How many of your Linkedin connections do you actually correspond with?
I know many people who have 500+ connections but never correspond with these people (or even know who they are).
How many of your connections do you correspond with (if not on a regular basis then at least beyond the "accept invitation" phase).
If you don't make an effort to stay in touch, then why not?
Why make the connection in the first place?
Clarification added 9 months ago:
Thank you all so much for your responses. These are some great insights!
This question arose when I was doing research on social media use and in particular Linkedin. This was mainly a question of quantity vs. quality – an endless debate in various fields.
Is the value in reaching millions or in building quality relationships with two-way communication?
Looking forward to hearing your opinion.
Thank you.
P.S. Here are some blogs/article discussing this topic as well which you might find interesting.
http://smartketingreflections.blogspot.com/2011/03/quality-or-quantity_5667.html
http://www.marketingexperiments.com/blog/general/connecting-on-linkedin-quality-or-quantity.html
Answers (13)
Steve D.
Business Analyst at Sterling Jewelers
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (24), Resume Writing (2), Customer Relationship Management (2), Starting Up (2), Commercial Real Estate (1), Air Travel (1), Travel Tools (1), Government Contracts (1), Direct Marketing (1), Change Management (1), Currency Markets (1), Personal Investing (1), Professional Networking (1), E-Commerce (1), Databases (1), Wireless (1)
Probably correspond with 5-10 on an ongoing basis; notice i don't have 500+ connections.
Christine H.
Do you have your copy of my FREE Report yet? Get "Top 10 LinkedI Profile Success Secrets" now at: goo.gl/beKnU
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (365), Business Development (16), Customer Service (14), Education and Schools (12), Staffing and Recruiting (12), Professional Networking (8), Small Business (8), Advertising (7), Sales Techniques (7), Web Development (7), Job Search (6), Internet Marketing (6), Public Relations (6), Certification and Licenses (5), Planning (5), Starting Up (5), Computers and Software (5), Conference Planning (4), Government Policy (4), Health Care (4), Exporting/Importing (4), Organizational Development (4), Manufacturing (4), Blogging (4), Computer Networking (4), Software Development (4), Purchasing (3), Accounting (3), Personnel Policies (3), Events Marketing (3), Search Marketing (3), Inventory Management (3), Professional Books and Resources (3), Career Management (3), E-Commerce (3), Wireless (3), Business Insurance (2), Commercial Real Estate (2), Facilities Management (2), Travel Tools (2), Economics (2), Compensation and Benefits (2), Health Administration (2), International Law (2), Criminal Law (2), Employment and Labor Law (2), Tax Law (2), Direct Marketing (2), Graphic Design (2), Mobile Marketing (2), Lead Generation (2), Writing and Editing (2), Business Analytics (2), Social Enterpreneurship (2), Personal Real Estate (2), Market Research and Definition (2), Positioning (2), Professional Organizations (2), Information Storage (2), Regulation and Compliance (1), Air Travel (1), Hotels (1), Freelancing and Contracting (1), Mentoring (1), Occupational Training (1), Resume Writing (1), Event Marketing and Promotions (1), Mergers and Acquisitions (1), Government Services (1), Environmental Health (1), Work-life Balance (1), Internationalization and Localization (1), Treaties, Agreements and Organizations (1), Corporate Law (1), Customer Relationship Management (1), Change Management (1), Bond Markets (1), Commodity Markets (1), Nonprofit Management (1), Philanthropy (1), Project Management (1), Quality Management and Standards (1), Supply Chain Management (1), Personal Investing (1), Wealth Management (1), Product Design (1), Green Business (1), Green Products (1), Biotech (1), Enterprise Software (1), Databases (1), Telecommunications (1)
Most of them, Olga.
On the Web it is not necessarily about connecting with everyone that you link up with but rather creating a network of contacts that can get you in front of the people you need to be in front of to succeed. Networking brings you to the people you need to be in-front of and sometimes that is through connections that you never actually speak with.
Matt D.
Lead PHP Developer at Drop Locker
Best Answers in: Web Development (17), Blogging (5), Internet Marketing (4), Search Marketing (2), Software Development (2), Event Marketing and Promotions (1), Guerrilla Marketing (1), Business Development (1), Mobile Marketing (1), Personal Real Estate (1), Computers and Software (1), Computer Networking (1), Databases (1), Information Storage (1), Wireless (1)
People that are connected to you see your status updates...
So, even though you don't directly communicate with your connections, your messages have a much higher chance of getting read.
Sahar A.
