Why Would You Waste Your Time Sending A LinkedIn Invitation?

Why Would You Waste Your Time Sending A LinkedIn Invitation?

Imagine, if you will, someone sending an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. The other party accepts the invitation, and now, wait for it, they are "connected"!

They then proceed to rinse and repeat this process several hundred times but all the while . . .

They never do a damn thing with all those names on their computer screen!

They don't send along helpful (non salesy) resources

They don't comment on any of the updates from those in their network

They never use the "icebreakers" LinkedIn provides like "Wish Lisa Happy Birthday" or "Todd has a new job" or heaven forbid they acknowledge the 5 year work anniversary Helen is celebrating this month. Oh and when it's their birthday, or work anniversary and they receive well wishes from those in their network, they promptly ignore them.

They make zero attempt to move that name off their computer screen and into real time via a phone call or a cup of coffee (pronounced Kaw Fee where I come from).

And worst of all, they are non responsive when those in their network attempt to be SOCIAL! That's a tad ironic considering this is a SOCIAL network.

It makes you wonder why they would bother sending the invite in the first place!

It also makes you wonder (I hope) how much more valuable a network, of any kind is, when there is actual interaction.

And before you write this off as just another rant from a wanna be LinkedIn "expert".

I'm not an expert, I'm simply someone who made almost every one of those mistakes back in 2008 when I started on LinkedIn.

How about you?

Are you actually CONNECTING with people on LinkedIn or are you COLLECTING a bunch of useless names?

Paul Castain helps sales reps, sales leaders and business owners sell more! Visit his blog for over 1400 free blog posts and download his mobile app and receive over 100 free audio sales lessons.

Tom Kim

Area Sales Manager at CCP Industries

8y

Great post, Paul. I'm glad I'm not the only one that has been through this, and had the same feelings. Well said and now you have a new follower.

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Paul Castain

Builder of unstoppable sales teams, one sales rep at a time!

9y

I agree Steven. I really wish I could ask them "Then why are you here?"

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Steve Klein

Office Manager / H.R. Assistant at IQPC Exchange

9y

I agree that people may have different motives for connecting but to not respond at all on LinkedIn seems like a contradiction. Why bother creating an account?

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Rajan P Thodiyoor

Chairman and Managing Director, Rarirem Info Media Pvt Ltd

9y

Dear Mr. Paul Castain, Atleast, an opportunity to know somebody, somewhere with same or similar mindset.

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Dora Herrera

Catering your business, family, or company events with James Beard Award winning menus & service since 1976.

9y

What baffles me are the people who send a "let's connect over coffee" note and never reply when I say, "Sure! Where and when? "

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