I was recently asked the following question by one of my clients:
“How do I export my Outlook contacts to import into LinkedIn?”
While this is something that can be technically accomplished, I caution you to take a moment and think about using this feature.
LinkedIn and other social networking services are all about one-on-one relationships. And while the vehicles for these relationships are shifting, the fundamental rules are still the same: how you connect with people or reintroduce yourself to old colleagues sets the stage for how you see your future relationship and how they will see you.
Simplify Your Social Circle.
If you’re like me, your email address book may contain more than 2,000 names. Now be honest… do you remember everyone on that list? Then how can you expect everyone to remember you?
The biggest complaint I hear from people just getting started on social networks is that they get invites from people they don’t remember and then they don’t know what to do: accept or reject?
One of the reasons that social networks have become so popular is because people want to feel that they are individuals and that their favorite companies “know them,” rather than just being part of an anonymous crowd where relationships are built solely upon “transactions.”
Give It a Personal Touch.
Think about it: a handwritten letter always carries more weight than an email. And in the digital age, these personal touches go a long way and show you care. So when using social networking for business, it is just as important to start off on the right foot and take the time to craft a thoughtful message to them.
Starting your relationship by recognizing each contact as an individual may take more time, but you will also find that it effectively opens the door to more qualified referral sources.
And as an added bonus, taking the time to send each contact an individual message is also a great way to update your current database, which is something that we all should be doing, but often don’t have the time to do!
First Impressions Are Everything.
When you use a mass import tool on a social network like LinkedIn or Facebook, you are, in a way, sending the message to your contacts that they are not important enough for you to take the time to send a personalized message, which can be very damaging to your relationship. And with a marketplace this tough and competitive, little personal touches can differentiate you from the pack, something everyone can benefit from.
Use this as an opportunity to review the people you have on your contact list. Here is how I would start:
1. Connect with those who you have frequent contact with first. You can write a short note that can be used over and over with little personalized tweaks. Even if you see them or speak to them frequently, a personal note is always appreciated.
2. Look for those you may have synergies with and review their profiles on LinkedIn or Facebook to see if their information has changed. You may begin your note with something like:
John,
It’s been a few years since we last spoke. You were at Company A, and we met through the networking event at SMB. I see that you have moved on to Company B; congrats on your transition! I would appreciate the opportunity to reconnect and see if we have new synergies. Please review my profile and we can schedule a time to follow up if you see the value of reconnecting.
Best,
Jennifer
3. After you have sent messages to those you have synergies with, you may want to go back and look through the other contacts in your list. Identify how you know people and reconnect with a goal in mind.
Be open. Are you looking to expand your network, or just rebuild old connections? When you send your invitations, you may want to explain you’re a new LinkedIn user and you’re looking to reconnect with people you met offline. You may find people’s jobs or needs have changed and you may just be whom they need to know now.
Make a Lasting Impression.
Social tools work most effectively when users understand that they’re about building strong, memorable relationships on an individual level. They may make it easy to reconnect or forge new relationships with the click of a mouse, but how you do it is key. Now is the time to make yourself more memorable and grow your network, and there is no simpler and more effective way than making the extra effort to be personal and sincere.
To learn more about leveraging LinkedIn to benefit your business, sign up for my upcoming webclass here.
