Some LinkedIn Etiquette and Advice
Don Chance
My Four Rules of LinkedIn Etiquette:
1. Do not refer to the invitee as a “friend” if she or she is not one. Calling someone a “friend” defines a social relationship.
2. Do not send the default invitation, “(Invitor's name) wants to connect with you on LinkedIn.” Write your own invitation and in it, make sure you show the person that you know who he or she is and how you already know the person.
3. Never connect with someone you have not already met, either face-to-face, through telephone, or by email. It goes without saying, but I’m saying it anyway, if you break this rule, at least do not call this person a “friend.”
4. If the invitee accepts your invitation, send a follow-up thank you note.
Unfortunately, in this day and age, common courtesy is sorely lacking. Nowhere is this more obvious than in LinkedIn. So, how about showing that you have some courtesy? A connection is not just another conquest in a game to see who has the most. Treat the person with respect. That person is more than an online entry. It is a human being.
LinkedIn is like Facebook for serious people. Treat it seriously. And treat your contacts with respect. If you cannot personalize a connection request, do not connect until you can.
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Last updated: March 18, 2013