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Using LinkedIn for your mailing list

I’m amazed at how many people are just adding my contact details to their email lists because I agreed to connect with them at LinkedIn. They don’t even ask permission – they just do it. That’s a big ‘no-no’ and should NOT be done.

I’m going to share with you some links from others telling the same thing but firstly, I want to encourage you to look at the User Agreement at LinkedIn. Wonder how many people actually read it? Particularly section 8 with the Do’s and Don’ts.  Let’s just look at 8.1:

You agree that you will:

8.1 (a) Comply with all applicable laws, including, without limitation, privacy laws, intellectual property laws, anti-spam laws, export control laws, tax laws, and regulatory requirements;

Note it states you will comply with all applicable laws, including…. anti-spam laws.

Just because someone agreed to connect with you at LinkedIn does NOT mean they’ve agreed to subscribe to your mailing list. That’s another thing altogether and the anti-spam laws still apply. People should not be added to your lists WITHOUT their permission. You have to ask if they’d like to be subscribed and/or they may ask you if they can subscribe. But you cannot just willy nilly download your connections list to add to your mailing list.

How many people are you connected to? What if every single one of those people added you to their lists? If you were connected to say, less than 20, then maybe not a problem. But what if you were connected to 200, 500, 1000 people or more? How would that feel to you? I expect, as your connections list grows, the probability of being added to lists without your permission is going to increase and that is frankly a waste of time for all involved. People should only be subscribed to your list when there is a known interest and agreement, preferably with them self-subscribing – not you just adding them because ‘they’re a connection’. Being connected provides opportunity to network (which is what LinkedIn is about) and getting to know those you’re connected to BEFORE you start asking them if they’d like to be on your list.

Here are more articles for you to read on the same topic. All make valid points about this practice that is not a good one. You could end up being labelled a spammer with your emails being black-banned through various mail servers. Not something you want if you wish to grow your list and build your business.

How to build your mailing list with LinkedIn – the Dos and Don’ts

Can I add my LinkedIn connections to my mailing list?

You can grow your mailing list using LinkedIn, but not this way

If you’re a service provider, helping clients build their lists, it is important you let them know that using LinkedIn connections the wrong way could cause damage to their business.  Important they’re aware of that too. So, whether it’s your list, or you’re helping someone with theirs, do NOT add exported LinkedIn lists to your mailing list. You must have permission from each individual before they can be added. And the best and easiest way to do that is to provide a self-subscribe option so people can subscribe themselves.

 

Do I need a website as a VA?

Simple answer is ‘yes’ – if you’re going to operate a business virtually, it is important you have a web presence. I mean, most other businesses have websites don’t they? So why not you too? Clients will want to check you out and also, once the search engines have got it listed, people should be able to find you when seeking out your particular type of service.  I was asked this question and below is the answer I gave that new VA.

However, if funds are tight you can choose to do some other things:

  • Make sure your LinkedIn profile is always up to date – have a look at others (even mine) to see what they do. Keep it as complete as possible. Chances up if people Google your name this will come up on the first page. Try and get some testimonials from people you’ve done work with – this will mean you’ll need to be connected to them first. Try and build your connections to at least 501 people so that it shows 500+ when people view it.
  • Create a Facebook page and name it your business name. Post on it from time to time (say at least 2-3 times a month) letting people know about projects you’re working on.
  • Create an About.me page – but if you have either of the two above then this isn’t necessary.

Whatever you choose, make sure you include the URL for it in your email signature block, on your profiles at Facebook, Twitter and wherever else you might have a social media presence. Help people to find out about you – make it easy on them. Also on your printed business cards.

Make sure you also join our Facebook group or the yahoogroup, if you haven’t already, to keep in touch with your peers and the industry. It’s a great way to learn as well as share.

 

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New VA seeking business

On Google+ recently a new VA introduced herself and her business and outlined the services she was providing. She’d only been in business 6 months and was struggling to find clients and connect with people on LinkedIn. She had a very clever business name which I remarked on. Here is my answer to her which is suitable for all new VAs.

Very clever name, love it and welcome Claire. Joining discussion groups is the best way for people to get to know you, whether it’s here, at LinkedIn or Facebook. I find Facebook business groups very interactive and good but don’t forget you can go out and network locally at local business groups on a face-to-face basis. Look for BNI (Business Network International) which is sure to have chapters in your region, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and industry specific groups.

I should add I do the very things I mention above and have been very active in online and offline networking for all the years of my business. And networking works – that’s why I continue to do it! Currently I’m a member of a local BNI chapter, am Secretary for the local Rotary club and attend other business networking groups when I see something that interests me. Plus I’m active online. Make sure you are too!

 

Why I like being in BNI

bnichampionsA VA forum had a recent discussion on whether to join BNI or a Chamber of Commerce.  As I’m a member of BNI here in Melbourne (East) I wrote about my own particular experience.

