SAVVY Social Networking

     In this world of online social networks, most of us get many invitations a week to join one site or another. What I like about Linkedin is there is a choice to click on that says. "I don't know this person." And one that allows me to decline.

     The people at linkedin advise not to join the "network" of people you don't know and with that I totally agree. But now we have another dilemma... remembering all those people we have met at events, through friends (real time), from former jobs or college or even grammar school. I received an invitation from someone to join their linkedin network whose name was not at all familiar. BUT, what he did was thoughtful and brilliant.  His invite included information as to when we met, where and how. Thank you Rod. I immediately accepted and sent a note.  TIP: remind people how you know them.

      I recently ignored two invitations to join networks of two people.  The first was a person I didn't know. The name and email did not "ring a bell".  There was NOTHING in the invitation that gave me a clue as to who this person is and why they would want to be connected to me.

      The second person's invitation I ignored because I knew the person, was quite familiar with their behaviors, deeds, actions and reputation ---firsthand. I even wrote about that person in The Secrets of Savvy Networking as an example of how NOT to behave. Bottom line:  Being connected was not an option. Rather than formally decline, I just ignored it because this person's behavior is not a match for the calibre of kind people in my life and in my networks.       Our social networks, realtime networks and life should include a diverse group of people who create a mosiac of many differences.  For me, that mosiac does not include the badly -behaved, the self-absorbed or the ill-mannered.  Those are differences that have no appeal to me.

     What about you?  Anyone in your network whom you wish were not?

      add a post or email me susan@susanroane.com

      

Comments

[Greg Butler]

I think I have a lot to learn from you. I will remember the advice of not joining a network of people I don't know.

But in these social networks, what constitutes knowing someone? If a person visits my blog and leaves a friendly comment, do I know them? I'm a trusting and optimistic person so I would probably tell myself that I know them enough. But maybe that's naive. What's your advice?

Thanks for your great content.

[T.]

"...The second person's invitation I ignored because I knew the person, was quite familiar with their behaviors, deeds, actions and reputation ---firsthand. I even wrote about that person in The Secrets of Savvy Networking as an example of how NOT to behave...."

I swear, Susan, your blogs just make me laugh. If not laugh, I always have food for thought that become life lessons :-) This particular comment just made me giggle. I will have to pull up that book and see where that bad person might be described in all his/her glory.

I recently read a few Sundays ago in our SF Sunday Chronicle that with the prevalence of so many online communities it is NOT a great idea to signup with every invitation that comes your way. The article did advise using Linkedin to create a good online presence for yourself.

A web presence, if not properly screened and thought out, can leave a bad impression of you. A potential client or employer who wants to hire you, could easily Google you to get more information on you. It is so easy to Google someone these days. Much like we protect our LIVE business contacts and trusted personal friends, we have to exercise the same precautions with our online "linked in" contacts and online presence. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that lesson lost in today's below 25 generation ?