Would You Do This In Real Life? Dear John,
What would you think of a person who walked into a room and bragged about receiving an award before he greeted you?
How would you feel about a woman who began a business meeting by showing you cat videos?
Would you license a CRM system from a guy who rang your doorbell at home and cold-pitched you every day for a month?
This is the crap that happens on LinkedIn. In fact, it's happening right now.
Let's face it, LinkedIn has become the cyber version of a bad chamber of commerce networking breakfast - without the stale danish and coffee-breath.
You know who attends those? Desperate people and grifters.
LinkedIn is a haven for people who crave attention and those who take advantage of them.
Want to know the sad part of this entire proposition? Corporate executives see LinkedIn stock being covered by analysts, they hear their employees talk about updating their profiles, and they think it is a legitimate tool for growing revenue.
In reality, it's noting more than a water cooler where people tout accomplishments to the point of damaging their reputation while others pick their pocket.
Look, you've probably stopped reading this article already because the truth hurts. But if you're still with me, I'll give you five things you can do to make your LinkedIn life a little less obnoxious.
One: Deliver value
Write an article that will help people. Share a "How to..." video. Post a helpful checklist. If you do this a couple of times each week, people will actually want to hear from you.
Two: Only comment if you have something relevant to add to the discussion.
We know what you're doing. Your pithy, valueless comment is designed to get your name in front of everyone who read the article someone else posted. This is the equivelent of talking to hear the sound of your own voice.
Three: Let other people announce your Superlawyers, Best of the Bar, Chamber of Commerce Save the Chipmunk Foundation, Person of the Year Award.
Look, if you won something amazing and it's a once-in-a-career accomplishment, tell the world. But I know a lot of crappy lawyers and CPAs who are on best-of-the-best lists. Promoting those yourself is not just tacky, it's needy, desperate, and indicative of low self-esteem.
The next time you pay to be included on a SuperDuper Practitioner list, have the marketing person post it. Don't do a "Proud and Honored" LinkedIn post. Better, yet, just hang it on your fridge at home and spare us all the extra scrolling space.
Four: Cats, Kids and Vacation Pics Are for Instagram
Do I really need to tell you this? Yes. I do. Your video of Mr. Boots trying to lick the peanut butter off his tail is not appropriate for the office so don't post it on LinkedIn. Also, the photo of you eating a hotdog at Nathan's on the Jersey Shore - not a good look.
Fifth: Stop Spamming Us
You know who cold-solicits people via LinkedIn? Scammers, grifters and faux gurus. I know there are people who are DESPERATE and they will buy any perceived shortcut to attracting new clients. I know people don't want to work to build relationships. But once I refuse your pitch-oriented connection request, stop coming back for more. And if you pitch me before you deliver value, I'm going to call you out on it and shame you to my network because, well, grifters-gonna-grift and people need to know about you.
Here's the bottom line:
Don't do something on LinkedIn you wouldn't do at work. If it doesn't fly in REAL LIFE, it shouldn't be on LinkedIn.
The exception: If you're an incredibly narcisistic duffus, ignorant of all social norms.
In that case, carry on.
Enjoy your weekend!
Warm regards,
Dave Lorenzo
Revenue Growth Expert
Toll Free: (888) 444-5150
Miami, FL: (786) 436-1986
EMail: DLorenzo@DLorenzo.com
Website: DaveLorenzo.com | 