The polls closed and the results are in.
To see the results click here (if you don't see them right away click on the "closed poll" tab):
Poll Results
What I found interesting in this sample was:
-There were 237 voters in this sample. More than any other poll I've conducted
-There were about 100 comments left on either the poll page or the group pages where the poll was found
-31% said they mostly prefer personalized invites while 33% said they don't care if it is personalized
-1% said they ONLY accept generic invites. 6% said they ONLY accept customized invites. I understand only accepting customized invites. If you send a customized invite to the generic invite people they will reject it is what i find interesting. I can understand someone who will accept both personal and generic invites, but I don't understand why they would reject the personalized invites.
-Owners and C-level executives responded in the highest amounts that they don't care either way. I would think that people that have less time, like those positions, would want something more specific and to the point
-the 1% that responded they only accept generic invites were both C-Level executives
-everyone responds faster to personalized invites
-people 45+ were the ones who mostly preferred personalized invites but also the ones that said they didn't care either way (along with the 18-29 age range)
-people 30-44 say they respond faster to personalized invites 33% more often than people 45+.
The data is interesting but what conclusions you can draw are subject to many interpretations. What are yours?
I think the comments below are interesting.
Thanks!
Ev
Bob Waldo • If I don't know you, the least you could do is send me an invite that explains how you feel being connected would be mutually beneficial. In that you've (supposedly) already read my profile, you'd already know that's the best way to connect with me. Anything less, and you'll probably get ignored.
Uday ShankarUday Shankar AB • If I totally don't know the person and he/she does not reflect any good credentials in his/her profile, I do not accept the invitation unless it is personalized. If it is a generic message, I would consider it as a spam and just ignore. But I am open to connect with people who share similar interests or find something that benefits from the relationship.
KennethKenneth Lang • I prefer a personalized invite, shows a bit of initiative. I'm curious to know why someone wants to connect with me. I personalize my connection requests and once it's accepted I like to send a follow-up thanks to see how we can help each other out. That being said, I won't necessarily refuse a connection request when someone says I'm a 'friend' of theirs when I know that's not the case. Not everyone on LI understands or realizes there's a certain business etiquette.
Matthew Weaver, PMP, CSM, ITIL • I only send customized invites and prefer receiving them as well. That said, I'm on LinkedIn to network and I review each invite profile to determine if they are meaningful and relevant to me. Besides, LinkedIn sometimes does not give you the opportunity to create a custom invite. Anyway, whether I accept the invite or not, I never IDK. Personally, I hear over and over again from people that, regardless of the content of the invite, won't connect with anyone they don't personally know. I always wonder why these folks are even on LinkedIn as it seems Facebook is more appropriate for their personal social networking. If you are on LinkedIn, use it!
LaceyLacey Storer • Like Louann, I just need one short sentence. If we've met briefly at a networking function, remind me of that and what we talked about so I'll remember you. If we have a mutual friend, tell me about it. Because if I don't recognize your name or face and get a generic invitation, I'm not going to accept unless I'm in a really generous mood that today.
Lou AnnLou Ann Donovan • I like to know what attracted them to connect with me. Just 1 short sentence is all that needs to be included in the invite. I always do this when I send an invite. It saves time and makes it easier to respond. I love to network, connect and help people when I can and try to accept all invites.
Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer • While I've seen plenty of emphasis placed on the customized invite, I also believe that most people honestly don't know what to say. If there's a specific purpose to the invitation, then it's helpful to convey the intent. However, it's often a challenge to succinctly tell an invitee that their profile looks interesting, and that you'd like to expand your network to pull in more contacts from their circle. For what it's worth, most of the "generic" invitations that come my way are quickly followed up with a personal note from job hunters curious about working with me - and that's completely fine with me!
WilliamWilliam Hind • Personally I think you may all be missing a good point here. Sure if you don't trust or like them then don't accept the invite - personally on that front estate agents and recruitment "consultants" are high on my ignore list! However if there is some relevance to the persons role then I suggest connect - you don't know them well if at all, but certainly you don't know who they know! If you want to be a rainmaker you have to network!! (see book by Jeffrey J Fox as one example)
Dennis "Top Gun HR"Dennis "Top Gun HR" Hester, SPHR • I look at the persons profile for commonalities, which is the same thing I do in real life. If we have something in common, I send them a reply and ask them about themselves. If we can chat/connect then I add them. If they fail to respond, I decline them or if they chat but then fail to follow up, I remove them. I want people who are interested and motivated to connect/help me/receive help from me. So if a person says, “I am looking for work/help”, but then when I ask for a resume or statement of purpose they repeatedly fail to respond, I remove/delete them. Hope this Helps, Dennis "Top Gun HR" Hester SPHR
Dona Menton • I'd prefer an invite that lets me know how we might be of assistance to each other or what the individual has to offer.. with all the invites I get, I respond to those that seem to be a good business fit in one way or another...
