Is it easy for others to network with you and provide opportunity to you? When you ask for specific value in inquiries, are you removing barriers to accelerate the value someone can offer you?
So I see that someone from my professional career has been looking at my LinkedIn profile a few times in the past few months…, and I see at the bottom of Susan’s profile that “Susan” (not their real name) wants to be contacted for a number of reasons she has configured in her profile (a screen capture we all have seen follows…).
And thinking I’d take the lead and reach out, I started to search for Susan’s contact info. It’s been a number of years, but I’m pretty good with keeping my contact’s info up to date – but this time, I don’t have it. (I’ve now spent 10 minutes looking in 3 places!)
Network Reality
In reality, Susan is someone that I’d like to approach with a “business deal” that she might find valuable – her profile shows “Contact Susan for: business deals…”
OK, the point. If you want to network, then make it easy for others to network with you. Here is my LinkedIn page: http://www.linkedin.com/in/steinandrew
And, a screen capture of the same area in my profile:
The filters for spam and other email abuse are pretty good, so fearing spam in order to keep email addresses a secret is really no longer a valid reason not to share it. You miss out on the wider net you can cast for opportunity, if your email address is not pervasive.
Thank you Marcela, I’ve not heard that one. I do find that it’s pretty easy to find just about anyone’s Skype name, in the Skype directory since they combine name, email phone number (even partial number) and come very close.
In everything, one must be vigilant, to be sure. Thank you for the good advice, and taking time to share here with others!
Agreed in almost everything… NEVER give your skype ID on the open. There are hackers out there that can take over it, and well… they can charge your account, abuse making calls, and skype gives answer WAY too late. So keep the Skype ID for people who emailed you already. Give your twitter instead. They can find out more about you, what you are up to, and check on your followers. And that “speaks” a lot more. Hackers have too little to gain from hacking twitter accounts. Just my two cents.