Diversity& Inclusion|Leadership training|Social Media Marketing|Social Media Training|Public Speaker|Culture Competence
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (882), Business Development (26), Professional Networking (23), Career Management (22), Job Search (14), Event Marketing and Promotions (14), Staffing and Recruiting (14), Education and Schools (13), Internet Marketing (11), Communication and Public Speaking (11), Organizational Development (10), Small Business (10), Public Relations (9), Advertising (8), Ethics (8), Mentoring (7), Planning (6), Starting Up (6), Blogging (6), Hotels (5), Travel Tools (5), Personnel Policies (5), Sales Techniques (5), Business Dining and Entertainment (4), Writing and Editing (4), Professional Organizations (4), Wireless (4), Certification and Licenses (3), Freelancing and Contracting (3), Occupational Training (3), Conference Planning (3), Exporting/Importing (3), Internationalization and Localization (3), Events Marketing (3), Viral Marketing (3), Search Marketing (3), Change Management (3), Professional Books and Resources (3), Computer Networking (3), Web Development (3), Air Travel (2), Resume Writing (2), Economics (2), Government Policy (2), Work-life Balance (2), Direct Marketing (2), Guerrilla Marketing (2), Lead Generation (2), Business Analytics (2), Social Enterpreneurship (2), Supply Chain Management (2), E-Commerce (2), Telecommunications (2), Customer Service (1), Car and Train Travel (1), Conference Venues (1), Risk Management (1), Health Care (1), Public Health and Safety (1), International Law (1), Offshoring and Outsourcing (1), Criminal Law (1), Contracts (1), Employment and Labor Law (1), Corporate Governance (1), Nonprofit Fundraising (1), Nonprofit Management (1), Philanthropy (1), Project Management (1), Wealth Management (1), Market Research and Definition (1), Interface Design (1), Positioning (1), Green Business (1), Energy and Development (1), Green Products (1), Information Security (1)
Most of my contacts either through messages or groups or Q&A
Scott B.
Factotum
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (22), Career Management (7), Change Management (5), Ethics (5), Business Development (4), Planning (3), Professional Networking (3), Economics (2), Internationalization and Localization (2), Writing and Editing (2), Organizational Development (2), Professional Organizations (2), Education and Schools (1), Mentoring (1), Conference Venues (1), Accounting (1), Risk Management (1), Government Policy (1), Government Services (1), Personnel Policies (1), Staffing and Recruiting (1), Environmental Health (1), Advertising (1), Direct Marketing (1), Internet Marketing (1), Graphic Design (1), Customer Relationship Management (1), Lead Generation (1), Sales Techniques (1), Corporate Governance (1), Equity Markets (1), Philanthropy (1), Personal Real Estate (1), Small Business (1), Energy and Development (1)
About 10%. The others are just waiting for the right opportunity.
Diňésh R.
► WE'LL HELP YOU ◄ deliver Defects Free Software ► HELP Improve your Software Testing Productivity
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (1498), Customer Service (48), Business Development (6), Staffing and Recruiting (5), Certification and Licenses (3), Work-life Balance (3), Education and Schools (2), Mentoring (2), Event Marketing and Promotions (2), Planning (2), Manufacturing (2), Professional Books and Resources (2), Professional Organizations (2), Professional Networking (2), Computers and Software (2), Regulation and Compliance (1), Hotels (1), Travel Tools (1), Occupational Training (1), Resume Writing (1), Financial Regulation (1), Risk Management (1), Government Policy (1), Health Care (1), Public Health and Safety (1), Treaties, Agreements and Organizations (1), Direct Marketing (1), Guerrilla Marketing (1), Mobile Marketing (1), Search Marketing (1), Business Analytics (1), Corporate Governance (1), Nonprofit Management (1), Social Enterpreneurship (1), Project Management (1), Quality Management and Standards (1), Supply Chain Management (1), Wealth Management (1), Market Research and Definition (1), Career Management (1), Ethics (1), Business Plans (1), Franchising (1), Blogging (1), Databases (1), Information Security (1), Telecommunications (1), Software Development (1)
Greetings Olga:
Good Question... you are making a point for large network.
TO be honest.. I try through status updates and on need and event basis to be in touch.
Dont ask me in percentage ..
Regards,
-Dinesh
Bruce E.
