Home / LinkedIn / Why Are You a LinkedIn Open Networker (LION)?

Why Are You a LinkedIn Open Networker (LION)?

I always hear of people bashing LinkedIn open networkers or LIONs.  Some people characterize LIONs as people who “amass connections as if they’re Beanie Babies”.  Others think that the intention of open networkers is just to spam you.  For all of those who doubt the intention of open networkers, I want you to see things from my perspective as a LION, and for a moment consider this question:

Why are you on LinkedIn?

And, more importantly,

If  you are only connecting with people that you know, what is the value in LinkedIn?

You see, social media and social networking sites are a godsend for the Gen X generation which I represent.  Why?  Because by the time email and Internet browsing became prevalent, we were already out of college and had potentially lost touch with a huge number of people from our childhood who never had email addresses or cell phones.  Social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn have given us a chance to revive those relationships, some dormant for 20 years!  And we are happy about this and joining LinkedIn and Facebook like there is no tomorrow.

But if that is the only potential you see in LinkedIn, the fact that you can find lost colleagues and classmates, you are missing the big picture.  If you are a professional, the need to “network” with other professionals is more important than ever before.  Regardless of the type of position that you are in, there is always value in being able to meet with people from the same industry, same profession, or even create relationships with others (including recruiters) who may be able to help you out in time of need.  If you need to understand the value in digging your well before you’re thirsty, please read the book.

And that is what open networking is all about, because LIONs like myself see extreme value in this.

Open networking is about exploiting this unique virtual networking capability that social networking sites like LinkedIn has provided us.

Maybe because I am Gen Xer and felt like I missed out on something for the last 20 years, this is an opportunity that I want to cherish and utilize to the fullest.  That is why I openly accept communication from people who may see value in me, because I cannot predict what value they may be able to provide to me in the future.  I don’t send out random invitations myself and only target people that are aligned with my LinkedIn objective.  Yet, by proclaiming that I am an open networker and trying to help people I do not know, think of me as a “Virtual Networking Social Butterfly” (I hate egotistical phrases like this, but I just couldn’t think up a better phrase…).  Meeting new people.  Connecting people.  Helping people if I can add value to them.  Reaching out to my network when I am in need.  Networking in a world of virtual relationships, but always trying to bring those relationships into my physical world.

So.  I ask again.

If you are not reaching out and meeting new people on a social networking site like LinkedIn, why are you wasting your time?

Related Posts with Thumbnails
  • I love that comment you made "If you are only connecting with people that you know, what is the value in LinkedIn?" I have gotten much further in business and networking with Twitter than Linkedin simply because I meet new people. Of course you have to be level headed about it like you would if you met someone on the street. I'm looking to expand with Linkedin greatly when I can. I think Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin are the big four right now. As photographer I might add Flickr...grin. Thanks for the great read here.
  • Hey Jim,

    I saw some of your photos and you should definitely add Flickr!!! I am glad that you agree with my premise, and it is interesting that I have also been meeting more people recently on Twitter than on LinkedIn. But, since you're in Japan, what about meeting people through Mixi? ;-P

    - Neal
  • Deborah
    I am new to LinkedIn and your explanation of a LION was very important to me. I sincerely appreciate it. While it is interesting to connect with people in my past, my first question when I joined was: How can this help my business? I am trying to gain all the knowledge I can to utilize LinkedIn and Facebook fully. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
  • admin
    Thank you so much for your comment Deborah. I am glad that you found this post was interesting. How can LinkedIn help your business? It's actually a great idea for a blog post which I will try to do shortly! In the meantime, just remember that people on social networking sites don't want to be sold to. We want to create mutually beneficial relationships. Always keep that in mind as guidance for what you should (and shouldn't) be doing on LinkedIn or any other site.
  • Neal Schaffer
    You are too kind my friend. Thank you! I have also added you to my blogroll as well as created a paragraph introducing your site to the world and why I think it's important in the "Resources" page. Looking forward to future collaboration!
  • Neal Schaffer
    Indeed, Steven, LIONs that are paying it forward can be very busy. When contacting one of us, make sure you pose your question or request in a clear way so that we don't need to contact you back to clarify AND understand that it may take a little time to get back to you. Thanks for your understanding!
  • Neal Schaffer
    You are my soulmate Steven! Thank you for adding more advice to my post and for informing us of that excellent article! As you said to me, "Keep 'em coming!"
  • btw, "If you want something done, ask a busy person" ...and LIONs are busy!!
  • A person who has incomplete public profile, few connections and 0 (or few) recommendations is not a "LION" - even if they claim to be. THEY are the ones that most likely to spam you (or a newbie)… Someone who has a very detailed profile, many connections (500+) and many recommendations and endorsements maybe a LION (knowingly or not).

