Why Scalp Hunting Is Not Networking
I often receive invitations to connect with some of my LinkedIn contacts on a network other than LinkedIn. My immediate inclination is to drop these people from my network.
These people seem to have a different understanding of a network than I do.
Or am I missing something? Does asking a Linkedin contact to join a different social networking site reveal an underlying attitude about the purpose of networking?
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Eric Pursh said,
Wrote on August 18, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Interesting question. I suppose it depends on what “underlying attitudes” you’re referring to…
The purpose of networking -and therefore a network - is to “connect” with others, whether to share interests or ideas or business contacts or exchange any other type of information. If information is to be shared, why care about the medium of choice?
Ironically, you asked LinkedIn members to comment to THIS site. Just a thought.
John W. Burrows, Ph.D. said,
Wrote on August 19, 2008 @ 4:58 am
Irony accepted (there is no conversation on LinkedIn. Just answers)…. but is connecting enough? And why have the same ‘connection’ on two media?
Mitchell Friedman said,
Wrote on August 19, 2008 @ 11:14 am
Hi, John. I too receive invitations from my LinkedIn contacts to join other networks. From what I gather, such other networks each offers different opportunities. I’ve decided after giving the matter some consideration that less is more — and that I’d better meet my objectives by dedicating more attention to fewer opportunities as opposed to trying to cover them all. So I delete such invitations (and opt out from receiving them in the future whenever possible).
The issue you raise, I believe, ties into a broader one about the best approach to marketing (assuming that online social networks are a form of marketing) — one I struggled with on and off over the years as an independent consultant. Where are the best places for me to put my time, energy, and money? Which ones will deliver the most benefits in terms of helping me to meet business and social needs? I’ve seen many self-employed business professionals struggle with the same topic, which has translated into what I’ll charitably call incomplete or partial attempts to take advantage of numerous online networking/marketing opportunities.
I’ll stop there and await your feedback.
Good to connect with you here.
Eric Pursh said,
Wrote on August 19, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
In my opinion, no, connecting is not enough. It’s the useful exchange of information that’s critical.
And while I wouldn’t necessarily delete or ignore a contact just because they asked to move that exchange to another medium, I’ll agree with Mitchell in that “incomplete” efforts are missed opportunities; they are worse than no effort, because of wasted resources and opportunity costs.
It’s like sending sales literature and not making the follow-up call. Or, if you want a sports analogy, not following-through in your swing. Where does it get you? Not very far.
I once read a great comment from a successful entrepreneur who was asked what he thought was his “success secret.” He answered, “I’m a finisher in a world of starters.”
Amen.