Have we met?
Have we connected in any way on Linked In?
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Do I even know who you are?
Do you even know who I am other than looking at my profile?
If not, please do not send me a solicitation email about your services through my Linked In Account.
Sure we may have a group or two in common, but if you have not taken the time to “introduce” yourself to me, what makes you think I want to do business with you? There is an oft used phrase: “People do business with people they know, like and trust.”
I don’t know you. So what makes you think I trust or even like you?
Over the past two weeks I have received more than 8 Linked In messages from people trying to sell me their services – some of them trying to do this even prior to connecting with me. Today, I even received an email to connect WITH a solicitation for my business.
Do you think this is any different from picking up the phone and cold calling me? Cold calling no longer works. Hell, just “selling” doesn’t work anymore either. The fact is that nowadays when people need a service or product, they do research on the internet. When they find out everything they need to know about that service or product, then they will take the time to find the best provider for that need. Often, this best provider is found by asking for referrals. Your referral sources, the people with whom you may have created a relationship with on Linked In will happily refer you if the fit is right. If you have taken the time to begin creating a relationship with the potential referral sources or clients, they will remember you as the person who can help them and potentially call you.
Social Media Networking – and the key word here is NETWORKING – is about creating relationships. Linked In was created so that business people could connect with others and begin to form relationships.
Form a relationship with me, find out about my needs, then ask me if I need your services.
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