LinkedIn is different from other social platforms. Sure, it is social, but with a slightly different subtext: its users are primarily focused on business and finding business contacts. Communication here is not just friendly chatter, and at times you may even feel a little awkward.
Let's be objective: social media etiquette is quite complicated. The era of handwritten cards, gifts for hosts and opening car doors for young ladies has given way to a set of online rules on social media. And this set is stunning!
Chances are, you are breaking some of these rules right now. LinkedIn etiquette includes certain rules that are not spoken about, but which are nevertheless applied in communication. I want to finally break this silence and tell you about some of the unwritten rules of LinkedIn.
Rule #1: Accept the invitation immediately.
The LinkedIn community values a quick response. If you (like me) sometimes forget to check for LinkedIn invitations, take my friendly advice. A quick response on this social network shows that you are on the cutting edge, aware of what is happening around you. Often, after a face-to-face meeting, you may receive an invitation via LinkedIn. Be prepared to respond.
Rule #2: Don't check the "I don't know" box until you're sure the contact will harm you.
The "I don't know" option is a surefire way to let someone know you don't want to talk to them. When a person sends you an invitation, you can ignore it (by pressing X), and then decline the invitation by selecting "I don't know". If a user receives many of these "unfamiliar" invitations, it can lead to the account being blocked. Use this option only if you believe the inviter is violating the rules of the network. If you are sure that the profile is fake, select the "Send to spam" option.
Rule #3: Don't send LinkedIn invitations.
In the People You May Know section, you can see an automatically generated list of people imported from your Gmail or other contact list. If you see a “Connect” button next to a contact, that person is already on LinkedIn. If instead of “Connect” it says “Add to network”, that means the recipient is not on that social network. In this case, you should refrain from inviting them.
Rule #4: Give your invitations a face.
LinkedIn has a built-in service of template invitations. For those who don’t want to bother too much. Give your messages personality, give them a face! This will show you as a solid user who is interested in real contacts.
The People You May Know service allows you to easily navigate through thousands of possible contacts and send invitations with one click. On the other hand, this depersonalizes the invitation. Instead, find the page with the desired profile and send the invitation there. This way you will make your requests targeted.
Rule #5: Submit your application once (maximum 2!).
Constant invitations and requests are considered rude or even an attempt to physically drag someone into your contact lists. If you have already sent a personal invitation, do not cancel it and send a new one as a reminder: “Here I am! Accept my invitation!”
Rule #6: Check personal contact information.
LinkedIn allows you to customize your search parameters as a connection (if you are interested in this). Since the network is actively scanned by recruiters, it should be up to date with all participants in the process open to new opportunities and expanded offers.
Rule #7: Don't go into the dark.
LinkedIn loves active users: they get more invitations and useful requests, more opportunities and other social benefits of media life.
Post, share useful information, mark the statuses you like, stay in touch with the people you know. Just don't go into the shadows!
Rule #8. One day – one post.
It’s easy to get cluttered with too much information on your LinkedIn page. Most LinkedIn etiquette experts recommend limiting yourself to one post per day. This isn’t Twitter, after all.
Rule #9: Don't overdo it with approval, or Too much of a good thing is also bad.
An overly enthusiastic and positively complimentary user looks like he or she is looking for approval and confirmation of their skills. Just follow LinkedIn etiquette, whether you like it or not. You don’t have to be an expert to understand that behind such a service lies the desire to get a like in return.
Rule #10. Don't be stingy with praise.
The opposite of being overly enthusiastic and everything mentioned in the previous point is to be stingy with praise and support for other profiles. Don't be greedy. Helping to promote another profile is part of professional ethics. It is quite appropriate to give colleagues and other professionals you know good recommendations. Of course, it is not necessary.
Rule #11: Don't feel obligated to leave a positive review in return.
You may feel that you owe someone who gave you a good rating. This is a normal human feeling. But you are not obliged to support their profile in return. Only if you really have a need to support another! Be guided by your inner impulse, not by a sense of duty.
Rule #12: Write unique, targeted and meaningful comments on someone else's profile.
When you promote someone else's profile (in other words, comment positively on someone else's skills), be original and do it specifically. Banal comments indicate a lack of interest on your part. The expression "a good person in all respects" is not a targeted comment. It seems to say a lot, but in essence, nothing. Targeted reviews are a kind of positive characteristics. At the same time, comments should be relevant to the area in which the person is interested. Write meaningfully, based on your own experience.
Rule #13: Ask for positive references from those you know well.
In general, asking for positive feedback on your profile is a risky business. However, despite the natural aversion to it, such a practice is quite common in the LinkedIn sphere. Here are some tips on how to structure and justify your request:
- State the reason why you are doing this: perhaps you are looking for a new job or starting your own business.
- Make your queries specific in the system. Professionally oriented queries find a much greater response than general words.
- Ask for recommendations from people you know well. Not everyone in your contact list can give you positive recommendations. So surround yourself online with people with whom you have good professional relationships.
Rule #14: Your profile photo should be professional.
Your LinkedIn photo can tell more about you than anything else on your profile, because it’s the first thing people see. When looking at your photo, people automatically make their first assumptions and conclusions about you.
If you don’t have a suitable photo, it might be worth investing in a professional to take a photo specifically for this social network. Photos of pets and children are perfectly acceptable on Facebook, but LinkedIn is a different story.