LinkedIn is Dead, and we all killed it.

In 2011, I was shocked that companies were hiring me because I was famous on Twitter. The power of personal data and networked connections was evident, terrifying and moving fast. 

Between 2011-2014 I was hired by no less than three different billion dollar companies, BMC, ServiceNow and Healthways. All these companies wanted two things from me:

1. Show them how to be "social."
2. Make them seem trendy and "relevant." 

Some things you can't hire, buy or be, social and relevant are two of these things.

Back in those days, I wrote a great deal about the decline of social networks and the hidden power of mining your data. Today I have a book published by MacMillion Press one of the "big five" publishers, and you will find it in actual "bookstores."

Recently on LinkedIn, someone said, "Impressive, you're in bookstores." You want to know what's really "impressive" this peer, who was never pleasant to me, was still stalking, binging and following me with interest.

In chapter 7 of my new book "Don't Unplug - How technology saved my life and can save yours too" I detail my career, the state of social networks and more importantly some tips to stay connected and relative. 

LinkedIn today is a lot like "A Weekend At Bernie's". It's a dead middle-aged man being propped up a bunch of young people until they figure out what to do.

Much of what I wanted to share about LinkedIn and professional ways to work and thrive in this economy was "edited" out by the powerful print media, I could write a book on why publishing will go the way of the IT department, but I did, if you read between the lines.

So sitting here in a pizzeria at Dartmouth getting ready to do a book signing I thought I would share a few LinkedIn tips if you still care about "being" here on LinkedIn. While I use LinkedIn to reach out to people in my network and allow others who can't figure out how to go to https://www.chrisdancy.com/contact and click submit, I try to avoid it.

Unless you're ready to declare LinkedIn bankruptcy and start over, think about these things before you post and interact with posts or people like this. 

1. TITLES: You're not an innovator, Forbes top X, pioneer, thought leader or anything else, so cut the crap. Everyone knows it, and it's shameful you don't. 
2. PROFILE PHOTOS: Wow, you were on stage once, you have a headset on, no one cares, they will put anyone on stage. Lose the picture.
3. HEADER PHOTOS: No one cares, or honestly believes that your logos for ABC, CNN, NBC, PBS are real. If those networks talked about you, LIST what they said. Also having your name mentioned in any significant outlet is about 7K for three months of PR support, do something meaningful, talk about how it changed you, and people will COME to you. 
4. VIDEO POSTS: Video, you're not Jake Paul, or PewDiePie, cut it out. No one cares, and all the video content is eating up people's data, data they could use for their family.
5. SHILL POSTS: In my new book I talk about not turning yourself into a digital sandwich board. That means unless you're in marketing, sharing your companies bullcrap posts makes you look silly. LinkedIn keeps track of WHO engages with you and why. If and when you create little circles of faux influence, they know, cut it out. 
6. THE PROVOCATIVE POST: Listen, I don't care that you're an HR professional that took a chance on some poor washed up 50 years old or some 20 years old, and it "worked" out. If you want to make a difference on LINKEDIN, hire someone FROM LINKEDIN. There are hundreds of posts every day of unemployed people. Talking about life lessons learned from supporting the undesirable does not make you digital Jesus.
7. SEXY POSTS: Posting in revealing clothing or suggestive outfits and bolding proclaiming, "IS THIS TOO MUCH FOR LINKEDIN, I THINK NOT" Actually keep posting those because when people in my network, "like or comment" I know who to unfollow, ignore and block.
8. MINDFUL POSTS: Goodness, we all know these, people who have found "work-life balance" and now proclaim how they got their life back. You know what getting your life back actually looks like? Not talking about it. 
9. DEATH POSTS: What is it lately, everyone is dying and taking to LinkedIn to talk about it. Support people WHILE they are alive, in person. Hire them, promote them, STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM. LinkedIn isn't someplace to come and get your cheap likes and upvotes at the cost of the dead. 
10. RECYCLED POSTS: Are you on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram? Guess what, everyone is, and when you connect to people in multiple places, we all have to EAT your recycled silliness. At least space things out by a week. No one wants to re-see your posts.

One more thing, if you're a former colleague and you "binge" watch my career via LinkedIn, remove our connection, I'm not your entertainment and for that matter think about what you value because relationships aren't one of them. 

P.S. My book is dedicated to you, now tell me which "one" you are.

P.S.S I don't need your likes, comments or shares,  because I'm right and we all know it.