I get so many unsolicited offers on LinkedIn is there any value in listening to any of them (AskMeAboutLinkedIn) Q#078

Question: "I get so many unsolicited offers on LinkedIn is there any value in listening to any of them"

That is a question we get very often: mainly because there are so many connection requests and messages on LinkedIn that are full of immediate and unsolicited offers. It doesn't seem to matter how short your time on LinkedIn has been, you will have received at least one of those kind of offers. And your frustration will build ..

.. and build.

But our answer to this question may not be what you expect: Yes, listen. Why should you listen? Here are three logical answers and a good story:

Encouragers needed. We have enough critics already

The three logical reasons:

1. Listening: is it reasonable that you expect others to listen to your ideas / offers and yet you dont feel inclined / you don't make the time to listen to theirs ? I am not sure that is a winning strategy
2. Knowing: do you really know someone else until you invest some time in getting to know them ? they could be a prospect for you ?
3. Connecting: you also don't know who they might know who could be a prospect or a valuable addition to your network ?

Its now what you know, its not who you know, its who knows you that is one of the key measure of the value of your network connections to you

A good business success story:

And now for a good business story to illustrate the point: this week one of entrepreneurs we work with told us this story:

• the entrepreneur received a connection request with an offer "Would you be interested in my <investment offer> ..." etc
• the entrepreneur thought they would try the different approach we had been encouraging recently and said "Yes, sure"
• the entrepreneur read the offer and said "Thank you for the offer." and asked "Could I send you details on the sales training I offer ?"
• "Yes" said the new connection who read through our entrepreneurs offer and then responded: "I work with a network group of 100 plus business owners who I think would be interested in what you have to offer. Can I share your offer with them and maybe you could make them a special offer for your training for our group ?"

When you are ready to quickly say "No" doesit really take that much more effort to say "Yes, sure" and listen a little ?

It pays to spend a little time to listen so that you too can be heard. Who knows what opportunities you may find

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Q#078 #askmeaboutlinkedinpj #digitalmarketing #startup #thelinkedinstrategist