1)    Invitation Templates . . . don’t use them! You’re better than that! Nothing says “I couldn’t be bothered taking 10 seconds to write you a personal message” more than those boring templates. Want to stand out? Don’t do what everyone else is doing.

Don’t know what to write?

How about starting with something you have in common like coming from or serving a particular industry, perhaps you’re both members of the same group, live in the same area,went to the same college, have a particular connection in common.

Then end the invite with “Needless to say, I’d love an opportunity to connect with you and to get to know you better”

While I won’t quit my day job to write LinkedIn invites, I’m pretty sure that was a heck of a lot more meaningful than those sh*tty templates, no?

2)    Avoid “IDK’s” “IDK” stands for “I don’t know this person” When someone hits that, in response to your invite,  you get on LinkedIn’s watch list. Get enough of them and they ship you off to the Gulag. Not quite, but they do get pissed and send you a snot-gram warning you that  if it continues you lose your ability to invite people to your network. Here’s how you limit the probability of an “IDK”  First, don’t send that crappy templated invite I mentioned above. Next, put this amazing line in your invite: “Should you chose not to connect, no worries, simply ignore this message instead of selecting that dreaded I don’t know (insert your name here) button”

3)    Don’t just accept invites . . . respond to them! A simple “Thanks for the invite (name)” helps you to stand out from all those who simply leave it at accepting. This is all about connecting. Let’s make a note to keep that philosophy front and center!

Note: When I accept an invite, I also include links to the other social networks where we can connect. Why? For starters, they might not be that active on LinkedIn but really active on another network. Why limit possibilities? Also, in any relationship there’s more than one place where you hang out together. I might see a completely different side of someone on Twitter or Facebook than I would see if I limited things to just LinkedIn. They also get to see different sides of me too!

4)    Status Updates: Use them! Make sure you stay on your network’s radar screen by updating daily. Do include a helpful tip, an inspiring quote, a link to a useful article or just simply ask a question.

Note: Connect with recruiters and share the jobs they post in your status update. I’m sure there’s someone in your network who’d really appreciate that!

I talk more about this, as well as a really cool technique you should use in this blog post.

5)    Your Network’s Status Updates: Everyone has a story and wants to be heard. With business moving at the speed of light, our own individuality is often “lost in the sauce” Your network’s status updates are a golden opportunity for you to acknowledge and validate others

6)    Take on a “Go Giver” mentality. Be willing to give, upfront and without keeping a scorecard. You can accomplish this by taking on the role of “matchmaker” and introducing people within your network. Give your advice freely, offer resources, mention cool books, websites, etc. I guarantee you that when you help enough other people, there is a natural tendency for them to want to help you in return.

7)   Demonstrate Your Expertise With LinkedIn Publisher A few years ago, LinkedIn rolled out a really cool feature where anyone can write a blog post, right on LinkedIn and then publish it there. It’s supper easy to use and it allows you to demonstrate your expertise and stand out to your network. It’s also FREE!

Click HERE for step by step instructions as well as several other resources to help you begin publishing on LinkedIn.

8)   Move Your Connections Off The Computer Screen To Real Time! Having 2,000 connections is absolutely meaningless . . . until you do something with them! Make it your mission to connect “live” with at least 3 people each week from your network. I offer step, by step details in this free report.

9) Use LinkedIn As Part Of Your Pre-Call Planning Research. And while you’re at it, take a look at the connections you have in common with your potential client. Perhaps they could facilitate an intro and/or provide some insight? Oh, and I bet they’ll be more likely to help if you’ve actually spoken with them as mentioned in #8.

10)  Repeat After Me . . . Patience! LinkedIn should not be embraced as a short term strategy. Think I’m kidding? Disagree with me? Watch how fast you’ll think LinkedIn sucks when you try to rush something that experts call “Trust”. That’s what this is really about. Its not just about my network and your network. Its not just the old, “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you”. Its about creating enough trust to move to a next step. When does that happen? The answer is simple, it happens when it happens. Patience grasshopper!

11) Join Us This Thursday (October 5th) For Our How To Generate MORE Leads Via LinkedIn Webinar Click HERE for details!

So there you have it, 11 ideas to make your LinkedIn experience more productive!

Would You Like The 10 Templates I’ve Been Using On LinkedIn?

Then you should DEFINITELY come join us for our How To Generate Leads Via LinkedIn webinar Thursday, October 5th, at 11:30 am EST!

I’m going to get into actual tactics and share 10 templates I created to help you;

Work a proven communication plan from the moment you say “hello” to the moment you transition that “connection” off of your computer screen.

Here’s what you’ll GAIN by joining us . . .

• What to say and do, from the moment, you connect with someone. And I’m going to give you the exact templates that I’ve been using!
• How to position yourself as an expert without coming across as a total tool!
• How to provide value WITHOUT conditioning a bunch of freeloaders!
• How to create a referral machine . . .Even with people who’ve never bought from you!
• How to IMMEDIATELY increase your phone appointments each week. Note: My coaching clients average 10 more appointments each week. Your mileage may vary.
• How to dramatically increase your response rates via LinkedIn.
• How to approach someone without coming across as salesy.
• How to do this all on a tight schedule.

At The End Of The Webinar, You’ll Have The Framework For A Powerful Lead Generation System!

The investment is only $99 and here’s what you’ll get;

(1) 90 minute webinar

Worksheets

The Recording (Sent out later that day)

2 Bonus eBooks with additional ideas

10 Templates

Email Access To Me to answer any webinar related questions

Can’t make it on Thursday, October 5th at 11:30 am EST?

Sign up anyway and I’ll send you the webinar replay later that afternoon. View it at a more convenient time.