The Truth About Profiting from Social Networking

Chapter 42. You’ve got mail...but you shouldn’t always answer it

In business, sometimes you have to say no. The same advice holds true in the world of social networking. If your goal is to develop a top-notch online network, not every person is going to be a valuable contact. Being selective in your response to invitations to connect can make a big difference in the quality of your network and in how others perceive you. You may have mail, but you shouldn’t always answer it.

After you join a social networking site, you’ll invariably start to receive connection requests from people you don’t know. Many of these people may be good contacts; others may not. Knowing whom to respond to—as well as how to respond—can make a big difference in how successful ...