LinkedIn Connection - AND?

I love responding to my network of people on any of my social media sites.  Whether you are a salesperson, a past coworker or someone just looking for a job, I respond to everyone!

As anyone knows I've been spending a lot of time on my mommy blog and website.  I am a freelance writer but that does not mean I do work for free anymore.  I think I have established myself in the marketplace enough to get paid, especially for the things that I am passionate about.  Believe me, I will write for free if it's my own stuff because I do NOT have a shortage of content.

One of the things I've noticed about LinkedIn is that people want a lot of things for FREE or they want you to buy things from them.  The topic for this blog is more about those that are on my outer circle or knocking on the door to my circle of LinkedIn, that want things for FREE! 

First of all engage with me!  Have a conversation with me!  Ask me about my kids.  If you even took a look at my profile, especially if we are connections, you will see my blog and social media links are all on there and you would know what I do and a ton of informationa about me.  Leave comments on my blog! I read all and every comment and try to respond to them all.  I will definitely remember you IF you actually read my blog and comment.  Do you know what that's worth in the networking world?  It's priceless.  It's my Sally Field moment of "They Like Me, They Really, Really Like Me!"

This is just the way that I like to be communicated and engaged with.  Most recently I had a contact that saw one of my updates about being Dallas Single Mom and she tried to engage with me, wanting to meet me.  What she forgot was that we had already met on the phone.  I was supposed to do some FREE - freelance work.  So I refreshed her memory about what I was doing.  There was little to no engagement in the message that went back and forth.  When she knew I was dabbling in affiliate marketing - the first thing she asked was, well let me know about some affiliate marketing opportunities.

OK - well why should I?  With the thousands and thousands of affiliate marketers and affiliate opportunities why am I going to let her in on a good prospect? I don't know her enough.  She hasn't engaged me.  The only thing I know about her is that she's a single mom and she is 80% done with her book.

Now, I could have been out for the money.  I've been learning a lot about creating ebooks, etc for the purposes of affiliate marketing.  If she had better engaged me, maybe I'd be willing to share my tips for FREE!!!!!!

Alas, the opportunity is gone.  It appeared in the communication she as only worried about herself and did NOT engage me at all.  Now this sounds like I only care about myself. Yes, we should all put ourselves first.  However, it's tit for tat.  I give a little and you give a little.  There's always a solution available.  Say for instance if you wanted me to drive local area business to your website and you bought an ad package from me, than maybe I'd consider sharing my tips for you.

However, I'm going to learn from this experience as well and pick and choose who I engage with.  It's tantamount and important that you be sincere in your communications and enagement. 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbuen