3 Tips for Authentically Connecting on LinkedIn
Posted on May 04, 2021 by Martha Curtis, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
If you are like me and tired of receiving countless template connection requests on social media but want genuine connection, here are three tips!
If you are on social media, especially LinkedIn, you will have received template connection requests. Aren’t you tired of those? Whatever happened to genuine messages and authentic exchanges?
Many business “coaches” recommend sending out mass connection requests, saying that the answer lies in numbers. I disagree. I believe that the answer for productive and fruitful cooperation lies in trust, mutual benefit, respect and authenticity above all. It is all part of showing up with integrity.
So why are so many teaching others to send out template connection requests? One reason is an outdated approach in toxic advertising. The past year has seen a rise in people calling themselves coaches, many without any coaching qualifications and many of those coming from a Multi-Level-Marketing (pyramid schemes) background where they will have been brainwashed in aggressive marketing techniques and encouraged to call themselves coaches to hide their MLM background until they have signed up their next “team member”. Other reasons are a lack of understanding of the profession and what coaching actually is and a desperation for clients and income. This is fear-based marketing. Fear based marketing is done by desperate “entrepreneurs” to induce FOMO (fear of missing out) in others. What is teaches you however is scarcity thinking. That, combined with our natural negativity bias, creates a few of not doing enough, not being enough.
Instead, I encourage you to adopt an abundance mindset. The below is an example of how not to connect. Even if templates are provided in an app, imagine, how refreshing it would be to receive a genuine request.
I am here to tell you that you can be far more successful by being authentic, original and have fun in the process.
Here are my three tips to Authentic Connection on Social Media
1. When you come across a profile that interests you, make an effort to read it. See what inspires you, speaks to you. If it turns out it doesn’t, scroll on. Embrace an abundance mindset, rather than scarcity mindset. There is an abundance of like-minded individuals who are valuing authentic connections and they will be grateful for you showing up in their life. No need to send out thousands of meaningless templates.
2. If you decide to contact the person whose profile you like, make it a point to say what you like and why you are getting in touch. Also introduce yourself. It might also be a good idea to mention that this is not a template. I know, sounds tedious, but connect with that feeling of seeing yet another connection request, assuming it’s another spam and then the pleasant surprise of a genuine one. You would be more likely to connect with that person, right? Too many people are getting spammed all over social media and LinkedIn has become victim to this, too.
3. Avoid templates. It can damage your credibility and makes you look spammy. Granted, some can inspire and give you ideas, but aren’t you tired of seeing the same stuff repackaged all the time? When we engage our creativity, we train that creative muscle. If you have read “The Artist’s Way” you will know what I mean.
“But I don’t have the time to research hundreds of profiles” , you might say. You don’t have to. Are all your Facebook friends your actual close friends? No. We are talking about connection here. Let go of FOMO and embrace your self-worth. You are more than pre-written generic templates, you can impress by being who you are, because YOU ARE ENOUGH. Try it.
Happy authentic connecting!