by Michelle Lentz on April 14, 2009
by Michelle Lentz
Whether it is because people are losing jobs (or preparing to do so), or because my visibility is increasing, I have started to get a lot more LinkedIn invites. In many cases, these folks feel they have a personal connection with me (through my blogging or speaking) and don’t realize that I have a memory like a sieve, particularly for names.
Would you send out an invitation to a party without thinking through the invitation and considering the wording? Probably not. I wish more people applied that same logic to LinkedIn invites.
Michelle:
I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
- Larry
Now, I probably do want to connect with imaginary Larry. He’s probably a great guy and might even have some great contacts. But because I need a memory jog sometimes, I’m not sure who he is. I also question how seriously he takes connecting because he didn’t bother to personalize his LinkedIn invite and just sent the default text. Why couldn’t Larry have taken the time to write this?
Michelle:
I really enjoyed your presentation at our local AMA Non-profit group. I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
OR
I really enjoy following your Twitter feed. You can find me on Twitter @username. I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
– Larry
All our imaginary contact Larry would have to do is add one or two sentences to the default invite. It makes him more human and shows a little bit of effort.
If you’re reaching out to someone you met via Twitter, briefly at a conference, or someone who you know because of their blog, go ahead and personalize your invite. Not only will it jog your connection’s memory, it will make you stand out a little more as well. And with the economy the way it is, standing out from the rest is important, no matter who you’re reaching out to.
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Contact Michelle with news, stories, events, and more.
Email: michelle[at]writetech[dot]net
Twitter: @writetechnology, Friendfeed: michellel
Sites: Write Technology, Wine-Girl.net
by Michelle Lentz on October 2, 2008
by Michelle Lentz
I had no idea that blogging was now taken so seriously by churches. Apparently the Evangelical Alliance in London has created the Blogging Ten Commandments, based on those original ten we all learned about as kids. The Blogging Commandments aren’t as silly as I had expected (or sort of hoped).
Why, you ask? Apparently religious bloggers were starting to snipe at each other and it was getting out of hand. If you ask me, these commandments are really just blogging etiquette, but what do I know.
Image by Flickr User Devo(lutio)n under Creative Commons
Ten commandments for bloggers: (as seen in the Telegraph)
1 You shall not put your blog before your integrity
2 You shall not make an idol of your blog
3 You shall not misuse your screen name by using your anonymity to sin
4 Remember the Sabbath day by taking one day off a week from your blog
5 Honour your fellow-bloggers above yourselves and do not give undue significance to their mistakes
6 You shall not murder someone else’s honour, reputation or feelings
7 You shall not use the web to commit or permit adultery in your mind
8 You shall not steal another person’s content
9 You shall not give false testimony against your fellow-blogger
10 You shall not covet your neighbour’s blog ranking. Be content with your own content
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Contact Michelle with your news, apps, and events via email, Twitter, Pownce, or FriendFeed. Visit Michelle at Wine-Girl.net and Write Technology. You can also catch Michelle presenting on Twitter at the upcoming DevLearn ‘08 in San Jose.
by Michelle Lentz on June 20, 2008
by Michelle Lentz
I’m a stickler for etiquette. It makes me think of an older era of simplicity and politeness, pre-cell phone, and I love that. I send handwritten thank you notes within days of receiving a gift. I make sure invitations go out at the right time, with the appropriate handwritten addresses, and I only use electronic invitations when absolutely appropriate. I send actual birthday and anniversary cards. I have stacks of books on etiquette – both old school and “urban.” So I’m a big fan of the British etiquette experts Debrett’s. When I was getting married, I bought Wedding Guide to Etiquette without batting an eyelash.
Debrett’s has now issued 5 Golden Rules for Sociable Social Networking. Research by British Telecom Orange found that 62% – nearly two-thirds of us – are frustrated by new situations we find ourselves in on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and BeBo. How appropriate is it to be poked or poke someone anyway?
So, in partnership with Orange, Debrett’s now offers these 5 rules to help alleviate your confusion:
1. You don’t have to make friends with people you don’t know. It’s not a competition to see how many friends you can get. Think before you poke.
2. Always wait 24 hours before accepting or removing someone as a friend. The delay will help you gather your thoughts.
3. Birthdays, engagements and weddings are not ‘virtual’ events. Always send birthday cards or call your friends when there’s important news.
4. Consider your friends’ feelings before posting pictures. Put yourself in their shoes before clicking ‘upload.’
5. Think carefully about your profile picture – if you don’t want to see it in your local newspaper, don’t put it online.
Many of these rules are things that I teach in my LinkedIn and Facebook sessions. Truthfully, they’re common sense for most adults – or so you would think.
Social networking now has official Rules of Etiquette.
As an aside, the Independent took this one step further with the Geek’s Guide to Netiquette that’s pretty funny.
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Events, news, apps, and more – let me know at michelle[at]writetech[dot]net, via Twitter, or via Pownce.
