I received a group message along with 27 others, some of them the top LinkedIn experts in the world. The message read:
How are you? I would like to introduce you to Michael LastName. https://www.linkedin.com/in/namehere. (this was of course hyperlinked) – That was it!
Back in the day, LinkedIn allowed you to blind copy connections, so, in that case it might not have been so taboo. But today’s messaging doesn’t allow for blind copy; everyone on the list sees one another and notifies each person every time someone responds or leaves the conversation… quite annoying to many. So clearly in this scenario, LinkedIn Group Messaging is… BAD!
As a LinkedIn trainer I was compelled to respond with a private note:
Hi Name,
I appreciate you helping your colleague get connected – but a group message with no context may not be the most successful way to get a response from key people. Because I teach LinkedIn best practices, I would love to offer a more effective way, I hope you don’t mind.
Copy your friend and each one of us in a personal message.
____________
Brynne, please meet Michael,
I recently had a wonderful conversation with Michael regarding his business and how he helps people XXX. He shared with me BIG INSIGHT and how he is truly making an impact on his clients’ lives. I don’t know if you are looking for XXX, but I highly recommend that you connect with Michael and even consider taking his call, I believe it will be well worth your time.
Michael will reply to this message to set up a time to talk, and will be sending you a connection request.I would love to hear how it goes.
____________
If she follow this advice, Michael would see a much higher rate of engagement and, if he really is great, she will begin to build a reputation as a connector within her network.
In this personal introduction scenario, when making personal introductions, LinkedIn’s Group Messaging… GOOD
FYI – Her response was that she didn’t have the time to introduce Michael to each person and if they wanted to use his services they would. Sadly, this is not a best practice, and if she was truly are a connector, she’d invest the time to make a few targeted and personalized introduction rather than a unpersonalized group message.
There are other good group messaging usages for internal communication, connecting mastermind groups or networking groups, a “listserve” type of communication or even for a share group where blog authors can drop new publications for others in the group to share to their social networks. Just remember everyone see everyone else and they are notified ever time someone responds, so make sure you have permission from all the parties before you use it this way.
As a recipient of a group message you can mute the message or leave it at any time.
So in short, use LinkedIn’s group messaging wisely.
I would love to hear your group messaging stories – please share in comments below!
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