Connecting on LinkedIn

[Administrator_JSVN]

Ok, maybe I'm asking for trouble after the conversation about other social sites, but...

Very regularly I get requests from people to connect on LinkedIn. I don't accept requests unless I know who the person is.

So, if you know me through the FOG, are a Festool customer, or a dealer, please let me know. There's a space on the LinkedIn invite where you can type. Just put a short note in there so I know who you are.

Thanks.  [wink]

Shane

 

[Dogiedad]

Shane

Request to connect sent.
Michael Kirkpatrick
Dogiedad
Michael in Murphy

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Thanks, Michael.

Here's what I was talking about for others who want to connect. Just stick a note in the invite email.

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[Rick Christopherson]

In my opinion, LinkedIn is the biggest scam of them all. I have never created a LinkedIn account, but somehow they got/bought my engineering business name and email address and created a dummy account in my name. As a result I get connection requests from people I don't even know, for an account that doesn't officially exist.

Maybe they have changed it, but it used to be that you could find blank LinkedIn accounts (including valid email addresses) for people that were never signed up. They were harvesting names to make it appear to be a bigger network.

 

[bkharman]

Facebook pulls the same crap...  In fact they invented it.

 

[pugilato]

For some reason, people I know keep on adding to my skill set, even though I have been out of my previous career for at least two years... I have gotten requests for recommendation from people I am not sure I ever met. Yeah, I think LinkedIn is a huge scam, one of those clubs that, if you dont belong, your career suffers. Smoke and mirrors.

 

[Tinker]

I refuse all of those type networks.
The FOG is the only group I communicate with as a signed up regular.
Tinker

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

  I also have bad feelings about Linkedin.  I never joined it, so I don't know how they know so much about me...email, where I live, went to school, etc.  And, I often get emails from people asking me to link with them...when I ask them about this, every one of them has said that they never solicited me.  Also, I regularly hear from people who tell me that I asked them to link.  What?!
  I joined facebook after a high school reunion where a bunch of the guys and gals were encouraging it...but, now wish that I hadn't joined it.
  Because of these two social network experiences, I didn't even consider joining the FOG...but, after hearing some rave reviews, from a few members that I met at a Festool Roadshow, I decided to sign up and participate...so far, I consider it a very enjoyable, fruitful, and invaluable experience. So far, so good.

 

[tjbnwi]

I have a LinkedIn account. Ignored it for so long I couldn't remember my password. I get the skill endorsements also, another thing I ignore.

Tom

 

[dltflt]

I joined it then cancelled when I realized what a scam it was. I still got request for months after the cancelation.

 

[leer]

I am close to retirement so I'm ready to pull the plug on LinkedIn.  It was OK early on when I worked for a Fortune 100 company, and linked up with people I worked with 20 years ago and had lost touch with them.  I am not a Facebook user, so I think I'll just email a few and tell them to email me in the future.

However, lately it seems like I've become quite the sensation in my former professional circles.  I get several emails a week from LinkedIn from people endorsing me for one skill or another.  Once in awhile I recognize the name of the person endorsing me.

 

[Tinker]

  I also have bad feelings about Linkedin.  I never joined it, so I don't know how they know so much about me...email, where I live, went to school, etc.  And, I often get emails from people asking me to link with them...when I ask them about this, every one of them has said that they never solicited me.  Also, I regularly hear from people who tell me that I asked them to link.  What?!
  I joined facebook after a high school reunion where a bunch of the guys and gals were encouraging it...but, now wish that I hadn't joined it.
  Because of these two social network experiences, I didn't even consider joining the FOG...but, after hearing some rave reviews, from a few members that I met at a Festool Roadshow, I decided to sign up and participate...so far, I consider it a very enjoyable, fruitful, and invaluable experience. So far, so good.

