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ConnectionBrowsing

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years, 6 months ago

from Directory

 

To open your connections or not to open them, that is the question.

 


 

In LinkedIn you have the option of allowing profile visitors to browse your connections. You can set this at https://www.linkedin.com/secure/settings?browse= . Should you allow it?

 

The debate

 

As in all things, it's a WildWildLinkedInWorld with no right or wrong. Still, people turn this into a debate. Some insist you practice THEIR form of networking (typically with browsing on) or they won't connect with you!

 

Overrated

 

The debate and militancy in attitude is absurd for multiple reasons.

 

  1. It's recent. LinkedIn didn't have connection browsing when it first started. That was a feature of personal social networks and open business networks like Ryze that promoted the publishing and direct sharing of friends and business contacts. LinkedIn's focus was quite different, as it encouraged member protection and privacy. It took two years for LinkedIn to add connection browsing as an option. People used LinkedIn fine before it.
  2. It's not important. Browsing is for advanced networkers. Connection browsing is an ancillary feature, not the main way to find people on LinkedIn. The average user just wants to conduct business and find a job, a recruiter, a service provider, a sales prospect, etc. He'll run a straightforward search and has little need for browsing.
  3. Control is an illusion, grasshopper. The concept that I can "protect" my contacts by turning browsing off is an illusion. A member that does not enable connection browsing does not restrict your access to other members on LinkedIn. Your connection's connections, or second-level contacts, are in your network. They can always be located through a regular search, regardless of browsing. They can be contacted indirectly via Introduction through any mutual connection or directly via InMail, OpenLink, and group Introduction. Members also can determine whether you're a mutual connection by starting to send an Introduction and seeing if you're listed as a forwarding option.

 

 

The good and bad

 

Some reasons why browsing is good.

  • As the browser, it's a natural form of networking. If I'm a good friend with someone, I know I'll get a good referral to his direct connections.
  • There are other benefits as well to the browser. It can be fun, voyeuristic, and you can tell a lot about someone by their connections.
  • As the browser enabler, you're being a good networker by providing a service to your direct connections and allowing them to browse.
  • As the browsed, you WANT people to find you. Browsing is another way to send people to your profile. Plus it can generate better contacts. People find you because of mutual friends as opposed to a random LinkedIn search.

 

Some reasons why people DON'T enable browsing

  • Some members consider their connections proprietary. This can be the case with certain recruiters, CEOs, celebrities, or people with small networks.
  • It is intrusive and not about business. This is the flip side of browsing being fun, voyeuristic, and telling a lot about someone by their connections.

 

Some personal opinions and recommendations

 

  • MarcFreedman - From a pure networking perspective you should allow browsing ... but not if you have a lot of connections. Read more.

 

 

  • Scott Allen. I already have more demands on my time for networking than I can handle – I don't want to invite more, particularly in a way that I consider marginally beneficial. Read more.

 

 

MarcFreedman

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