I knew with my activity at MediaSauce and the work I'd done for years with LIN TV and The Indianapolis Star that this number could be accomplished.A week or two before the New Year I had hit 490 and with a little final encouragement from me to remind some of my invitees to accept my invitation, I hit 500 around 6:30 p.m. on December 31st, 2008. Yes, that would be cutting a goal close. :)
I posted a blog post to the MediaSauce blog today about the importance of using LinkedIN to grow connections professionally. Read it here. I could probably write a whole book about how LinkedIN is changing the way we sell, maintain relationships and recruit. For me, it's probably one of the three most important web sites on the Internet today - and it's only just begun.
Do you have a profile on LinkedIN? If not, please sign up and be sure to add me as a connection.
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3 comments:
James,
Congrats on reaching your goal. Do you think that the quality of one's network decreases as they increase the quantity of connections? I set some boundaries around my LinkedIn connections - mainly that I will only connect to someone that I have at least met in person. I'd like to think that I could call any of my connections directly and they would know who is calling. However, in turning down less vetted requests to connect, I'm limiting my network somewhat (along with the potential opportunities that could result from it).
I'm curious about your thoughts, thanks!
Thanks for the recognition on hitting that number.
I've thought a lot about whether or not larger quantity decreases quality, and I don't think it does.
There is certainly something to be said for quality - and I'd always prefer a small network that has deep relationships over a wide network with superficial ones.
The way I look at your network, whether it's on LinkedIN or Facebook or anywhere else, is that all levels of connections/relationships are important. I can show up at a party and see a dozen people who's names I can't remember, but because I've met them in the past, there's still value to our 'relationship' and ultimately I can have valuable conversations.
I connect with a lot of people who attend events that I speak at. While I don't necessarily know them personally, we do have a common bond of interest and I hope that in the future if they need input or advice, they'll think to call me because they heard me talk. The connections the event creates between us will increase the likelihood they'll talk to me before they talk to anyone else (as thin as the relationship may be).
Valid points, James.
I know that LinkedIn now allows you to store notes along with your connections - perhaps they'll add a "categories" or "tags" function in the future that will allow one to gain quick insight to their own network at various depths.
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