What’s Your Linkedin policy?

I have a policy that I established a few years ago as I started to amass a larger number of contacts on Linkedin.  My policy?  If I don’t know you, I generally won’t add you without a phone call.  And if I don’t think it’s a good fit, I may not confirm the connection.

When people hear back re: my policy, I get one of two reactions.  About half are up for the phone call.  The other half, well, aren’t.  My own little filter to attract only serious networkers.

I’m somewhat unique in this rule.  I don’t blame people who try to connect based on common connections or shared interests.  I get the idea and see the value of more connections.  As of this writing, I now have 175 connections.  A pretty modest number based on some of the other numbers I’ve seen.

Linkedin, in fact, encourages your building more and more connections by promoting your total network size.  See below for my network statistics.

Your Network of Trusted Professionals

You are at the center of your network. Your connections can introduce you to 2,429,400+ professionals — here’s how your network breaks down:
Your Connections Your trusted friends and colleagues	175
Two degrees away Friends of friends; each connected to one of your connections	31,800+
Three degrees away Reach these users through a friend and one of their friends	2,397,300+
Total users you can contact through an Introduction	2,429,400+

8,372 new people in your network since November 30

To Linkedin’s credit, they have discouraged connecting with people you don’t know.  However, their limit of 3,000 connections before you cannot invite anybody else does not support that spirit (once you get to 3,000 people must invite you instead).

For me, Linkedin is a place for people that I know or with whom I have networked (meeting or phone call).  There are plenty of other places where adding lots of contacts is beneficial and has little to no risk (Twitter is a good example).

So, if you don’t have a policy for Linkedin, consider some limits.  Not only will it allow you to confidently interact with your connections but you will also be able to recommend them to others. Plus, even just a five minute phone call provides a basis for a friendship.  Those people that I’ve newly met via this rule have become great resources.  Had I just added them, my guess is they would still be a stranger.

Especially when tapping your network during job search, it is crucial to have more than a fine thread connecting you with your network.

Once you establish your policy, make sure to tell potential connections about it via your contact settings at the bottom of your profile.

So, what’s your Linkedin policy?  No policy?  It’s not too late to add one!

Other Posts You Might Like:

• (I Am Tired Of) Generic LinkedIn Invitations
• Social Media And Your Job Search: Act Like a Company
• Is Your Personal Brand In Demand?
• 10 Ways To Build A High Value Network
• Using FourSquare To Manage Your Personal Brand

Related posts:

1. The Art Of Connecting On Linkedin Since I started writing this blog and created the Tim’s...
2. How To Survive On LinkedIn This is a two-topic post designed to explore a few...
3. On Creating And Managing Your Linkedin Connection Policy So I’ve had this policy for connecting with people on...

Tags: connections | LinkedIn | LION | policy
Categories: Career Networking | Using Social Media

Comments

1. Louise Fletcher December 2, 2008 @ 5:56 am

   

   Interesting – I have gone back and forth on this. I guess it’s time to make a decision!

2. TTS December 2, 2008 @ 7:08 am

   

   It’s never too late. If there are people in your Linkedin connections that you honestly don’t know, send them a note and ask for 5 minutes! If they don’t agree maybe you should send them packing . . .
   Thanks for saying what a lot of people are thinking!

3. Suzy Ubry June 27, 2009 @ 5:10 pm

   

   Just came across this post (I’m a new reader to your blog) and wanted to write that I agree with your policy. I’ve met quite a few folks during my transition, but have added just a few as LI connections. I am, however, a member of a few LI groups. This is a two-fold strategy for me. I stay connected with others in my networking groups while keeping my connections to those who I share similar interests and/or a mutual connection with. I actually prefer Twitter over LI for connecting. On Twitter I can follow blogs (like Spin Strategy!) and if I find a post helpful, I share it with my LI groups. And so far, this strategy has worked for me.

4. Tim Tyrell-Smith June 27, 2009 @ 6:44 pm

   

   Suzy – first of all . . . welcome! I really appreciate your adding a few comments. Thank you. I like your strategy and think you’ll find it works well. Please join the Spin Strategy Linkedin group – would love to have you!

5. Steven Burda July 21, 2009 @ 8:03 pm

   

   “So, what’s your Linkedin policy? No policy? It’s not too late to add one!”
   What if it is too late now?
   Two or three years ago, some of my past associates (classmates, coworkers, friends) who were on Linkedin told me that they will get to adding me as a direct connection “at another time” … and another time came in 2009, but now, I cannot add (accept nor invite) them to my network.
   Why? Because of this:
   http://www.tinyurl.com/BlogOnLimit
   http://www.tinyurl.com/WhyLimit
   What can be done??

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