    My advise: Get to 'know' a LION first... then, comment.

    Take a look at this article from June 2009, about me as a LION at a local business, where I met the owners/executives in real life:

    http://www.smithdesign.com/newsblast/2009/06-25...

    - Steven Burda
  • One more thing . . . just added you to my blog roll on Spin Strategy. My readers can benefit from your expertise here. I also updated a recent post on Linkedin to include a link to your post. See below:

    http://blog.spinstrategy.com/2009/06/the-art-of...

    Education is good . . .
  • Neal Schaffer
    Hey Tim - Thank YOU for your in depth and thoughtful comment. Your policy is a reasonable one, and it is true that I cannot say that 100% of my connections will respond if I should request something of them. Of course, I also don't expect 100% response, but if they don't respond at all when I am in need, I will disconnect from them. That being said, for me the attitude of being open and actively networking in a virtual way is more important than the policy of how you go about doing it. I would consider you a "LION" if you will connect with anyone. Your policy dictates that you place a condition on that (I did a post earlier about being a "Selective LION" which is similar to this), but in my eyes you are still open to accepting invites should they wish to get to know you better after a 5 minute phone conversation.

    I do look forward to our meet up, but I don't think there's much to battle on ;-) I think we are similar in networking policy, but for various reasons I open network to an extreme while you have a stricter policy yet are still open. Make sense? In fact, because the only single rule for LIONs is that you don't "IDK" an invite, there are probably a lot of LIONs out there like yourself who don't label yourself as such but exist without knowing it!

    Think about that one over the weekend ;-)

    - Neal
  • Hey Neal - Thanks for doing a great job in defining the LION - especially as driven by the generational differences. It is one of the best explanations I have read on "why" someone should connect so openly.

    I have been a basher of sorts only because I think that while there is terrific value in adding new people to your network, I worry about the "I'll add anyone" mentality that I see in some of the top-linked crowd.

    My Linkedin policy allows me to connect with anyone (and I regularly add new people) but only after a minimum 5 minute phone conversation. If they won't give me 5 minutes now, can I really expect their networking support when I really need them? I also honestly want to know something about them (beyond the profile). I also find it is a great way to share my message about job search strategy as many are actively looking for job search help.

    An interesting test: pick 10 random people in your connections (people you have never spoken to or e-mailed with) and send them a favor request, perhaps some advice or a job lead. How many will respond? In my experience, there is a 2 or 3 out of 10 response rate among those who you've never "met". But maybe I'm wrong and am doing it wrong. I'm open to that!

    Part of the problem is the badge collecting that goes on (your beanie baby analogy). It unfairly paints the open networker or LION crowd. And, having met you and other LIONs, I know there are a great many who genuinely want to help and feel like their best way is to build up a significant contact list. I get that.

    So while you haven't turned me, consider me properly influenced and educated . . .

    Look forward to our upcoming coffee meet up. We can battle it out then! :-)
  • Neal Schaffer
    Great to see your comment Steven. Yes! Yes! Yes! I couldn't agree with you more. "Do no judge, but instead first experience and then judge." Your story is the perfect example of a going-out-of-your-way-to-try-to-help LION who receives unfair criticism. But, you know what Steven, it really is their loss because they do not see nor will ever receive the tremendous value that open networking can provide.
  • LIONs (LinkedIn Open Networkers) are not synonymous with spammers. Yeah, some people may pretend they are LIONs and abuse the system (most who are very new to Linkedin), but those are the ones that give the rest a bad reputation. Most Open Netwokers (or Super-Connectors http://www.toplinked.com/top50.html) mean well for you and others. Just read this article from few months back, from CIO magazine:

    http://www.cio.com/article/print/470122
    or maybe this from The Economist:
    www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?stor...

    I can't tell you how much "hate mail" (maybe out of jealousy) I sometime get from people who do NOT know me, have NOT dealt with me, or have NOT heard of me -- all they know is that "Steven Burda has thousands and thousands of direct connections." To each one of those emails or InMails, I reply with... How can I help you? Or how did I hurt you?

    I then get replies back saying "what do you mean, Steven?"

    Exactly, my point. Why bash or accuse someone who 1) never did anything bad to you/your network and 2) you never reached out to for help.

    It's like me saying "I HATE [insert ethnic] FOOD AND THEIR PEOPLE" only to admit I never ate it, or met anyone from there.

    Perception sometimetimes equals reality. Not in my case, nor in the case of many LIONs!

    Happy Networking.

    - Steven Burda
    http://www.tinyurl.com/LinkedinPDF
blog comments powered by Disqus