Flying below the Radar on LinkedIn

If you don't want to use LinkedIn as a Business Tool, Fly Below the Radar. However, this may create lots of missed opportunities from using LinkedIn as a Business Tool.

In a LinkedIn training class, one of the business developers said, "I like to fly below the radar when using LinkedIn."

She continued on to add these points:

• I don't want to do or say something wrong.
• I don't want a lot of LinkedIn Invites from the wrong people.
• I don't want people to think I'm only trying to sell them something.
• I don't want to waste time with the wrong conversations.

These concerns are the same for all of us.

I asked her these questions:

• Are you ok having conversations with the right people regarding relevant &/or interesting topics?
• Do you like to meet new people who are relevant to you in different ways (business/life/community)?
• Do you want to connect with and eventually get into a business conversation with the right person?
• Do you want to get into the right conversations that can create value for you and/or others?

She answered yes to each of those questions.

I told her, you can't fly below the radar if you want these things.

I explained to her, "furthermore flying high does not mean you have to suffer from fear, risks, or to waste time."

Well-developed and executed processes are important when flying high using LinkedIn as a Business Tool.

Using proven and refined processes can help you minimize the risk of saying something wrong. One of the steps in my content sharing and engaging activities are I read out loud what I am about to post before hitting the final button. This gives me the best chance to catch a big mistake beforehand.

I also have clear processes for managing the LinkedIn Invites I receive. One step in my networking process includes validating the LinkedIn Member before I accept their invite. Additionally, I use a strategically written message to confirm the LinkedIn Member is someone I should connect with, or not.

Engagement and messaging styles play a big role in my efforts to not sell on social media or to be considered a spammer. However, I am clear about my goals and what I do and I strive to make sure my target audience and new connections know this. I use a style of inviting my LinkedIn Connections into conversations. If they decline the conversation, I do not push them into any type of sales calls or sales messaging, however, I do not close the door on them coming back to me at another time.

Being clear on who my target audience is, who their influencers are, what resources I need, and whom I am able to help provides me some of the contexts I need to minimize getting into the wrong conversations. Scripted validation replies also help me to determine if I should proceed with a conversation with a LinkedIn member who wants my time. I know it's important to help others I connect with on LinkedIn, however, when doing so I can't get pulled down into a rabbit hole. I'm very purposeful about this activity.

Even with the processes, messaging styles, and clarity of my goals I know flying high takes a little more time and energy than flying below the radar. However, in the past 17 years, I have discovered by practicing using LinkedIn as a Business Tool I have become very efficient at the steps and it's really not a burden to fly high using LinkedIn. The rewards are worth the time and energy.

Do you fly high using LinkedIn? Or do you fly below the radar? Why?

BTW - if you want help flying high using LinkedIn as a Business Tool, let's talk. Maybe this webinar series is just what you need - Master Using LinkedIn as a Business Tool

/Teddy