Be the Friend First ??
Sandra Long
Author of "LinkedIn for Personal Branding"| LinkedIn Top Voice | TEDx and Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Rebranding | B2B Social Selling l My Mantra: "Be a Friend First" l Let’s Amplify Your Brand and Event
People ask me, “What does Be the Friend First mean?” They notice this phrase is in my LinkedIn headline and profile. I mention it in most of my posts. And when I teach LinkedIn, this philosophy is the underpinning of everything.
In a nutshell, who you are deep inside and what you stand for are often more important than what you know or even your experience. Yes, of course, be the expert, but also decide to be the friendly, helpful one. Be the expert that everyone wants to know or refer. Be the expert that attracts friends.
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Think about it. ?? Being friendly and helpful from the starting gate is the best foundation for building a relationship. So, why do some people just plow ahead with unreasonable expectations and requests?
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And yes, it happens more often online. Some people have forgotten how to engage in a friendly manner on LinkedIn, even though they are probably pretty friendly in real life. Sounds like a disconnect.
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Your mindset and attitude matter on LinkedIn. Use the platform to build relationships. Focus on being the friend first.
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Make other people feel special, appreciated, and noticed. Be the friend that you always wished you had. How do you do that on LinkedIn?
? Like and comment on a colleague’s post, video, or article.
? Invite people to connect with a friendly note
? Post a gratitude post or video to thank someone
? Recommend and endorse others whom you admire
? Subscribe to your contact’s newsletter, and then comment and share
? Introduce people you know who should know each other
? Boast about others and not yourself
? Send a friendly message within LinkedIn
? Join Groups and then invite your friends into the Group
? Congratulate your contact by message or post
? Recognize your friend or colleague’s great job or new article with an @Mention on a comment or post
? Write a complimentary article and share
? Build relationships by commenting on content
? Celebrate a colleague
? Invite someone to an event
? Share and post about your friends’ accomplishments
? Follow your friend’s company page and comment on the content
? Share your professional insights and advice using a friendly, authentic tone or personal story
? Take a photo at an event with a new contact. Post and show gratitude for the meeting.
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Here are some actions to AVOID, especially if you follow this philosophy ??
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? Connect and immediately pitch a meeting (or your products and services)
? Use automation to send messages or invites
? Hijack someone’s post with your self-serving comment
? Having the attitude that it’s a numbers game and you need to keep pitching
? Ignoring your friend’s award or accomplishment on LinkedIn
? Blasting out a post with 50 @Mentions hoping to get likes
? Ignoring a message or invitation from someone you know
? Boasting about yourself in all your posts
? Using automation to comment (or do anything)
? Participating in pods to create fake engagement
? Buying followers or connections
? Making false or misleading statements
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You decide who you are and what you stand for. You do this in real life, and you also do it online. Hopefully, your personal brand is consistent and helps you attract the best clients by being helpful.
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Be the Friend First. All day and every day.
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This article is based on Tip #60 from my newest book Jumpstart Your LinkedIn Profile: 67 Actionable Tips?
Thank you!
Leadership Development | Corporate HR | EdTech
1 天前"Be the friend first" also for me means "be the human first." Unfortunately, in the pursuit to be liked by LinkedIn and time constraints, many choose the easy way of don'ts, even though they are short-sided and short-lived.
Accelerate Your Board Engagement. Nonprofit and Association Expert, Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Consultant, and Author: Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game.
1 周Thank you for sharing these solid tips Sandra!
Content and Connection Coach, sharing LinkedIn? strategies through ? Professional Speaking ? Group programs ? 1:1 consulting ?? I think in lyrics ?? curate connections ?? and play with plushies.
1 周One of the things I love to do is to introduce people through LinkedIn messaging THEN -- I can know when both people have responded to the message, and nudge a person if they haven't taken action. Because typically if I'm making an introduction there is a really good reason.
Creative Thinker & Solutionist | Healthcare/Medical/Pharma/Life Sciences Design | Artist & Science Geek | ARTvocate | Curious Listener | Hopeless Perfectionist | GIG Economist (Growing in Grace) | Wellness Warrior
1 周Great article, Sandra. Indeed, people have forgotten how to be friendly on LinkedIn...a disconnect as you say. I like your idea about posting a video to thank someone for connecting or perhaps for an insightful comment. ????
Award-Winning Keynote Speaker & Corporate Trainer | Happiness & Positive Psychology | Author - Be, Happier | Virtual Learning
1 周Love this! Great ideas to put into oractice!