The document provides 5 changes that must be made to improve one's LinkedIn profile and networking. The changes are: 1) Avoid generic connection requests and introduce yourself personally; 2) When asking for recommendations, be specific about the person and skills for which you want endorsement; 3) Avoid using LinkedIn's default text and messages and personalize all communication; 4) Do not integrate Twitter updates into your LinkedIn feed as they have different audiences; 5) Carefully proofread for spelling and grammar mistakes to make a professional impression. Making these changes will help users strategically maximize their networking on LinkedIn.

1. Your LinkedIn Intervention: 5 Changes You Must Make - Forbes Page 1 of 5
FREE TRIAL ISSUE Log in | Sign up | Connect | Help
Real Time Most Popular Lists Video
Search companies, people and l
Secret Power Of Introverts Highest-Paid Actors Buffett, Bon Jovi Duet
, Contributor
content & a thriving network for ambitious women
| 11,934 views
Intervention: 5
+ Comment now
Most Read on Forbes
NEWS People Places Companies
The Terrible Management Technique
That Cost Microsoft Its
Creativity +34,487 views
That’
7 Ways You're Hurting Your Daughter's
Future +24,456 views
How I Figured Out What I Wanted To
know for recommendations. We Do With My Life +17,242 views
ambush people, asking for
favors before we’ve ever spent even Oops! ... Britney Spears' Conservator
two seconds of time building rapport. We shove our Tweets through our Did It Again +15,080 views
LinkedIn feeds, even though half the people on LinkedIn could care less about Next iPhone's Competition Is Here:
Twitter. Samsung Galaxy S III Top Rated
Handset On AT&T, Sprint, And T-
You want to use LinkedIn to your massive networking advantage? Then you Mobile +15,047 views
need to start working strategically and mindfully. And before you even think
about logging on next time—you need to digest a few basic rules of etiquette.
Daily Muse
Contributor
1. Generic Requests are for Suckers
Follow(256)
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/07/06/your-linkedin-intervention-5-changes-y... 7/7/2012

2. Your LinkedIn Intervention: 5 Changes You Must Make - Forbes Page 2 of 5
I’m going to assume that you use care in selecting who you’re going to invite The Daily Muse is a career- and lifestyle-focused
magazine and community for professional women.
into your LinkedIn network (you should). Why then, do you send them this We target a tremendously under-served
note: “Debbie has indicated you are a friend?” demographic: smart women who want insightful
articles and career advice written just for them, who
This generic invite is a huge turnoff to the majority of LinkedIn users—
especially those who get dozens of requests each week, or who don’t really
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed
know who you are or why you’re attempting to link up. (Fact: I ignore each are those of the writer.
and every generic connection request I get.)
D A ILY M U S E’ S P OP U L A R P O ST S
You absolutely must send a personalized note to every single person you’d like Final Cut: Words to Strike from Your Resume
to connect with, telling them who you are and why you’re inviting them to 425,366 views
connect. Sure, some of these people are your pals and they’ll know you right 4 To-Dos for the "Someday" Entrepreneur
away. But in every instance that you extend an invite to a professional (or 219,174 views
relatively unknown) contact? You have to introduce yourself and outline your How I Figured Out What I Wanted To Do With My
Life 192,497 views
goals and intentions.
Non-Awkward Ways To Start And End Networking
Conversations 135,492 views
4 Networking Mistakes You Don't Know You're
2. When You Ask for a Recommendation, Be Specific (and Know Making 125,125 views
the Person)
M OR E FR O M D A I L Y M U SE
Clearly, LinkedIn recommendations can be massively advantageous. Third-
party endorsements are job-seeking gold, especially when they come from
clients, supervisors, or prominent professionals. So, don’t squander this
opportunity by sending a vague or wishy-washy request for the
recommendation (and definitely don’t ask people you barely know for an Who Just Made a Billion Dollars?
endorsement).
A great request will let the person know why you’re approaching, what,
specifically, you’re looking for, and for what you intend to use the
recommendation. Example:
Our Real-Time Billionaires scoreboard tracks
“
Hi Susan, I’m currently seeking a new project management opportunity and wanted to ask if the biggest holdings for 50 of the world’s
you’d be willing to provide a recommendation outlining your experience working with me. wealthiest people.
Specifically, I’m looking at positions that require an ability to view the ‘big picture’ and then
See who's up & who's down right now »
assemble resources to ensure a project is completed on time and to budget.
If you could speak to my skills with managing both ‘big picture’ projects and critical details,
I would be very grateful.”
Columbus - New rule allows many
Ohio residents to get car
It’s also a good idea to email the person directly before you send the LinkedIn insurance at half-price.
recommendation request. This helps ensure that no one feels ambushed or
obliged. Shocking discovery by Cambridge
Researcher's for amazing joint
relief.
3. Avoid the Default Text Like the Plague
The secret of how to learn a
foreign language in just 10 days.
LinkedIn has some very nifty templates and default text available, which Read here to find out...
makes it so easy to do things like request an introduction to someone’s
contact. Don’t do it. Just like you’re not going to send a generic connection
request, you absolutely cannot use the LinkedIn default text to communicate
with professional contacts. Make it personal. Make it specific. Make it clear
that you’re not the laziest person alive.
4. Stop Tying Your Tweets to Your LinkedIn Feed
I don’t care how simple HootSuite and TweetDeck make it for you to integrate
your Twitter feed into your LinkedIn status updates. Resist the urge. You’re
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/07/06/your-linkedin-intervention-5-changes-y... 7/7/2012

3. Your LinkedIn Intervention: 5 Changes You Must Make - Forbes Page 3 of 5
dealing with two entirely different audiences, with different personalities,
writing styles, and lingo.
Twitter is like a summer cocktail party. In all likelihood, not many people will
bat an eye if you get drunk and fall into the pool. LinkedIn is the mixer that
follows your big professional conference. Surely, you can be conversational in
your LinkedIn updates. You just can’t get drunk and fall into the pool. Big
difference—and good reason not to integrate the two.
5. Review Spelling and Grammar Like Your Life Depended on It
I’m continuously simultaneously entertained and horrified by the sloppy
mistakes that come my way in LinkedIn requests. You want to establish a
great connection or score a favor, introduction, or recommendation? Spell Inside Forbes
well. Brand yourself right from the start as a smart, articulate, and precise
human being.
When it comes to LinkedIn, stop stinking, start thinking. And use these rules
as your compass.
This article was originally published on The Daily Muse. For more on using
social media in your professional life, check out:
• Effectice (and Non-Creepy) Ways to Stalk People on LinkedIn
• Social Media Scrutiny: How Companies See You
• Start Your Love Affair With LinkedIn
Jenny Foss operates a Portland, OR based recruiting firm, Ladder
Recruiting Group, and is creator of the blog JobJenny.Your job search BFF
and tough love expert on finding career passion, Jenny recently wrote her
first ebook, To Whom It May Concern: Or, How to Stop Sucking at Your Job
Search. You may also find Jenny on Twitter @JobJenny.
Photo courtesy of smi23le.
+ Comment now
76 557 395
Email Print Report Corrections Reprints & Permissions
More on Forbes Right Now
F EA T U R ES
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/07/06/your-linkedin-intervention-5-changes-y... 7/7/2012

4. ���������������������������������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������������������