I might work virtually but I meet these people face-to-face every week. I’ve gotten to know them and trust them. First thing anyone does in BNI is test the product/service of the other members. And they do this naturally through needs for their own business. So the printer, the accountant, the solicitor, the travel agent, cartridge supplier, etc – anyone whose services or products I feel I can use in my own business and/or personally.

Once that trust has been established, it’s all the more easier to refer them to other people. I don’t feel I have to provide referrals every week but I do provide referrals on a regular basis. I don’t receive them every week either but I do receive them on a regular basis.

It is important to get to know the members outside of chapter meetings and I usually have at least one 1-2-1 meeting with a member each week, sometimes in my own office (where people can see how I operate) and sometimes in their office (so I can see how they’re operating). Then it’s just a case of keeping my ears open to family, friends, colleagues, people I network online and offline, etc, who may need the services of one of my fellow BNI chapter members.  I also invite those in business I’ve met elsewhere to come along as visitors, providing their industry category isn’t already covered in the chapter.

BNI provides training for all its members, when they’re new and then it is encouraged for all to go to a refresher on an annual basis. There are educationals held during the meetings every week and books, CDs, etc all of which are designed to help you get the best out of your membership.

Here, in Melbourne East (Australia) I’ve been listed in the Hall of Fame (for my length of membership and active contribution towards BNI) and have won awards for being an active member. I love my weekly networking outing – it gets me out of the house, mixing with others who are all business owner/operators and share on things we’re doing, experiencing and so on.  And let’s face it, we all need to be out meeting people and getting out of the office on a regular basis – we come back fresh, filled with new ideas and possibilities and excited about meeting new people.

There was a comment about whether clients would accept the VA charges and I feel the fact that people are willing to pay to be a member of BNI speaks volumes regarding their being ready to accept the rate that VAs charge in our country.  In my own chapter I currently hold the” web designer” category as a large proportion of my VA business, these days, provides that type of support to clients. That includes Social Media support as well.  I still get periodic requests for VA support for myself or my VA team. Most of my 12+ year membership has been in the “Virtual Assistant” category.  For those in Melbourne who are interested, my chapter is the BNI Champions, in Rowville.

We are currently seeking the following categories:

Electrician
Florist
Graphic Designer
Hairdresser
Handyman
Nutritional Products Supplier
Payroll Provider
Personal Fitness Trainer
Plumber
Stationery supplier
Test & Tag (Electrical)
Training Provider
Venue management

however, any industry currently not represented in our chapter are welcome to visit and consider joining.  We meet every Thursday morning @7am. Will we see you next week?

The Faceless Ones in Social Networking

As many of you would know, I’m an active networker, both online and offline.  I love connecting with people, learning things, sharing my own knowledge and experience and helping others move forward with their businesses.

There are times when I come across people who don’t really seem to get what networking is about.  For some it’s about how much business they can get, but they’re missing the other half of the equation – developing relationships and building a list of resources for their own businesses and for others they meet.  After all, networking is about building relationships and often you will benefit in the long term, if you refer people you meet to others you know… even if you get no business out of that meeting in the first instance.

What amazes me is that people often leave their profiles online incomplete, and for that matter, their business cards too. Why not tell the whole story? Make it easy for people to get to know you and contact you.

facelessOn some business cards people don’t include a postal address, just an email address and perhaps a phone number. Sometimes not even a surname – just a first name. If you don’t have a postal address you can share and don’t want to give your home address, then perhaps a suburb is useful. Some clients need to know roughly where you are before considering whether to do business with you. And the more you can tell them about you, the better.

And on social and business networks online it’s important for people to be able to identify you. That means adding a photo and letting people get to know who you are.  If you were meeting people face-to-face you wouldn’t hide your face. Well, you could try, but people would think you were weird and probably avoid you 🙂  Online, if you’re in business, you need to make people feel comfortable with you, and especially with networks like LinkedIn, it’s important to complete your profile, share your past experience as this will validate what you are currently doing, and add your photo.  Old contacts will remember and recognise you, new people will recognise you if they later meet you in person, and over time, people feel they’ve gotten to know you. Which is what relationship building is about.  Using someone else’s image (like a famous person) or an animal or a cartoon really doesn’t cut it either. Let people see who you are as well as learn about the type of person you are through your profiles and contributions online.  These will help you build relationships and grow your business, over time.

I know when I get people asking to connect with me via LinkedIn, if they have no image and only a small number of connections, I will ignore them. If they have an image, even with low connection numbers I will take the time to read their profile and consider their request. But no photo and that indicates to me they haven’t completed their profile and they’re not yet ready to network.

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A Clayton’s Secretary T/as VA Directory was established in March 1994 by
Kathie M. Thomas.

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