Programmer
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (9), Work-life Balance (5), Education and Schools (4), Government Policy (3), Job Search (2), Criminal Law (2), Career Management (2), Communication and Public Speaking (2), Professional Networking (2), Computers and Software (2), Software Development (2), Customer Service (1), Regulation and Compliance (1), Freelancing and Contracting (1), Mentoring (1), Government Services (1), Compensation and Benefits (1), Personnel Policies (1), Health Administration (1), Health Care (1), Environmental Health (1), Public Health and Safety (1), International Law (1), Business Development (1), Public Relations (1), Customer Relationship Management (1), Writing and Editing (1), Business Analytics (1), Organizational Development (1), Social Enterpreneurship (1), Quality Management and Standards (1), Personal Investing (1), Professional Books and Resources (1), Ethics (1), Green Business (1)
about half are ex-colleagues or friends, correspond with them once in a while. for the others there's a few correspond with every so often. time is a big reason for not corresponding more
Dave M.
Professional trade show booth traffic builder and party entertainer. Corporate and private sector events.
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (654), Customer Service (34), Business Development (23), Advertising (18), Professional Networking (16), Education and Schools (15), Staffing and Recruiting (15), Government Policy (14), Internet Marketing (13), Career Management (13), Web Development (13), Organizational Development (12), Small Business (12), Job Search (11), Starting Up (11), Event Marketing and Promotions (10), Public Relations (9), Sales Techniques (8), Energy and Development (8), Computers and Software (8), Personnel Policies (7), Health Care (7), Work-life Balance (7), Manufacturing (7), Business Plans (7), Mentoring (6), Intellectual Property (6), Lead Generation (6), Business Analytics (6), Regulation and Compliance (5), Writing and Editing (5), Corporate Governance (5), Change Management (5), Supply Chain Management (5), Ethics (5), Wireless (5), Car and Train Travel (4), Occupational Training (4), Accounting (4), Compensation and Benefits (4), Criminal Law (4), Direct Marketing (4), Project Management (4), Market Research and Definition (4), Blogging (4), Enterprise Software (4), Databases (4), Telecommunications (4), Facilities Management (3), Purchasing (3), Freelancing and Contracting (3), Conference Planning (3), Financial Regulation (3), Public Health and Safety (3), Internationalization and Localization (3), Treaties, Agreements and Organizations (3), Events Marketing (3), Graphic Design (3), Mobile Marketing (3), Search Marketing (3), Philanthropy (3), Social Enterpreneurship (3), Quality Management and Standards (3), Positioning (3), Professional Organizations (3), Green Business (3), Green Products (3), E-Commerce (3), Software Development (3), Air Travel (2), Business Dining and Entertainment (2), Public Funding (2), Mergers and Acquisitions (2), Health Administration (2), Offshoring and Outsourcing (2), Property Law (2), Customer Relationship Management (2), Commodity Markets (2), Nonprofit Fundraising (2), Inventory Management (2), Personal Investing (2), Personal Real Estate (2), Pricing (2), Professional Books and Resources (2), Communication and Public Speaking (2), Biotech (2), Information Security (2), Information Storage (2), Business Insurance (1), Commercial Real Estate (1), Hotels (1), Certification and Licenses (1), Conference Venues (1), Auditing (1), Foreign Investment (1), Venture Capital and Private Equity (1), Economics (1), Risk Management (1), Government Contracts (1), Government Services (1), Environmental Health (1), Exporting/Importing (1), Corporate Law (1), Finance and Securities Law (1), Viral Marketing (1), Labor Relations (1), Planning (1), Futures Markets (1), Packaging and Labeling (1), Individual Insurance (1), Wealth Management (1), Branding (1), Distribution (1), Engineering (1), Franchising (1)
When I do a status update, all of them...
Erica F.
Social Media Optimizer, Publisher at ALC Publishing, President of Yuricon
Best Answers in: Blogging (48), Using LinkedIn (37), Internet Marketing (32), Business Development (20), Web Development (8), Small Business (7), Writing and Editing (6), Advertising (5), Viral Marketing (5), Search Marketing (5), Change Management (5), Professional Networking (5), Staffing and Recruiting (4), Branding (4), Career Management (4), Job Search (3), Mobile Marketing (3), Public Relations (3), Customer Relationship Management (3), Positioning (3), Communication and Public Speaking (3), Compensation and Benefits (2), Work-life Balance (2), Direct Marketing (2), Organizational Development (2), Starting Up (2), Computers and Software (2), Customer Service (1), Facilities Management (1), Purchasing (1), Freelancing and Contracting (1), Mentoring (1), Event Marketing and Promotions (1), Government Contracts (1), Personnel Policies (1), Internationalization and Localization (1), Lead Generation (1), Sales Techniques (1), Business Analytics (1), Labor Relations (1), Planning (1), Derivatives Markets (1), Product Design (1), Professional Books and Resources (1), Professional Organizations (1), Ethics (1), Incorporation (1), E-Commerce (1), Enterprise Software (1), Computer Networking (1), Telecommunications (1)
People "connect" for many reasons, not always to have a correspondence. Many of my connections are former colleagues, people in my primary, secondary and tertiary industries with whom I'd like to have a connection "just in case" I need to contact them. Some folks are people I've connected with because they liked an answer I gave or vice versa.
