If you think you are, then you have a problem. Why? Because social media is all about having a voice. People tend to view social media platforms as free societies, a paradigm that renders strong arm business tactics helpless. Want to fail on Linkedin? Simply adopt one of these 6 communication styles and you too can be the King… of Nothing.
6 communication styles known to alienate others on Linkedin
1. The Know it All
The know it all consistently corrects others whenever possible. No one likes a know it all. If constantly correcting others is your typical way of “sharing” then you’re most likely alienating your readers.
2. The Arrogant Participant
This personality is similar to the know it all except he/she adds a dash of rude to every comment.
3. The Yes Woman/Man
Have you positioned yourself as someone’s wingman – always chiming in with a statement that parallels your “leader.” If you chronically participate on Linkedin this way, it appears you cannot think for yourself.
4. The Group Control Freak
Local group admins are most prone to this. Do you act like you’re the King of Linkedin and try to micromanage your group? Even worse, do you make threatening statements to group members implying they won’t receive business if they don’t follow your rules? Then, you’re a bully.
5. The Spammer
Want to lose connections fast? Then, email them constantly after they’ve connected with you. Use subject headings like: “Earn $20,000 a Month from Home” or “Free Whitepaper, Download Now.”
6. The Innovative, Entrepreneurial Expert
Avoid using these, and other overused terms in your profile. Why? Because when you use words like this you’re also holding up a sign that reads, “I don’t understand social media.”
Keep in mind when you alienate others on Linkedin, you also alienate them from your brand. If you find yourself in this position, your best move is to hire someone to handle your social media interactions. There’s a good chance a professional marketer can salvage your brand before it’s too late.
About The Creative Marketing Channel
The Creative Marketing Channel belongs to oz 2 designs LLC – a small, flexible, full service digital marketing agency. Oz2 is most often hired by medium and large businesses for social media marketing, content creation, animation, and website design. Connect with us on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook. Email us at cl@oz2designs.com.
You nailed them! No.1 and No. 4, in particular, have turned me off some formerly interesting and highly productive discussions. Wish we could have a LI group to vet some of those verbal bullies or know-it-all commentators who seem to make a career/habit (don’t they have anything to do?) than to sabotage a good discussion.
Catherine, I think using any one of these communication styles would alienate you anywhere – online or off. People want to do business with (and be friends with) people that they like. No one likes a know-it-all. I know I’ve shared this in comments (and on my blog) before but it’s true. Everything you do is either a relationship-builder or a relationship-destroyer. As you point out, you run the risk of alienating people from your brand. (As always, a thought provoking post!)
I am not King of Linkedin. It is because I haven’t tried much of these features and networking stuff. But I agree that social media is all about having a voice and it is important not to alienate other members of social networking. As for 6 communication styles to alienate others, I don’t like The Arrogant Participant and the spammer. Perhaps I should try to use Linkedin and try not to do the characteristic that alienate people.
Thanks for the interesting post (and thank you Sherryl Perry for the link to here). I must admit I consider myself somewhat the king of linkedin, only because I have managed to learn enough about it to actually derive business from my participation there. There are arrogant kings and there are benevolent ones; I share my techniques with any friend with a B2B or B2G business who cares to hear.
That said, I agree wholeheartedly that the personality types you identify are a complete turnoff. I have been bullied, badgered and ridiculed in group discussions within linkedin, by so-called professional colleagues who have a view (about some thorny technical matter relating to my profession as an environmental consultant) differing from my own. That they exude this boorish behavior in an open, public forum is both objectionable and poorly reflective on themselves.
That said, if I would post a link to this blog in that group, doubtlessly more boorish bullying would result. Your words are wise, and well worth heeding for anyone using social media (not just linkedin) who is open-minded enough to listen and to realize that they are somewhere on the endless curve of learning.
Catherine. Good article. I agree with the above but think one more could be added to the list, Insincere. I just received a email from someone I don’t even know on LinkedIn telling me how impressive my profile was and then pitched me on their product, with their Affiliate link attached of course. I could tell they had sent the same email to 100’s of other people. Straight to the trash can.
Good points, Catherine. Another irritating practice is sending the default LinkedIn invitation to add someone to your network. I tend to ignore those invitations. I always personalize an invitation with a reason to connect. That gets the conversation going right away.
Good post Catherine. Agree with you. Would like to add the one that for some reasons disagrees in a discussion and starts slandering and insulting others. The worst of those who are discussing an issue they have no knowledge about, but think they do.