Linkedin Contact Advice from by Ron Harvey
Networking is the major purpose for having a LinkedIn profile...Agreed? In the past week I have been making many connections, but I was surprised at how many did not have contact information readily available.
Aside from making your email address and phone number clearly visible on your profile page, there is another way I just found to make sure someone can contact you or invite your connection.
This is done through the "Introduction" process.
When someone comes to your profile, if they are not already directly connected to you, they have three ways to request a connection.
** They can click the yellow "Connect" button appears at the top right,
** They can send you an InMail,
** Or they can click the "Get Introduced Through a Connection" link.
If they click the "Connect" button they will be brought to the "Invitation Page". Then they must select one of the buttons which require some form of existing connection (group, job, colleague, friend) or for them to have your email address. Without these connections, they can not send the invitation (unless they stretch the truth a little).
You can use the InMails, but I do not recommend it – Too Expensive. If they use the "Get Introduced Through a Connection" link, it opens a page for them to request an invitation through someone else they already know. About half way down the page there is a box for the message they wish to send you. Right next to that box there are two small statements: "Mr. Blank is interested in" and "Mr. Blank's contact advice". THIS IS THE PLACE for you to put more contact information. NOTE: This method of contact is also limited. Regular accounts are limited to 5 standing “Introductions” at a time, so you can’t rely on people to use this method to contact you.
Almost all of the profiles I see have the section completed for their interests. Not many of them have the contact advice filled in. If you put your contact information (email and phone#) in that section, then your potential connection can go back to the "Invitation Page", click on the "Other" button, enter your email address and send their invitation. You can provide contact information in this section by the following steps:
1. Go to the "Home Page" for your profile,
2. Put your cursor over your "Name Link" on the topmost right corner and click on "Settings" in drop down list,
3. If prompted, enter your password.
4. When your profile opens, click on the "Email Preferences" tab on the bottom left of the screen.
5. Click on the link that says "Select the types of messages you're willing to receive",
6. At the top of the opened box is a list of items for you to select indicating your interests. On the bottom is the "ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTACTING YOU" box.
7. Here you can enter anything you want (Email/Phone/Other Info) and it will appear in the "Get Introduced Through a Connection" box I mentioned above.
Now your hopeful connection can go back to the "Request Invitation" link, Click on the "Other" button, enter their email address and send their invitation request.
How did I come across this information? The hard way. I am trying to build up my local links here in South Carolina as I seek to garner more connections for my Environmental Services business, and as I am keeping my eyes open for "regular" employment. I would invite anyone who, in the name of the spirit of entrepreneurship, would send an invitation to connect with me.
Keep on Connecting.
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