Exporting Your Connections List (with caution)

After you've been on LinkedIn for a while, you start to wonder about some of the information that's on your profile and whether you can export it, especially your connections list.


I know that once you hit the 500+ number, it's kind of a big achievement on LinkedIn. No longer does your profile show your total, but instead you're in the "500+" club. 


If you're considering exporting your connections list for email purposes - use caution. LinkedIn is powerful because it allows you the ability to cross-reference connections, and also because you're only a login away from reaching any connection. However, you want to be careful not to use a mass email approach with your connections, since people will connect to you based on a perceived mutual benefit of being connected. Once you send a mass email, you risk jeopardizing the relationship you have with your connections. 


However, the export connections feature can be used to help you sort and target your connections. 


Here's an example:


I frequently offer LinkedIn webinars through Walsh College. These webinars are free and exclusive to students, alumni, and employers who hire Walsh students and alumni. 


Occasionally, we have seats remaining in the webinar, and I offer those seats out to my LinkedIn network. I've also built up many connections in the job seeker community, including contacts at Michigan Works offices.


If I want to share the LinkedIn webinar info with these individuals, I could spend 10-15 minutes scrolling through advanced people search and typing in "Michigan Works." 


Or, I can export my connections list and sort by company, and hand pick those individuals who show Michigan Works as their employer. Then, I can send them a personalized email from my Walsh email box instead of through LinkedIn. 


To export your connections list:


1. Mouse over "Contacts" in your top menu bar, then select "Connections"

How to Export Your LinkedIn Connections

2. Scroll down to the bottom of your connections list page. Click the link that reads "Export Connections."
























3. Export as a CSV format. Save onto your desktop, then open the file in Excel and Save As an Excel workbook. From here, you can scan and search your connections list. This file will contain your first level connections information, including: first and last name, company, job title, and e-mail address. 


CAUTION: use this option sparingly if you're trying to contact people outside of LinkedIn. People do NOT like mass email. From my perspective, it's a lazy approach to using your technology and it doesn't create favorable impressions. And if you do use a mass email approach, you run the risk of losing connections. 


That said, the "export connections" feature can be a powerful tool to help supplement your LinkedIn efforts. 


Comments? Suggestions? Have you used this feature? 

Do I Know You? What To Do With Invites From Unfamiliar Names

The longer you're on LinkedIn and the more active you become, you'll notice you receive more and more invitations to connect to people you don't know. 


SIDEBAR:
If you're like me, you're personalizing your invitations to help others in your network understand why you wish to connect. If you're not doing this yet, please read this for instructions http://15minutesadayonlinkedin.blogspot.com/2011/02/personalize-your-invites-for-more.html


What do you do when you receive LinkedIn invitations to connect to people you don't know? Most people ignore the invitations. Or perhaps mouse over the name and review the person's profile to see if there is anything common or interesting. And then they either accept or ignore the invite depending on those results. 


Here's a technique to help you do two things:
1. Solve the problem of an ever-increasing list of invitations
2. Weed out the people you want to connect, and archive those you don't wish to accept.


Plus, using this technique, you'll create dialog with these individuals, thereby helping to further the effectiveness of your network. 


First, log into LinkedIn.  Then, follow these simple instructions:

1. Mouse over your "Inbox"
2. Then, click on "Invitations"

3. Just below the person's name whose invitation you've received, you'll see an "Accept" box with a dropdown arrow. Click that arrow, and 4. you'll see the option to "Reply (don't accept yet)."

5. Type in three words: "Have We Met?"
If you feel the need to be cordial, you can add a salutation, "Hi Russell," as shown here.
6. Then, click "Send message" and wait for their response.

At this point, I'll give the person a few days to respond. 


If I don't hear back within a week, I can probably correctly assume they don't use LinkedIn that often. This is not the type of contact that will help me nor my network, so then I'll go back in and "Archive" the invitation to clear it out of my invitation list. 


If they do reply back, their response can help you decide what to do next. Typically, I receive one of these responses (and my next steps in parentheses):


1. "Hi Brenda, no we haven't met, but your profile looked interesting and I thought we might be able to connect." (yes, I will accept this - since the person is explaining WHY they wish to connect. Plus, that's flattering!)


