5 Messages to Never Send People You Don't Know on LinkedIn
Joe Apfelbaum
??CEO, evyAI -AI LinkedIn? Trainer, Business Development Training B2B Marketing via Ajax Union // Networking Connector, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, AI Expert, Single Father????????????
Here are 5 types of messages that you should NEVER SEND PEOPLE. Especially if you want people to RESPOND TO YOU.
1. Do not send people "HOW ARE YOU?"
If you don't know them and they do not know you, YOU ARE WASTING THEIR TIME asking them how they are.
We all know that you do not care how they are.
Cut to the chase and let them know what you want from them.
This doesn't work with cold emails, it doesn't work with cold calling and it does not work with cold direct messaging or Inmail. IT'S ANNOYING.
- Instead, start with GRATITUDE; "Thanks for connecting with me on LinkedIn. Looking forward to getting to know you."
2. Do not send people LONG ASS MESSAGES.
57% of people are reading messages on their phones.
People on LinkedIn have no time to READ messages that take more than 7 SECONDS to read.
If you want to send a LONG ASS MESSAGE, send it as an email, after you get PERMISSION to do that.
People will usually skip reading the message if they do not know you.
I usually respond with TLDR.. (Too Long Didn't Read...)
- Instead, send a message with permission, "Hey, I have this amazing article I wrote for CEO's like yourself that I think you might appreciate, it does take about 5 minutes to read. May I send you a link?"
3. Do not sell people off the BAT.
When you message someone, do not ask them if they want to buy without qualifying them first.
It's like walking over to someone at a networking event and asking them to buy your product.
Unless you are a sponsor, you are not welcome to sell. It's tactless and disrespectful.
- Instead send a message qualifying the person first. "We've been getting some amazing results for some of client CPA's with our new program we just rolled out. I'm not sure if it's a good fit for you but would love to see. Would you be open to more information?"
4. Do not give people advice without permission.
Coaching without permission is criticism.
You might think you are doing them a favor but you are NOT. No one wants to hear your "CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE" without permission.
If you really care, tell them you have some advice for them and ask them if they would welcome it.
If they give you permission then send it to them.
That includes pointing out typos...
Unless you have a relationship, please do not do this.
(BTW I give you permission to do this for me :) COACH ME!)
- Instead, you can send a message like "I can't help but to find typos and grammatical errors online and because we are connected on LinkedIn, I thought you might want to know when I find it on your updates. Let me know if you are open to getting my comments :) - Yeah, I am pretty obsessive..."
5. Do not send HATE messages.
If you are upset, punch a wall.
It's not just bad karma to be a TROLL, it can cause massive problems in people's lives, especially if they are emotionally unstable.
If you disagree with someone, you can let them know that you have an opinion, but DO NOT CALL THEM NAMES. DO NOT SHAME THEM. DO NOT CURSE AT THEM.
It's not ok to do that.
Cyber Bullying is a REAL issue and it causes many deaths every year.
Do not be the person that causes someone to kill themselves because you could not control your anger.
Instead, send a message with your opinion: "Hey, I noticed that you posted an update with something that triggered me. We do not know each other and I do not judge you for your opinion but I respectfully disagree. Here is what I think: BLAH BLAH"
Direct messaging is very powerful and when done correctly, you can create incredible relationships with contacts and connections on LinkedIn. They key is to have a strategy.
If you want to learn more about creating a digital marketing strategy on LinkedIn, join my upcoming webinar at www.ajaxunion.com/blueprintwebinar
Joe Apfelbaum
PS: Read this article, which has tons of messaging ideas. If you have some other messages that you think people should never send, please put them in the comments so people can learn.
USAF Veteran
4 年I have to say, I find it rather annoying, and quite frankly, a bit strange, when a perfect stranger sends me a connection request, and then immediately afterward, sends me a message asking me, "how are you?" If you do not know someone at all, it comes across very forward, and just not professional. This is a professional platform after all, it is not Facebook. Especially when you send that sort of message within 30 seconds of connecting, with a perfect stranger, it is off-putting. I am also not a fan of the private messaging feature either, and simply because it is a feature that LinkedIn offers, it does not mean that you have to use it. I have had people continue to message me as well, that I did not know, even after I told them that unless a message pertains to business, than I do not wish to carry on a conversation with them, and they continued to ask personal questions, and they continued to message me, so, I blocked them. That really did not sit well with me, as ignoring a boundary that someone has set, is not okay. I think that this article offered some great advice about messaging on LinkedIn.
Therapist in training | near completion of MSW | Current focus CPTSD; long-term goal couples with complex trauma presentations/histories
6 年So true. I've been trying to mix some hateful messages into my repertoire for split testing reasons, and the hateful ones get a terrible click-through rate ????