I would say about 2-5% of my connections are people I converse with, mostly on other platforms, not here.
Jann L.
Catering to your online marketing needs.
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (1), Lead Generation (1)
I don't typically communicate with LinkedIn my connections directly unless I already know them, in which case I would use email or phone. But I like to keep my LinkedIn connections as a sort of Rolodex; as people move/change jobs/get new contact info, I can still keep in touch with them should the need arise. Whereas people that I don't connect with on a regular basis in real life, I would lose when they move on.
Courtney D.
Updates / Data Entry at DMI
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (3), Commercial Real Estate (1), Public Health and Safety (1), Personal Taxes (1), Professional Organizations (1)
Not too many on a regular basis, but if I ask a question, I might choose the option to send my question to all of my linkedin connections.
Brijendra C.
Human Resources at Dodsal E & C Pte Ltd
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (230), Customer Service (11), Staffing and Recruiting (10), Organizational Development (9), Computers and Software (6), Web Development (6), Compensation and Benefits (5), Business Development (5), Project Management (5), Enterprise Software (5), Education and Schools (4), Accounting (4), Government Policy (4), Personnel Policies (4), Health Care (4), Wireless (4), Certification and Licenses (3), Occupational Training (3), Offshoring and Outsourcing (3), Advertising (3), Public Relations (3), Change Management (3), Currency Markets (3), Market Research and Definition (3), Engineering (3), Small Business (3), Starting Up (3), Energy and Development (3), Blogging (3), Computer Networking (3), Databases (3), Software Development (3), Commercial Real Estate (2), Purchasing (2), Regulation and Compliance (2), Travel Tools (2), Job Search (2), Budgeting (2), Economics (2), Government Contracts (2), Customs, Tariffs and Taxes (2), Internet Marketing (2), Customer Relationship Management (2), Lead Generation (2), Search Marketing (2), Writing and Editing (2), Business Analytics (2), Planning (2), Nonprofit Fundraising (2), Social Enterpreneurship (2), Product Design (2), Positioning (2), Professional Books and Resources (2), Career Management (2), Incorporation (2), Green Products (2), E-Commerce (2), Business Insurance (1), Facilities Management (1), Air Travel (1), Car and Train Travel (1), Hotels (1), Freelancing and Contracting (1), Resume Writing (1), Event Marketing and Promotions (1), Conference Planning (1), Conference Venues (1), Auditing (1), Corporate Debt (1), Foreign Investment (1), IPO (1), Public Funding (1), Venture Capital and Private Equity (1), Financial Regulation (1), Health Administration (1), Environmental Health (1), Public Health and Safety (1), Exporting/Importing (1), International Law (1), Internationalization and Localization (1), Treaties, Agreements and Organizations (1), Criminal Law (1), Antitrust Law (1), Contracts (1), Corporate Law (1), Intellectual Property (1), Employment and Labor Law (1), Direct Marketing (1), Guerrilla Marketing (1), Viral Marketing (1), Graphic Design (1), Mobile Marketing (1), Sales Techniques (1), Corporate Governance (1), Bond Markets (1), Commodity Markets (1), Derivatives Markets (1), Equity Markets (1), Futures Markets (1), Hedge Funds (1), Option Markets (1), Nonprofit Management (1), Philanthropy (1), Inventory Management (1), Manufacturing (1), Packaging and Labeling (1), Quality Management and Standards (1), Supply Chain Management (1), Individual Insurance (1), Personal Taxes (1), Personal Debt Management (1), Personal Investing (1), Retirement and Estate Planning (1), Personal Real Estate (1), Wealth Management (1), Branding (1), Distribution (1), Industrial Design (1), Interface Design (1), Pricing (1), Communication and Public Speaking (1), Professional Organizations (1), Professional Networking (1), Business Plans (1), Franchising (1), Green Business (1), Biotech (1), Information Security (1), Information Storage (1), Telecommunications (1)
I get regular job requests
Recommendation requests
Profile updated request
So it random people with different agendas.