2. "Maybe. I go to a lot of events in Troy." (I might connect, after I look over their profile to see if I see anything of interest to me. If not, I'll archive it, since this is a lazy response and they aren't giving me any real reason to want to connect. I've given them an ample opportunity to explain themselves, which is more than many will do.)


3. "No, but your name came up in the LinkedIn search on my page. My apologies if I've done this incorrectly. I'm still learning how to use LinkedIn." (yes, I typically will accept this, since this is a genuine response and I like to help people to learn how to use LinkedIn)


4. "No we haven't met, but you know Joe Smith and Bobbi Jones and they both suggested I connect to you." (yes, I will accept since we share mutual connections whom I remember)


5. "Not yet, but I'd love to buy you a coffee and talk about my company's print solutions. We have a high capacity printer and we're based in Detroit." (no, since I don't want to be sold to. I want to connect for mutually beneficial reasons. I can find salespeople through my network if/when I need it.)


Regardless of their reason for requesting an invitation, please select the "Archive" option instead of "Report Spam" whenever possible. This helps to prevent other LinkedIn users from having their accounts locked up!

Creating and Managing Your Company Page

"Is your company on LinkedIn? It should be, "
says Brenda Meller of Walsh College.

LinkedIn is the #1 site for professional networking. If you're like me, you're always on the lookout for new tips and techniques to make LinkedIn even more effective for your professional goals.

Is your company on LinkedIn? If you're not sure, go check now. On LinkedIn, change the drop-down at the upper right to "Companies" and type in your company name. Hopefully it will come up in the search. If it does, that means your company is on LinkedIn. Tell your marketing department they are doing a great job.

If it's not on LinkedIn yet and you're a company representative who has the authority to do so, create a company page. There is no charge to do so, and it helps to give your company (and you) increased visibility on LinkedIn.

Simply follow the step-by-step instructions and fill in the boxes to share publicly available information about your company, such as your industry, number of employees, website address, and company description.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can also add in products and services.
Feeling confident? Then go ahead and request recommendations from your customers.

Stumped on what do add? Look at your competitors and see what they've posted. After all, it's what your customers might be doing. Or if you're in HR and use LinkedIn for recruiting, it's what your potential candidates are doing.

I've been modifying the company page for Walsh College and adding in a few new pieces of information each day using this simple process. Check it out at http://www.linkedin.com/company/walsh-college.

Are You On LinkedIn? Ask This and Grow Your Network

A really simple technique I use in my daily activities is to get into the habit of asking people that I meet, "Are You On LinkedIn?"


By asking this, you will typically get one of three responses. 

1. Yes. 
2. Not yet, but I've been meaning to get around to it. 
3. No. What's LinkedIn?

If they respond "yes," that's your opportunity to exchange business cards and mention that you'll send them an invitation to connect. 

If they respond "no," tell them it's a great way to stay connected and to build their professional network, as you never know where the future may lead. 

If they respond "No. What's LinkedIn?" and they are over the age of 18, walk away slowly. Chances are they have been living under a rock and you're just going to confuse them. Just kidding. (well, maybe I'm a tiny bit serious)

See this? Ask: "Are You On LinkedIn?"

My visual reminder of this question "Are You On LinkedIn?" is when I offer or receive a business card. That's my prompt to ask the question, and to demonstrate how I value a connection to this person, and how I plan to do something with their business card. 

When I send the invitation, I always make a point to personalize my invitation (read more here about why it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to personalize your invitation). Then, I will also review their profile to view their professional summary and see if there is anything interesting to note.

This tip alone will help you to continue to grow your network over time. Like this suggestion? Send me an invitation to connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brendameller 

Requesting an Introduction

One of the most powerful features of being on LinkedIn is the ability to request introductions to connections of your connections. That is, you want to connect to someone on LinkedIn who is a 2nd or 3rd level connection.

When would this occur?

• When you are applying for a new job. It might increase the likelihood for your resume to be read if you have a warm introduction via a connection at the company.

• If you are seeking advice or insight on a company or an industry where you don't have much experience. If you don't have knowledge, find someone who does, through someone you know.

• You may be considering changing professions or industries, and seeking to meet for an "informational interview." During these interviews, you are looking to pick their brain about entry requirements, candid comments about their profession/company/industry, and hopefully to gain insights to help you affirm your consideration of this potential move.

Basically, you are seeking a warm introduction. As with many other features of LinkedIn, there is a process and there is also the unspoken etiquette which may help your chances of connecting. Hopefully this post helps you with both. 