I have had several requests to join LinkedIn.  These were from people who i know or have worked with.  Whenever i receive such a request, (from Face book as well), i send a personal note, either E-mail if I have the E-address, or snail mail explaining that I always avoid those social networking groups.  I do let them know they are welcome to E-mail me or US Mail any time.  i would like to hear about what they are doing and will then tell them what is on my recent agenda, etc.

One of my long time customers has sent multiple requests for both FaceBook and LinkedIN.  I have always replied as noted above and finally, the lady told me she never has sent such a request.  That tells me NYC Tiny Shop is right on in his assessment.
Tinker

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Guess I won't wait for connection requests from you guys then...  [tongue]  [crying]

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

We're connected here...that's better!  [big grin]

 

[Kev]

There's nothing "evil" about Linkedin. It's a business network ... if you don't want to be a part of it, don't. [wink]

 

[mattfc]

Agree with Kev, what happens on linkedin is purely down to what users allow to happen, for example if you give it your email user name and password, it explains that it will search your email for addresses and try and use that to match to linkedin users who registered with the same address, and optionally invite those who it can't already match on linkedin. Who's fault is that, not theirs, always read on the page what its going to do with the information your provide.

Key think with linkedin to make it work is to ensure you know whoever you connect with well. I have close to 500 business connections and never get spam etc, ok the odd request to link from someone I don't know, just ignore it.

With regards to endorsing, if you list a skill, your connections have the opportunity to verify that you have that skill. As for creating company profiles, what's the fuss, all that information is available in the public domain, in the UK we have companies house, for free to the public I can see a company, when it was formed, who the directors are, where they live, which year they were born.

There are multiple issues here, main one being you need to take responsibility for the footprint you create in terms of personal information on the web, and be aware what gets listed. In the UK you can choose not to be in the phone book, not to have your voting address on the public list, register your company details at a holding address such as the accountant, register your domain address with the registrars address rather than your own, etc etc

Same is true with managing passwords on-line, I personally can't manage a different password for every site, so have tiers, so a very strong password for a couple of banking sites, then a strong one for anyone who I provide credit card details with, and then a lesser on for message boards etc, and also an email just for work, and then personal one for trusted sites and for order confirmations for on-line stuff, and then a one for the rest which I mainly ignore. Whenever you give out your email address, read all the checkboxes thoroughly in terms of agreeing where your contact details can be used. I get very little junk mail, cold calling etc

 

[Tinker]

Agree with Kev, what happens on linkedin is purely down to what users allow to happen, for example if you give it your email user name and password, it explains that it will search your email for addresses and try and use that to match to linkedin users who registered with the same address, and optionally invite those who it can't already match on linkedin. Who's fault is that, not theirs, always read on the page what its going to do with the information your provide.

Key think with linkedin to make it work is to ensure you know whoever you connect with well. I have close to 500 business connections and never get spam etc, ok the odd request to link from someone I don't know, just ignore it.

With regards to endorsing, if you list a skill, your connections have the opportunity to verify that you have that skill. As for creating company profiles, what's the fuss, all that information is available in the public domain, in the UK we have companies house, for free to the public I can see a company, when it was formed, who the directors are, where they live, which year they were born.

There are multiple issues here, main one being you need to take responsibility for the footprint you create in terms of personal information on the web, and be aware what gets listed. In the UK you can choose not to be in the phone book, not to have your voting address on the public list, register your company details at a holding address such as the accountant, register your domain address with the registrars address rather than your own, etc etc

Same is true with managing passwords on-line, I personally can't manage a different password for every site, so have tiers, so a very strong password for a couple of banking sites, then a strong one for anyone who I provide credit card details with, and then a lesser on for message boards etc, and also an email just for work, and then personal one for trusted sites and for order confirmations for on-line stuff, and then a one for the rest which I mainly ignore. Whenever you give out your email address, read all the checkboxes thoroughly in terms of agreeing where your contact details can be used. I get very little junk mail, cold calling etc

I like your organization of passwords. A lot to remember tho.
Personally, i can't remem.......  er, ah, what were we talking about?  [unsure]
Tinker