LinkedIn how could you remove the “REPLY Before Accepting” option for an invitation to connect? Or was it a website hiccup?
Are you aware this crushes the introvert energy factor? And even for discerning extroverts, it’s a blow to their networking strategy.
Recently I made a note on my LinkedIn profile about my acceptance process for invitations. My expectations were high. Surely people would respect my request? After all, it was the first sentence in my profile. Not the case with only 1 out of 10 invitations I get who actually honor my request.
This dilemma is only heightened by Linkedin’s latest feature removal.
Shameful, what is happening to online connecting.
Since many online networking sites are like in-person networking venues, it was necessary to place this comment on my profile. You may not be able to read it here with this screen shot, so let me translate the phrases where the red arrows are pointing to:
NOTE – WANT TO CONNECT? If we do not know each other, please personalize your invitation to with 1 or 2 sentences. Only kind of invitations I accept.
My son actually inspired me for this because I noticed he was similarly selective about LinkedIn connections he accepted. Many more people are today because of all the spammers and sell-a-thon mentality that people connect with.
It’s just like face to face networking now where people are blah-blah-blah all about themselves. Hey, you already know everything there is to know about yourself so why not take interest in getting to know me?
Ah. Forget it. But if you are one of those people, you have to know, I stopped listening.
Culprits in spamming and sell-a-thon.
Alas, now LinkedIn has removed the feature that allowed me to reply with a kind message to those other 9 out of 10 people. You see I want to know what your intentions are in connecting? Just as I want to know when I am networking face to face – so how can we help each other?
What I’ve found is that people who are merely interested in sending you various sales pitches, won’t reply when I ask them, “So what do you have in mind for connecting? Are you interested in collaborating? Learning something about introverts? Or something else?”
Now I feel as though LinkedIn has joined the ranks of Twitter where some people follow you and if you follow back, and you quickly receive a Direct Message pointing you to, “Here’s my latest flim flam item to buy!”
Many people, not just introverts either, are talking about this in a few discussion areas on the help community.
I am so hoping this was just one of those computer errors.
What do you think about the removal of this feature? How will it affect your behavior with accepting invitations to connect? If you don’t like it, do you think we can do anything about it?
Within just about an hour of this posting, it turns out THIS WAS a bug and it’s all fixed now.
But pretend, just pretend, that it did happen.
What do you think about the removal of this feature?
How will it affect your behavior with accepting invitations to connect?
If you don’t like it, do you think we can do anything about it?
I am glad it was a bug.
I would hate it. I like the opportunity to find out what a invite is prompted by. Is it real or are you just trying the sell me something that is ALWAYS my question. 🙂
I never just accept an invitation. We need this feature for that very reason.
Susan, it’s ALWAYS a question and for me, if it’s not a personalized invitation, I use the REPLY don’t accept to ask that very thing.
Thanks.
Cheryl I’m just glad it was a short lived – glitch. I discovered that SOOO many people use that feature.
A.K. and thankfully, LinkedIn too knows that the spamming could be a problem.
Thanks.
Bug or not, I manage to click ignore for a guy I intended to accept.
Why? Because the accept button was almost not visible so the one on the left was ignore. Clicked it thinking it was accept and hence ignored the guy.
I agree Pat. Way too much info about us on LI to casually accept an invitation. And I’m so with you on all the sell-a-thon approach that’s so prevalent. twitter is one thing, but I see LI as being a more serious platform.
LinkedIn remains my one social network where I keep my connections to strictly professional connections, so I’m glad the issue you mentioned was just a bug.
Catarina, it’s always something, isn’t it?
I didn’t have that happen, and hopefully won’t.
Jeri, I was delighted for the moments it was there: I found out that I had so much company in why I love that feature.
Delighted it is fixed.
And thank goodness it didn’t come to pass Jason. Thanks.
Lovely post, as in – interesting and helpful!