Aloha,
Kellie

I wish everyone was on LinkedIn and Plaxo and would connect with me. Why? We can build org charts w/names. LinkedIn is the only place where I receive THOUGHTFUL request to connect or connect others and I have up to date phone numbers. I also hide my contacts on LinkedIn and think you should. This started because of a promise to VC, CXOs and some entrepreneurs over ten years ago who were afraid of being contacted too much. Turns out, people see me as a connector in a deliberate search and I think that is why the quality of requests I get is respectable. Yes, I will connect people I don't know IF thoughtful. Why, jobs are filled – TODAY. I think you will find the same. Happy connecting!

As a job searcher using LinkedIn, your advice for Chris will just perpetuate the problem that he has. Someone looking for a job, finding a position with company XYZ, is immediately presented with who amongst their contacts has connections with the company. Chris (and his connections) will continue to appear in those results. The user would normally continue within the contact notifications and request an intro. All this happens in the LinkedIn work flow without going to Chris profile page to see the message that you recommend.

My proposed steps would remove Chris' results from the prospective job search and networking opportunities for users like myself. LinkedIn should present good results. Results that because I have connected with person A, B, or C, I can depend upon to help me when I ask for it.

I would rather see this discussion go in a slightly different direction.

I am not looking to “win” an argument. Winning or losing is not my concern. Learning how to make sense of LinkedIn to help the job searcher is what I am after.

Given that there are LIONS and others like Chris, interested in building networks but not in a position to provide worthy connection introductions; what setting changes should be enabled to allow those folks to build their network and yet remove their results from the searches so job seekers like myself don't waste our time and effort sending requests to folks who either won't respond or can't help.

Let's figure out how we can all use this service. There must be a way for Chris (and others like him) to build their network without distorting our results and hindering our job search efforts.

Does that make sense?

You make some good points in there, but I would have to argue with you and say that he should be accepting more connections (as opposed to closing them out).

A few reasons why:

1. He meets people all of the time, some are potential clients… should he not connect with them on LinkedIn but follow them else where?
2. This continues to build his email list as you can export your connections on LinkedIn (and I hear Chris mention how valuable emails are and how big email marketing is right now)
3. You never know what connection will need your services (once they connect with you and learn more about who you are on LinkedIn)…
4. Better yet, you never know which one of your connections friends could use Chris's services… and without being “connected” they may not mention Chris as a possible lead.

I don't think he is countering his brand by being a Trust Agent if he doesn't use LinkedIn every day. Chris is probably on 50 different social networking sites (for name registration purposes, to test sites out, etc…) and I doubt he spends every day on all of those sites (as he would never get any work done for his clients

Instead, what he could do is put a disclaimer in the first sentence of his summary on LinkedIn stating something like this:

“LinkedIn is an extremely powerful resource for many professionals online. I wish I could use it more but I am currently putting all of my time to help reach the goals of my clients. I would love to stay connected with you on LinkedIn and I welcome your invitation, however, due to my large network, and the time I am devoting to my clients, I will be unable to forward along any introductions to members of my network, or respond to your messages on here. If you would like to get in touch with me, please email me at chris (at) chrisbrogan.com. If you would like to learn more about my marketing and new media services, please email me at blog (at) chrisbrogan.com with the subject line 'Services', and if you would like to learn more about the opportunity to have me speak at your conference then go to http://www.chrisbrogan.com for more. Thanks for your understanding.”…..

After that, Chris should lead right in with his summary, and be done with it.

I think that would be enough, and no matter what, Chris won't be able to respond to everyones tweets, LinkedIn messages, facebook messages, emails, etc… and I'm sure there are some who don't understand this and get offended. This will always happen for those in this position, and I would have to say it is part of having a bigger platform.

However, the real value in the network is the relationship amongst 2nd and 3rd degrees and making connections. Chris can't reasonably do so. Why? He spends his time elsewhere.

So the fact that he has as many connections as he does, does not help you or I or anyone else. None of us can leverage Chris' connections to get an introduction to the other party. To the party that may help us to satisfy a business opportunity.

The second reason, is that with Chris' current behavior on LinkedIn, he is actually going counter to the brand he is trying to create as a “trust agent”. As a trust agent, he should be able to make good connections amongst those in his network. When he fails to do so (which is often), and he is recognizing this as a problem (which is now and it is about time), then it is time to make a change,

In this case, I would change his profile
- to not accept anymore connections
- to not accept any reference requests
- to not make his connections visible (reduces the opportunity for others to see and utilize)

These changes can all be made in his profile settings.

I would advise Chris to keep his profile but by making these changes, it would reduce the utilization by others (i.e. all of us) and allow Chris to maintain a presence (for Google juice reasons) so that, if at such time in the future, he decides to use LinkedIn (instead of everywhere else he is spending his time) he wont have to start all over.

Note – I would not recommend making these changes for anyone else, just Chris.
Note – I do know Chris having worked with him on all the PodCamp Boston events, including the opportunity to share a long train ride back from PodCamp NewYork. Chris is doing quite well. He doesn't need LinkedIn like we do.

Great, great post Lewis!