For example, an accountant in medical devices would connect with another accountant in medical devices. Not as good a fit—but a fit, nonetheless—would be an accountant in medical devices connecting with an accountant in manufacturing. To further develop their network, they would invite accountant managers and above to your network.
The benefits of creating a network of like-minded people are: first, the stockholder database content you share or create will resonate with more people in your network. Second, when relationships are strongly molded, you and your connections will provide each other with leads that can result in adding more valuable people to your network or, better yet, possible job leads.
4. Recruiters
I'm often asked by my clients if they should connect with recruiters, to which I say, "Hell, yes." Recruiters can be a great source of networking; after all, they have a pipeline of employers of which my clients are unaware.
If you are amenable to connecting with recruiters, make sure they serve your industry, particularly if you're in a niche industry. For example, one of my clients is linguistic specialist in high tech. She translates technical jargon from engineers to other departments.
Another consideration is a recruiter's reputation. Do some homework and reach out to common connections of recruiters to ask what they know of a few recruiters with whom you're interested in connecting. You can also get a sense of a recruiter's character by reading their LinkedIn profile. Although a word-of-mouth recommendation carries more weight.
Obviously you first have to find like-minded people. A great LinkedIn tool to use is All Filters. I won't go through the process of using All Filter. This post goes into detail on how to use this feature.
Now that you know with whom you should connect, let's look at how you connect with them. The art of connecting with LinkedIn members is in the message you craft. There are essentially three types of invites.
1. Connecting directly: the cold invite
This is the least successful way of the three options to invite someone to your LinkedIn. However, it is better than indiscriminately sending an invite with a default message. One method people use that works on me is flatter such as mentioning a specific article I wrote.
Hello Bob,
I read your article on 10 reasons why you should continue to use LinkedIn after landing a job. I've just landed a job and will put into practice what you write. I'd like to connect with you and hopefully alert you to new positions in my new company.
Susan Pride
Note: you only have 300 characters with which to work, so your invite needs to be brief.
2. Using a reference in your invites
If you’re going to connect directly, you’re more likely to see success by mentioning a reference in your invite. This would be a common connection, someone who is connected with you and the LinkedIn member with whom you’d like to connect.
Once you have chosen a person who could be a reference for you, contact the person asking if you could use their name in an invite. Don’t assume your shared connection will allow you to use their name.
Once you have your reference’s permission, your message to a new connection might look like this:
Hi Dave,
You and I are both connected with Sharon Beane. She and I work for the MassHire Career Center as workshop facilitators. She strongly encouraged me to connect with you, indicating we can be of mutual assistance.
Sincerely,
Bob
3. Asking for an introduction
This is the most proper way to connect with new people, albeit slower. This method requires asking a trusted connection to send a message to the person with whom you’d like to connect.
