Orlando Sentinel technology columnist Etan Horowitz suggests that tech gadgets should come with etiquette instructions. Regarding social networking, he suggests:
DO THINK LONG AND HARD
before inviting someone to be your friend on a social networking site such as Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn. If you are trying to befriend someone who might not immediately recognize your name, then attach a note with your request explaining your connection.
Really – how hard is that? The value of having one virtual "touch" with that person is worth far more than a dozen people in your network who you don’t even know or communicate with. Slow down. Take the time to treat people with courtesy. I’m not a number, I’m a person.
This is also the perfect way to avoid the dreaded "I don’t know…" (IDK) button. Send an email, an InMail or an introduction request before the invitation and you can pretty much be assured of not getting any IDK penalties.
That’s an added benefit, but the real benefit is in strengthening the relationship, if even just a little.
Scott Allen is a true social media pioneer, helping turn virtual relationships into real business since 2002. He is coauthor of The Virtual Handshake, the first book on the business use of social media, and contributor to over a dozen books on social media, marketing & entrepreneurship. He provides strategic consulting to a limited client base, focusing the rest of his energy on NFN8 Media, a growing network of niche content and community websites.
“If you are trying to befriend someone who might not immediately recognize your name, then attach a note with your request explaining your connection.”
I quite agree with that statement. I often get friend requests from different strangers and it kind of irks me that they didn’t bother to have any introduction at all. How am I supposed to know that this particular person is someone I know or someone trustworthy? A little introduction will really help a lot.
-Jen
Virtual connections are as much important as real one. Most of my best friends and co-workers I have found in internet. You can learn something from everybody.