Connect With Me: LinkedIn

LinkedIn is one of the most important business social networks. It is a great way to meet and connect with people for business opportunities, as well as for career development. But a lot of people do not take full advantage of LinkedIn, especially when trying to connect with others. Recently I have been getting a lot of requests to connect but all of them said the same thing: 

“I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

It surprises me that everyone isn’t customizing their invitations —but in fact, very few people do. Those 300 characters that are given to you to customize your invitation can have a big impact. If you’re connecting with someone you know well, it’s a great opportunity to say something nice and strengthen the relationship. If you’re connecting with someone you don’t know well, it’s a great opportunity to remind him or her of how you met. If you’re connecting with someone you don't know at all, it’s your only opportunity to make an impression and to have them accept your invitation. But a lot of times, it is hard to find what to say to those you are trying to connect with, especially the ones you don't know. I created a list of thing you can say or mention:

• Remind them about when you first met them (if you did).

• Explain why you want to connect.

• Describe the mutually beneficial relationship that you can have by connecting.

• Compliment them on their achievements.

• Mention something that you have in common — did you go to the same university, do you share a hobby, etc.

• Mention if you have any mutual connections or if anyone have told you about them before. 

• Ask them something you would like to know about them.

• Ask them for an advice.

Keep the invitation to connect short and to the point. You are limited to just 300 characters, so make them count.