To whom it may concern

They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity. I beg to differ!

The way that your brand (whether company or personal) makes clients and prospects feel about you is hugely important. So.... if your efforts at "publicity" give a bad impression, I would argue that you've lost any chance of a sale before you've had the chance to actually speak to the person you're targeting.

This is why, despite many offers from people trying to sell the services, I have always resisted the option of LinkedIn automated campaigns. My reasons?

1) LinkedIn is, in my opinion, about connecting with people. Connection comes from trust. Trust can not (yet!) be achieved via a "bot".

2) I've seen too many examples of the "clever algorithms" or "artificial intelligence" getting it wrong. e.g.

The company name of Kiss The Fish resulting in me receiving a connection request from someone who can "help me with my seafood import needs"?

The clever technology picking up and confusing different fields - "Hey Terry. I love what you do for Chapter2Group. We can help you at Kiss The Fish with..."

Over the weekend, I had 2 different versions of similar connection requests that I've shared below. The irony is wonderful!

I'm sure that some people find this approach useful, but it's not for me. You can't short-cut the process of selling. Sure, you can make it more efficient, but that doesn't mean simply chucking mud at the wall and hoping it sticks. At best, you'll just end up with a dirty wall!

My final point is that if you receive a LinkedIn connection request from me, it's from me. A human being who thinks that there is potential mutual benefit from us working together.