I love an unexpected twist!

Looking forward to tracking your progress at ET.

Most importantly, FOLLOW UP!

Call or email the people you meet. And if they don't get back to you in a few weeks, follow up with them again!

Most networking amounts to people talking and nothing going anywhere. If you actually write down details and reach out to people later, you can actually build relationships.

Follow up!

Thanks Bobbie!

Good point. I think by comparison, Facebook doesn't have any default text and you just make a "friend request." I prefer that system.

I think what Susan and I both dislike is people who you don't really know very well reaching out via LinkedIn with a generic message. I will meet someone for five minutes at a networking event and then get a generic request from them. I mean, if you don't know really me, at least remind me where we met! Put something from our five minute conversation into your request!

You are right, though, that this is not even close to the worst problem with LinkedIn. I'd love to see a blog post of the top 25 problems with LinkedIn---maybe you should contact Kyle Lacy and write that one!

I think the irony is that the better you know someone, the less there is a need to say anything in the LinkedIn introduction.

After all, if we're best buds of course I know who you are. But if our connection might benefit from a brief reminder, than please *write something.*

I don't have a problem with clicking the "thumbs up." Perhaps my fundamental complaint is that LinkedIn leaves in default text *at all*. If the box was blank by default, then you'd either leave it blank or write something. It's the generic use of the same text which is annoying.

Hi there, I'm just replying to your comment to indicate agreement. I'd like you feel validated without me making much of an effort, which is why I've opted to leave the default text that appears in this box instead of making my own argument.
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Wouldn't online commenting on blogs be ridiculous if the above text appeared automatically? LinkedIn facilitates laziness by *having* text, and newbies and pros alike should recognize that generic human interactions are practically always a a bad idea.

Personally, I think that what's most embarrassing is that LinkedIn even *provides* boilerplate text. That makes it far too easy to connect with someone you don't even know!

I LOVE to write silly LinkedIn invitations. It's a hobby of mine.

Usually I'll make an in-joke that references the relationship with the person to whom I am connecting.

Great post!

Here's my standard LinkedIn joke, in case you need one. Feel free to use this:

HELP! GIANT ROBOTS ARE ATTACKING THE oh actually I'd just like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.