The professional social network LinkedIn has recently announced that it will allow all its users to publish their own articles. At the same time, LinkedIn has also introduced the long-awaited user blocking function, allowing you to block users who distribute annoying content. So the question is: How do you behave on LinkedIn? Can you become a recognised expert in a certain area, which would help you meet your career or business goals, or are the majority of your contacts only waiting for the opportunity to block you for ever?
Today we have prepared for you some inspiration from an article published on Inc.com and entitled 9 Ways to Be Less Annoying on LinkedIn. The article is based on an interview between entrepreneur and journalist Bill Murphy and David Gowel, author of The Power in a Link: Open Doors, Close Deals, and Change the Way You Do Business Using LinkedIn. How, then, not to annoy other users?
1. Behave like a human being
Do not ask strangers to link by sending the automated message: "I'd like to add you to my network on LinkedIn." This is like approaching a stranger on the street, introducing yourself and then never contacting him or her again.
2. Learn that LinkedIn is not Facebook
LinkedIn users are not interested in what you had for lunch today or your hot new photos. Most of the time you should just follow what your network talks about. Publish only content relevant to your profession.
3. Do not try to have as many connections as possible
It is not important how many people you connect with but how you are able to maintain quality relationships. It makes no sense to connect with someone if you have nothing to offer each other. After a few weeks, you would forget who is who and the others would not know who you are. Any news from you would only bother them.
4. Build effective relationships
LinkedIn is an excellent tool not only to gain new contacts, but especially to restore relationships with people with whom you have not been in contact for a long time. It will help you build real human relationships in your real life.
5. Use the phone
Do not rely only on text messages. If you make contact with someone and gradually find common topics, contact him or her by phone and chat in person.
6. Show genuine interest
Do not connect with people electronically or by telephone only in order to sell them something or to obtain specific information. Genuine relationships take a genuine interest in other people's lives and problems.
7. Building relationships takes time
Imagine that a stranger contacts you and requires you to give him or her the contacts you have carefully built up throughout your professional life. That's how it looks when you connect with someone just to spill out your demands.
8. Help your contacts
Look for ways to do something for the people in your network even if there is nothing in it for you. Recommend good contacts, offer tips based on your experience, introduce them to your friends.
9. Track your success
Do not waste time on LinkedIn by indulging in unnecessarily inefficient behaviour. Determine specific success criteria for using the network and measure how you are able to meet them.
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