Author of "LinkedIn for Personal Branding"| LinkedIn Top Voice | TEDx and Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Rebranding | B2B Social Selling l My Mantra: "Be a Friend First" l Let’s Amplify Your Brand and Event
Some of my favorite people are upset. 😭 These are friends, clients, readers of my book, and attendees from my presentations........ I have been getting texts, emails, and LinkedIn messages about a change from LinkedIn. It doesn't usually happen this way. So now I need to advise them - So I think that I will advise you all too in this post. So what's the issue? LinkedIn is drastically reducing the ability to send a personalized note with an invitation to connect for free users. This change impacts free and premium users so here is my advice. ✅ For Free Users - First, Your LinkedIn profile matters more than ever before. People who receive your invite will be looking hard at your profile to decide if they should connect with you. Take a look at it and make the adjustments to attract your ideal connection. Secondly, be sure to send a friendly message to any new connection as soon as they do accept. Finally, Now is the time to consider upgrading to one of the premium services especially if you depend on LinkedIn. Figure out the differences (benefits) because LinkedIn offers a few different flavors. Sending out personal invite notes is an important way to get those valuable connections. ✅ For Premium Users - Don't just discard an invitation to connect because there is no personalized note. You will see fewer of them. This means you need to go to every profile to decide if this person is a good connection for you. Of course, you can send that person a note right? Also, you might want to enable the Open Profile feature so anyone can send you a message. Just enable this in your settings. Even with this, some users won't understand it and may not send you a note. (You might want to put some kind of notice in your About section) What do YOU think of this change to LinkedIn Messaging? And what are YOU going to do going forward? #linkedin #messaging #personalbranding
Seems a limiting factor on usage and a bit of a "money grab" on LinkedIn (MS's) part. Even the premium payment level is probably far outweighed by the data they're leveraging and selling on each of us, as on all social platforms we are the product. Not saying "everything should be free" but if the only difference is "the same for more" -- doesn't leave a good "consumer taste" in the mouth. More "I guess I have to pony up…" vs. being truly enticed.
Thanks for sharing this Sandra! I truly didn't understand when I ran into these issues. I reach out to a few people a week. Very intentional. Not like all the crazy connection requests I get! I'm sure LI will figure out the right balance soon!
Thanks for the information, Sandra Long
Good to know about the personalized invite, it was my go to metric on whether or not to accept, and I do have an open profile. Will keep this in mind, thanks!
Thanks Sandra Long ... very helpful details of the change!
I think [In] got it backwards Sandra Long, they should have restricted or eliminated blank invites. United We All #KeepRockingLinkedIn! Kevin On a Mission to Eliminate Organizational & Personal Blanding™
I don't understand why LinkedIn would make such a change. If you were attending an event you wouldn't just walk up to someone and tell them your name, you'd elaborate and provide more detail in terms of your role, where you work etc...
Thanks for sharing and for always keeping us in the loop and up to date, Sandra Long! 💫
Sandra Long thanks so much for this message. To combat this I have been ringing peoples bells and following more targeted people. I have found when people do this to me I get a notification that someone followed me. Then I go connect with them if I choose. I find this to be more meaningful than just connecting without a personalized message. It seems to work.
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1yI might be one of the only people that really dislikes these faux friendly follow up DMs after you connect. I'm not bothered by personalised requests either. Only useful if you're trying to sell as then I can just refuse the request from the off. Haha. I'm weird though. Sandra Long I pay for premium myself as it's worth it just for the automated DM reply I can set up.