Chapter 1: Understanding the LinkedIn Connection Landscape

In today's digital networking environment, establishing authenticity is critical. Unfortunately, many individuals resort to insincere or generic messages that can undermine their credibility.

A growing trend on LinkedIn involves the use of excessive compliments that ultimately fail to convey genuine interest. This phenomenon could be likened to the adage "Damned by faint praise," which suggests that a compliment can sometimes imply criticism. For instance, if a colleague consistently underperforms and you only commend them for being punctual, it may come across as a backhanded compliment.

Recently, I've received numerous messages that exemplify this issue. Here are a few examples:

• "Your content is fantastic! Keep inspiring the LinkedIn community."
• "I was browsing your profile and truly admire the mission you're pursuing—it's so vital in today's world. Thank you!"
• "Mary mentioned your profile to Jim and me, and we were quite impressed! I really appreciate what you're doing. Hope all is well."

The underlying problem? These messages indicate that the sender hasn't genuinely engaged with my profile or content. It appears they are sending the same generic notes to multiple people, which is more detrimental than remaining silent.

If you're looking to make a meaningful connection, take some time to explore my profile. Identify shared interests or points of connection. For instance, if you're a Canadian, I might mention, "I spent five years in Canada, specifically in Winnipeg, teaching at the University of Manitoba."

If you're from Saskatchewan or Alberta, I might add, "I’m one of the few Americans who can locate Saskatchewan and Alberta on a map." Typically, this approach elicits friendly responses. However, if you're from Toronto or Vancouver, expect some playful banter about Winnipeg.

Avoid shortcuts when reaching out. A message like, "I enjoyed your podcast episode on the three stories," suggests you’ve put in some effort to visit my podcast page and recall a specific title. However, it’s likely you didn’t even read the description.

Sending a connection request without a message? If we have several mutual connections, I might accept, especially if LinkedIn prompted the suggestion. At least that’s an honest approach.

In summary, skip the insincere flattery. Even if you modify the wording slightly, if your message resembles those you've sent to countless others, it will come off as disingenuous.

I’m Dr. Cathy Goodwin, a copywriter, storyteller, and strategist. I assist small business owners, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs in acquiring new clients through effective digital marketing strategies that combine storytelling and copywriting, all without appearing overly sales-focused or intrusive.

Chapter 2: Building Genuine Connections

For further insights, explore my video course, Content for Credibility, where I delve deeper into these concepts.