Hot Take: LinkedIn has KILLED making connections
Being a company-of-one; a freelancer; a solopreneur means communication. Whether we like it or not we have to communicate with others to grow our businesses, to stay in touch, and to stay - for want of a better word - relevant.
As someone who is fuelled by connecting with others I frequently reach out to people I find interesting or who I’d like to have in my network - after all, connecting with people on LinkedIn is part of the ‘game’. Now and again I’m met with ‘OK, I’ll connect but I AM NOT BUYING ANYTHING’.
A snap reaction to ‘Hey, how are you?’.
Maybe people see the ‘coach’ coming and immediately expect some kind of course or new-fangled programme to help them be successful…
"The Fear!"
People are in a heightened state and are fearful of being sold to for good reason.
At the time of writing this - in the two weeks prior - I had at least four cold sales immediately after connecting; three into my LinkedIn DMs and one directly to my email inbox (RUDE!).
You know who you are and should be ashamed of yourselves.
Has social networking as part of our professional lives ruined making connections?
This 'inbox hijacking' is uncool and should not be encouraged.
It makes me sad that it may have killed the joy of connection for a lot of people. It is especially trying for those in the creative space who do face a challenge of selling services and can feel like an easy-in for those hacks who are selling fast solutions, lead generating AI tools, and tried-and-true systems to get you a 6-figure-month.
It’s snake oil. Flim flam. Confidence work.
Where am I going with this?
You’ve every right to be angered by those who ‘slide into your DMs’ only to push a sale but, please, don’t be fearful of connection. If you want to be the one in control of whom you are connected, go for it; you don’t have to connect with every last person who sends you a request.
Vetting connections is a good idea. But still, don’t be fearful and decline someone ‘just because they aren’t X or Y or Z’. You never know where an opportunity may arise.
And if someone does float into your DMs and proposition you with their latest sales system or platform for ABC, feel free to tell them to jog on and then disconnect! Politely.
Remember: Connect to engage and interact. Don’t sell or push an agenda.
You don’t need a new course to succeed; you need some f*cking support. That’s where I come in. I work with creative rebels just like you to help bridge the gap between ‘You the Individual’ and ‘You the Business’. Working for yourself doesn’t mean working by yourself so connect with me and let’s talk.
Empowerment Through Mentorship
1yI totally agree. I do not like being sold to. If I need a service, I will ask.
From scattered & faffing to focus & flow | Get more done than you ever thought possible! | Time magician/mentor helping coaches, consultants & community-builders bring their ideas to life and make a bigger impact.
1yThis is spot on, Tom! I do sometimes catch myself viewing new connection request with suspicion, but you're right - we shouldn't let that stop us. And I do love an emoji, but is it just me or does including lots of :) in sales pitches make them even more irritating?!
Creative director | Brand strategist and designer for purpose-led organisations | Helping conscious brands scale their impact through bold, honest design
1yI agree. I've done a LinkedIn challenge but ended up not following it because it was all about connecting with people and selling straight away, which doesn't feel right to me.
Agency Business Guide helping Marketing Agency owners navigate the ups and downs of the journey of running an agency business. 👉BIMA100 & BIMA100 Judge/ Father / Cyclist and Co-Foounder of Agency Aid
1yTom - Spot on with all you say here. For these 'sellers' it's purely a numbers game. They have no interest in their brand or their own reputation. Connections are about relationships. Selling is about relationships. LinkedIn is a fabulous tool when used correctly .... to build relationships. You will only buy from someone you know like and trust. So get to know me, understand me and my challenges first.
Owner of Vivid Frog Creative 🐸 | Graphic Designer | InDesign lover 💚 | Print design fanatic! 🤓
1yThis is so true! It can be really frustrating and time-consuming to read through a bunch of DM's that are from people trying to sell you something when they have never even liked a post you shared! You know absolutely nothing about them, and they, BAM... sell to you. I always feel like I need to reply too. I usually just reply with, "Thank you for your time, but I am OK! 😅