Here's how to request an introduction to connect to a 2nd or 3rd level LinkedIn connection:

1. Click on the person's name who you wish to connect with. This will bring up their LinkedIn profile page.

2. Check to see if this person is in your LinkedIn network. If so, you will see a small blue "2nd" or "3rd" next to their name. Note: if you see "1st," you are already connected. 
3. Click on "Get introduced through a connection," which is located on the right side of your screen. See image below. 
4. Select a name that appears in the list.
   
   I recommend choosing the person you know the best from this list. If the person you are looking to connect to is a 2nd level connection, your note will go through one connection. If it's a 3rd level connection, your note will go through your direct connection, and then that person will have to send it through one of their connections to help you connect.
5. Follow the steps to compose your request to connect. Select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu and provide your contact information. Then, type a short, professional, gracious note explaining why you wish to connect.
6. Keeping in mind that your note may be forwarded along to the person you wish to connect with, compose your request to your connection. Be specific. Explain why you wish to connect and be honest. Provide a bit of detail and if necessary, remind your connection how you know each other. Then, make sure you politely request an introduction. This involves a sentence with a question mark, not one with a period. (ex: "Can you please connect me with Kari Kovar?" versus "Connect me with Kari.") Remember that your note may be forwarded along, so be sure to be professional and gracious.
7. Proofread your messages, then click send. Did I mention to keep in mind that your message to your connection may be forwarded along? Yes, it's worth mentioning this again. You'd be surprised how often people assume this message is deleted, and therefore they aren't as professional or gracious in their request.

That's it! Hopefully within a few days your request will be reviewed and approved, and you'll be directly connected to the individual you are seeking.

Simplify Your LinkedIn URL

When you first set up your profile on LinkedIn, you will automatically be assigned a URL or web address that anyone can type in to access your public profile on LinkedIn. Your LinkedIn URL is a combination of your first and last name plus some numbers and letters, and random slashes "/" for reasons unknown.

It's a valid address - meaning if you type it in, it works, but the tricky part is making sure that people type it in correctly. If you're a job seeker, I highly recommend including this in your address section at the top of your resume. I'd also recommend adding this to a business card. With both options (resume and business card), a fellow LinkedIn user may either search for you by name on LinkedIn, or they may try to type in your LinkedIn address to access your profile, or possibly to invite you to connect.

Note: You can also include this link in your blog, on your Facebook page, on your Twitter profile, or even in an email footer. However, all four of these methods don't involve the user typing in the web address.

When someone sees your LinkedIn address in print (resume, business card), they type in your address:
example: www.linkedin.com/pub/brenda-demo-meller/2a/412/523
(don't try to access this link - it's a demo account I've set up to illustrate this point and I have not activated this profile to make it accessible yet)

What if the user types in the wrong combination of characters? What if they forget a slash mark? What if they transpose the numbers, get frustrated, and decide it's not enough effort to figure it out? Or worse, what if they assume that YOU are the one making the error and they decide it's not worth their effort to troubleshoot your typo?

Step 2: hover over "Profile"  and select "Edit Profile"

Simplify Your LinkedIn URL
People like things simple. Simple is good. When it comes to your LinkedIn profile, simple can mean the difference between someone accessing your profile (and eventually hiring you) and taking you out of consideration.

So let's simplify that LinkedIn URL.

1. Log into your LinkedIn account. If you need help accessing your account, visit the LinkedIn homepage at www.linkedin.com
2. In the top menu, hover over "Profile" and select "Edit Profile"
3. Under your Public Profile, click "Edit" then follow the link to "Customize Your Public Profile URL"
4. Customize your public profile URL. My recommendation is to make this as simple as possible: first name and last name, with no spaces.

   

   Step 3: click "Edit" next to your public profile address

   The nice thing here is that LinkedIn will cut out all the random letters and numbers that were automatically assigned to you when you first set up your LinkedIn account. Plus the telltale sign of a beginner that most advanced LinkedIn users will notice: the extra slash marks combined with "pub."
5. Click "Set Custom URL" and you're done. It's important to note that your previous LinkedIn URL address will no longer be valid. So, my recommendation is to do this as soon as possible before you start using your LinkedIn address on resumes and business cards. Otherwise, it will require you to reprint everthing. 
6. BONUS TIP: Omit the http:// when you type your LinkedIn URL on your business cards, resume, etc. It's not necessary and helps to simplify things even further.



