I sent out 89 invitations in the first shot. The LinkedIn system is very nice. It shows you if the invitation is undeliverable. A great way to clean up your list. I had to follow up on a few and get updated email addresses. After scaring up a few more email addresses, the total was up to 95 invitations out. The next day, I got a bunch of calls and emails asking... "What is this?" and "Did you really send this to me?" I think after I explained all but one did set up a LinkedIn account. Here is what I sent out if they emailed me...
Greetings!
It is an online tool that helps you build an easy to access network. Done right, it helps you expand the number of people you have access to. The theory is that just about everyone knows 300 people. The more people you know the more people you can help and they can help you.
Here is the power. I am one guy. Right now, I have 26 connections (my friends and business associates 1st degree). Of my 26 connections they have 700+ connections (2nd degree), connections to the 700 folks (3rd degree) - 176,000 connections. I am 3 degrees separated from a ton of folks. I can now get introductions to these other folks. Maybe find employees, find business deals, etc. I paid the $20 a month so I can search for people I wish to know. Odds are they are 1 of the 176,000 people.
If you want to give it a whirl, click on the link and then sign up. Then fill out your profile. It steps you through. I use Outlook. Make sure it is up to date and you can import the names and send invitations like I did. I only included people I am at peace knowing my friends.
Dave
Nine days after sending out that letter those who asked me, I had 45 connections. That doesn't sound like much, however, my 45 connections know 900+ people and they know 198,000+ people. Not bad for someone getting started. Next, what can you do with all your new friends.
If you need it, here is the start of the blog: http://blog.smtusa.com/index.php/the-linkedin-experiment/
Tags: LinkedIn, Social Networking, Business Development