Know-How Exchange : Social Media

Why should someone want to connect with you?

First, it sounds like you are asking about personal LinkedIn connections for you, not connections for a company page? Response below is for personal connections.

For many people (myself included), they only connect to people they know personally. Coworkers, contacts they regularly see at associations or in groups, personal friends, etc.

Better yet, it should be people you not only know, but feel positively about. People who you would be willing to help if they requested assistance, and who hopefully would be wiling to help you out if you needed it.

So if the people you are approaching are like this, connecting with LinkedIn only would happen after you make a positive connection in real life.

If they are just looking to connect to get more connections of any value, then they likely aren't people who you would benefit from being connected to anyway.

It's very simple.

Just make an Account. And go to the connections section. Then, look for those who can be your connection. And press connect.

Sometimes you have to write a note before sending a connection request, that only when the person is unknown to you and you unknown to him/her.

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Some people will accept all connection requests, so it is possible to build your LinkedIn network by simply sending generic connection requests to people who show up in LinkedIn's suggestions.

However, if there is a particular person you want to connect with - perhaps the HR rep at a company you'd like to work for or someone who would be an ideal customer for you - then you'll want to personalize the connection request.

Learn what you can about the person by reading their profile, checking out their website, and read their blog or Twitter feed. Then, just like when meeting in person, you want to approach them in a friendly way. For example, you might comment on something they recently posted, or point out that you are both alumni of the same school, or offer to help them with something.

The key is to avoid coming across as someone who just wants to make a sale or ask for a favor.