Step 4: Simplify Your LinkedIn URL with your first and last name, no spaces.

That's it! You can now start using this new and simplified URL whenever and wherever you share your LinkedIn address. Haven't shared your LinkedIn URL anywhere yet? Here's your chance: reply to this blog and comment on this posting, and include your LinkedIn URL. It's a great, quick way to gain instant visibility outside of your network.

And when you see someone else's LinkedIn URL posted here, visit their profile on LinkedIn and send them an invite to connect. Reminder: make sure you tell the person that you read their URL address here to give them a frame of reference as to why you want to connect.

Personalize Your Invites for More Contacts

When you're getting started on LinkedIn, you learn many things from trial and error. Or by poking around the site. Or by asking friends and connections for their tips. And sometimes LinkedIn gives you advice along the way, but sometimes the LinkedIn system has pre-populated fields -- like the message invitation text -- which appears to be completely acceptable and foolproof, but could actually slow your efforts to expand your LinkedIn network.

This post is dedicated to helping you learn why to personalize your invitation, and offer some tips on how to personalize from various areas in the site.


TIP: Skip the Import Step
So let's start at the beginning, when you first sign up for your LinkedIn account, there are several steps in the process: signing up, receiving a confirmation email, clicking the link to verify your account, and setting up your profile. LinkedIn also offers you a quick and easy way to Invite people to connect with you on LinkedIn. This page looks like this:

Who You Already Know on LinkedIn - the tricky "Import" Feature

Personally, I never think it's a good idea to use this particular LinkedIn feature for several reasons:

1. There may be people in my email contact list whom I do NOT wish to invite to connect with me: my Dad who is not and will never be on LinkedIn, my great aunt who would have no use for such nonsense, my friend whom I am already connected to through their work email (so I wouldn't want to send them ANOTHER invitation to their personal email, which they may not have connected to a LinkedIn account), a few fellow members of Toastmasters that I know aren't active on LinkedIn, etc. etc. 
2. LinkedIn accesses my personal email box and stores that information. I'm obviously open to sharing information on the Internet, but anytime a site asks to store my personal information even when I'm not using the site, it makes me nervous.
3. If you follow their simple, step-by-step instructions, it will automatically send those individuals a impersonal invitation, the infamous, "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." With the growing popularity of LinkedIn, you might receive this message a few times a week. And if you can't quite place the person who is inviting you to connect, you're likely to ignore it. 

TIP: A Personalized Invitation is ALWAYS Better than the Standard Invite
aka "Optional" should not be "Optional"

"Personalize EVERY invitation," suggests Brenda Meller.

I always suggest that LinkedIn users take a few moments to personalize EVERY invitation. As in EVERY invitation. This includes EVERY invitation. (Yes, it's that important). How do I personalize, you ask?

1. Start by deleting the standard invitation text. Consider it garbage: "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." Whenever I receive an invite with this text -- and I don't know the person offhand, I typically respond back with three words, "Have we met?" This gives the person an opportunity to explain how they are and why they want to connect. HINT: most people won't do this. They will simply ignore or delete your invitation and you've lost the opportunity to gain a new connection.
2. Insert a greeting appropriate for the person, "Hello John" or "Dear Michelle" as an example.
3. Give the person a frame of reference how they know you. Ex: "It was nice meeting you at the Troy Chamber breakfast this morning." OR "Hope you've been doing well. It's been a while since we worked together at PMH." OR "We sat next to each other at the expo on Tuesday and exchanged business cards."
4. Invite them to connect. Ex. "I'd like to connect on LinkedIn." OR "Let's connect on LinkedIn so we can stay in touch."
5. BONUS: extend an offer for assistance. It's always better to offer something FIRST before asking for their assistance when you may need it later. Ex: "Let me know if there is anything you need."
6. Your signature name. This is the only part of the pre-personalized LinkedIn text that I leave in.

An example of a personalized invitation on LinkedIn. ~Brenda Meller

The simple technique of personalizing every invitation will help you to increase the number of connections by providing you a higher likelihood that the intended recipient will read and accept your response.

Plus, you've started the dialog with this contact with some friendly conversation, which will go a long way in making LinkedIn more useful to you in the future.