Julian Bradder • I think that I prefer some kind of introduction and sense of purpose for the connection. LinkedIN has always been a stiffer colony than other networks for me at least.
Ralph Boccella • I always prefer and provide a reason for the request, and I offer my time for a detailed conversation. Otherwise, what value is the connection?
Bonnie Martin • I prefer invites based on a common goal, group, or need of a contact. I have seen applications out there where a company states on the application..."who do you know at this company that can help get you the job..." I don't agree with it --but it some cases, you have to get a connection at the company that you wish to be hired at.
Vanessa Vinos • I agree with the comments here; a personalised invite nearly always guarantees I will connect with you (if I can see what value the connection will have);-)
Carmela Cipriano • A personalized invite for sure! People may not remember you and networking is about getting to know each other.
Floyd R. Florea • I prefer personalized invites and provide a reason for the request, and want to see what value is the connection. Sometimes you need to have vision of the value down the road with being linked to this person and/or inside connection to their company.
Bill Wright • I like to see a personalized comment or two, but the lack thereof doesn't automatically mean that I will not accept. I am affiliated with both ONA and LION, so I am about collecting a fair number of contacts for a fair number of different reasons so I will be very "generous" in accepting invitations.
Yeah, my comment can also be constued to be an open invitation to send me invitations to connect....multi-tasking at its best
Judy Lack, HR Partner - Interim Contractor • Since the purpose of LinkedIn is to assist one another in business, either approach can work, that's reciprocity. I enjoy building a broad industry of talent so when asked, "who do you know in X business," I can refer or connect parties who may benefit from it. If people are looking for a new position, I'm happy to share a contact and hope that my contacts would do the same for me. And if I don't personally know them I share that too so they go into it with eyes wide open. Good luck connecting!
Jennifer Aranda • I'd rather have a personalized invitation but I usually accept generic invites too. When I issue invites, I try to ensure that I state the reason the request.
Fareed Ansari • A personal invitation is in order; because, even though you may not know them well, or at all, they are in your Network as a group member, and or a friend 1st, or a friend of a friend 2nd. There are people I know very well, and I don't want in my network. I use a generic invite that I customize as desired. I learned this from someone who invited me, and have used the personal note ever since. I believe it is good social media manners. I have also received some warm replies in return.
Ceri Topham (AM.APMP, AIRP) • A personal invite is essential. A generic invite from someone you know can seem lazy and would make me think as to the benefit or value of them as a business contact.
If the generic invite is from someone you do not know then it shows a lack of effort or care as to whether I connect with them or not. I often view a generic invite as the equivalant of junk mail.
I think we need to raise the game of effective communication generally in business and this includes how we present ourself when introducing ourself to others. After all, this is the first impression you will leave with a potential business contact, why would you want it to be a bad first impression created by a lazy generic invite?
Mark J. Haluska • I "generally" accept most invites if the invite is personalized. I very, very, rarely accept invites that are generic. If the person is too busy or too lazy to at least give me some reason to connect I will likely Ignore the request. By the way I do not IDK the person as that would just get them penalized by LinkedIn. I see no reason to do that to anyone.
BOB HAUSER • I prefer some personal reminder of how we are or should be connected.
Georgina Hamilton • I agree with Jamie. It depends on what your business is and why you want to connect with someone. For example, if I am trying to connect with people looking for offices, they need to be geographically near my offices in the first place. However, if I am looking to connect with someone who may be interested in my VoIP telephone and internet systems, they could be farther afield - or even over seas (as we offer a global network).
maria aprile • a personalized invitation is better
Aracely Barrios • I agree with most of you. People have lost the touch of being courteous. If I don't know you and you want to connect, why not send your request with "hi, I am so and so, I thought we could help each other." It takes 2 extra seconds prior to clicking on "connect." Since I moved to London, I get an overwhelming amount of requests from people out in wamba wamba land to whom I have nothing in common.
Stephanie Nicolai • Personalized! If I don't know you, I would like a reason to know why you want to connect with me! If not, I won't connect with them
Samantha Elizabeth McGawley • Stephanie you are so right. Why would I connect if I have no idea why you want to? This has happened to me a lot recently and it is making me think people aren't being strategic with the connections on LinkedIn and it is becoming far more socialised than it should be. I think it should be reinforced that this is a business networking forum where, of course, I am happy to help in any way I can commercially, but won't just be accept being added to someone's connections to boost numbers
Poll Results
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