What in G*d’s Name is WRONG with You?

I’ve got a bone to pick with you.?

?I thought we were close, but now, I can see there’s a pretty big gap between how each of us thinks of the other.?

?Now granted, we just met on LinkedIn a few minutes ago (**attention dear reader, this may not be true in real life, but I’m making a satirical point, so just go with it.**).?But still.

?My real question is this: why didn’t you wake up this morning and say to yourself, “Today, what I REALLY want to do is give Ellen a lot of money”??

?I could be wrong, but it’s almost as if you didn’t choose to get on LinkedIn today to admire my content, appreciate my status and accomplishments, or add to my engagement stats.???

I sent you a Connection Request - and you STILL haven't replied.

?I DID send a note with my request. And still. . . you haven't connected.

?Like it just isn’t good enough for you that I said, “Hey Person’s First Name.?I’m looking to connect on LinkedIn with ambitious professionals who share my passions and values.?Your profile caught my eye - I’m so impressed by what you’ve accomplished!”??

?What???Do you think I'm lying about looking at your profile?

(Cough) I totally looked!?(Throat clearing noise)

I looked, and that’s why I know we share passions, values, and a history of accomplishments.?Who else could I possibly be talking about other than YOU?

You know, I’m not here on LinkedIn just for my health.??

I’m here to grow my gosh darned business.?That’s why!

Also, I was told that this way, the way I’m doing this (with identical template connection requests and then identical sequence messaging asking you to buy my sh*t) is the right way to do this.

It’s the best way. It’s automated. Or templated.?That’s efficiency.?I don’t actually have all day to hang out on LinkedIn.

That’s why it might seem like I’m relating to you as a “prospect” rather than a person.?

I’m acting this way because we all know that this is what matters.?And this method is what I learned from somebody who probably DID make a bunch of money back in the day, when LinkedIn wasn't stuffed with sales attempts, so this is what I’m doing now, in 2022.?

What you don’t seem to appreciate is that me and my offer - we’re both amazing.?

I don’t know you, but I KNOW you need me.??I'm positive you should hire me.

Obviously, what happened is you woke up this morning and thought immediately:?“What I want to do today is give Ellen a lot of money so her business is even MORE successful!”

TRUE, I don’t act this way when I meet people in real life, at a social occasion or networking event.??

But we all know that the way we act online is very different.?

People online love getting messaging that’s full of “fake authenticity”!

?And now, in all seriousness. . .?

?We have a choice.??

We can think and treat the people on LinkedIn for their pure transactional value, and that’s not a bad thing.?It’s “just business,” and that’s fair. It is an honest approach.

But there is another way that in our experience, yields much, much better results.? Especially with sophisticated, high value people. You know - the people who can afford to be very, very picky

SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO CATCH UP.

Look for people who represent “The Top 1%” of your digital/networking ecology.?These are the high level people who COULD be prospects, but could also be incredible referral sources, or brilliant colleagues, maybe even lifelong friends. Many of who are active and engaged on this platform - or trying to be active and engaged - are some of the best colleagues and friends I have made on this platform.

?Before you send a personalized connection request, look up the person's content, and comment on it if you can - but only if there’s a comment you can make, that you actually feel. Most people will be able to tell if you make an insincere comment in an effort to kiss up.

After you've made the comment and liked the post, THEN reach out with a personal note.?

Make sure the first 7-8 words of this connection request or message are about THEM, not about you.

"Your post on the Great Resignation was not only 100% accurate but also really clever. When you get a chance, look at my profile and see if it makes sense to connect."

Go look at your own LinkedIn Messaging Inbox - you'll see the first few words of about 8-10 people on your screen. How many of those messages are actually about YOU vs. about the sender?

For those of us on the receiving end of this personalized connection request on LinkedIn?

The difference is astounding.

Granted - LinkedIn Messaging can be a giant Pain in the A$$.

Outreach is not my favorite part, but done right, it's a VITAL part of your LinkedIn strategy.

You don't have to do it in mass volumes; you don't have to do it with everybody; but when it comes to connecting - truly connecting - with some of the coolest, most visionary, most purpose-driven, and most fun people on that planet? It's worth it.

But. . . I would love to know in the comments: do you have a Connection/Outreach strategy?

Do you read your messages? (No shame if you don't)

Does a VA handle it some or all of it for you? (No shame in this either)

What is the most effective Connection/Outreach approach you have tried?

Thank you for your service to the plant,

Ellen and Mark

Supertight LinkedIn