You are not 21 anymore but you have only one job which you started 6 months ago…
4. Your activity level tells me you are not active on LinkedIn. What am I going to learn from you? This already feels like a one-way relationship.
5. You have no profile picture. Really? What are you hiding?
6. You’re in sales – I get it – but don’t pitch at me before we’ve said “hello”… People who have taken the time to send a personalised message but go straight into selling me something before we’ve gotten properly acquainted often get swiftly deleted. It’s not what I’m about. Think relationships people, not sales!
7. You have several thousand connections already – whoopee – you don’t need another one then, do you?

   Note: By ‘several thousand connections’ I generally mean people with 10K+. You may have over 2000 connections but still be on the hunt for interesting people. I have nothing against numbers alone, it’s more if a Connection request comes from someone who already has over 10K Connections who also meets some of the other points in this list.

8. You sell software that automates LinkedIn connections. I don’t need connections – I LOVE relationships. Believe it or not, I’ve even seen LinkedIn trainers automating their LinkedIn connections! Go figure!
9. I don’t see you having taken a look at my profile. You can’t be that interested in me then, can you?
10. A combination of any of the above that makes me sceptical of a reason to connect.

I am the product of the special people I digitally surround myself with.

You have to reach the bar for me to let you into my ‘club’.

But anyone who is genuine, looks like a real person, that I think to myself ‘I can add value to your life, or you can add value to my life’ – then you are most welcome.

What does it take to become your Connection on LinkedIn? What criteria do you have, if any? Let me know over on LinkedIn. If you don’t have any criteria, perhaps you should!