Is LinkedIn useful for prospecting and personal branding?
Short answer = Yes.
How do I put LinkedIn to good Use?
1. Thought leadership
2. Recruitment
3. Events
4. Biz/Dev
5. Channel Partnerships
But, no matter what you use it for, do not do it like this... (see examples below)
1. Try to sell/schedule a demo/ask them to register….
2. Do not pretend your BFF’s…
3. Don’t lie…
4. Don’t embellish on your company or personal achievements…
How to do it correctly?
1. Make it valuable and relevant!
2. Try not to send a message immediately
3. Start with something less invasive
4. Don't immediately send a message after the connection request has been accepted but wait for a few days.
5. It’s okay to add a line about something you want them to check out, but do not make that the purpose of the message.