The Worst LinkedIn Connection Requests
LinkedIn should be the ultimate business social network.
At one point, I think I even labeled it as the best social network of them all.
I’ve used LinkedIn for job seeking, hiring, promoting content, attempting to be a thought leader, reaching out for help with various tools, reaching out for contributions to content, and loads more things that LinkedIn is great for.
Recently, however, I find myself falling out of love with LinkedIn.
Falling Out of Love with LinkedIn
There are two reasons why my relationship with LinkedIn is on the ropes.
The first is this…
Sort by recent is my default setting for any social media. I like it this way. It is my preference.
But LinkedIn fails to remember this every single time.
So I am greeted with the recommend top posts based on whatever the LinkedIn algorithm thinks is my top post for this moment in time.
Now, it’s no effort at all to change this from top to recent. This isn’t really my issue.
My issue is WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE DO THIS?
I understand why people have the option.
However, not everybody knows it’s there.
So, irregular LinkedIn users see the same content (promoted or viral) from the same sources and the awesome LinkedIn contributors (that don’t post at the optimum time, don’t pay to promote their content, or aren’t playing the LinkedIn algorithm game) go unnoticed.
That’s issue #1. It’s not a biggy but it’s massively frustrating for contributors without a huge chunk of spare time or a budget to share their opinion.
The Biggest Problem with LinkedIn
I used to have a policy of accepting every single invite I received on LinkedIn.
I shared this piece of advice in an interview for “How I Got My Job”.
The exact snippet was as follows…
Advice For Someone Looking For Business Technology Consultant Job?
“Take everyone’s call, respond to everyone’s email and accept all LinkedIn requests. You will build a solid recruitment network as and when you need to look for a job and recruiters are likely to reach out to you if they have something relevant.”
Oh, how my advice has changed.
Over the past few years, my LinkedIn experience has pivoted from a remarkable networking site to an unbearable disaster zone.
I know what you’re thinking…
“Oh, turns out this is just another article by someone moaning about LinkedIn”.
It was to this point. But now it’s not.
Recently, I’ve been sharing the terrible (and mostly hilarious) LinkedIn messages and requests with my friend, Rob.
Mostly, we just ridicule people that are totally wasting their time reaching out with rubbish messages and unclear CTAs.
But it’s got to the point where I’m sending Rob so many messages that I’m sure he’s had enough.
Instead, I’ve gone back through my LinkedIn messages and found the best (worst) messages to share with you.
- Disclaimer: there is no offense meant by this post. I am simply pointing out what fun LinkedIn can be and how worthless some people’s messages are.
The Worst LinkedIn Connection Requests
We’ll start with the most recent.
Read the messages first — then I’ll translate to what they really mean.
“I can’t stand your face appearing on my LinkedIn feed so I had to add you.”
I literally would have to translate this message.
This was the third time I had received some sort of request to do something — this time with a calendar link. Just in case I wanted to give it a whirl anyway?
Ah, the classic “grow my network” request.
Literally read as my metrics are down and I need absolutely anyone to read my content.
The passive aggressor.
“You suck at your job. That’s why you should pay me to do it.”
Pay special attention to the use of “after we connected.”
I call this one the runaway recruiter.
This is actually a repeat of a message and process I conducted last year with the same company. Cameron, referenced in the message, no longer has a LinkedIn account.
The idea behind this SUPER AWESOME JOB OPPORTUNITY — URGENT MUST BE FILLED NOW post is that my profile was what this company was looking for to conduct a telephone consultation because I’m an expert in the field.
Last year and this year, I said yes.
Neither Cameron or Anya has got back to me.
Another example of someone looking for an “expert” but I ran with it. Everybody likes to be called an expert, right?
However, VoIP is a pretty big category. My opinion on VoIP? Yeah, it’s great.
Staggered over 25 minutes, this relationship builder seemingly just wanted to know how I was. I’m fine, thanks.
Alignment is a funny word.
Anyway, turns out we can’t be that aligned as Sophie is yet to reply.
TL;DR.
Conclusion
That’s all the cold messages I’ve received from people I don’t know from Jan 1st 2020 — Feb 23rd 2020.
So, what was the point in this blog post?
- Stop me from messaging Rob with screenshots so often
- Communicate that my advice of “accept every invite” is now null and void
- Inform all cold requesters that they need to up their game or stop wasting their time
This is the point where I could include the appropriate way to message someone you don’t know on LinkedIn.
I am a writer, after all. I should be good at that sort of thing.
But, my attitude toward LinkedIn has radically changed.
I know Sales Navigator exists and LinkedIn encourages you to add people you don’t know so you can sell to them.
But…don’t.
Follow them instead. Interact with them. Comment on their posts, like their updates, share their meaningful content. Let LinkedIn be a social network.
I enjoyed writing this post and looking back at all the terrible LinkedIn messages I received this year. If you’d like me to extend the post to some of the best from 2019, let me know by clapping this post.
And if you’d like to leave a tip, why not buy me a coffee here.
