LinkedIn Protocols – Top 10 Do’s & Don’ts

I’ve been a LinkedIn user for over 5 years, I will attest to it being a usable, practical, and interactive tool for networking. However, users need to remember one key thing, that LinkedIn is still the social media platform of choice for professionals.

Improper LinkedIn etiquette can alienate your professional contacts and turn away prospective employers from hiring you. In my experience, when it comes to LinkedIn etiquette, there are a few best practices that you should consider:

Do’s

  • Personalize requests. Tell people the reason you are connecting with them.
  • Use a profile picture so people identity yourself.
  • Personalize your recommendation requests and offer to do the same (if appropriate).
  • Keep professional at all times and only share relevant business information.
  • Turn off notifications when updating your profile.
  • Send a welcome letter that provides value.
  • Nurture relationships regularly. Think quality, not quantity.
  • Make your list of contacts open to your connections.
  • Expand your relationships by offering to introduce your connections to others in your network.
  • Be responsive to messages (1 -2 business days).

Don’ts

  • Spam your connections with trivial messages.
  • Over post – once a day is good.
  • Ask people for LinkedIn recommendations, if you don’t know them.
  • Post negative or critical statements or responses.
  • Post self-serving content to group members that hold no value.
  • Ensure privacy at all times.
  • Send messages to multiple people without un-checking the option ‘allow recipients to see each other’s names and email addresses.’
  • Ask people to like your Facebook page, it’s tacky.
  • Ask for endorsements from new connections or people you don’t know.
  • Send messages to new connections or people, telling them you know they viewed your profile.
  • Treat LinkedIn like Facebook or Twitter; it’s more of a professional forum.

What does this all mean?
If you put in the appropriate amount of effort, time and commitment in building your LinkedIn presence and become that resource relationship to your connections.

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