62. Why Bother To Connect With Me? Do me a favor.  Don't connect with me and then send me a sales letter.  Also, don't bother to connect if you're not ready to start a relationship.   I'm proud to have you -- a stranger -- as a connection, but I want to get to know you, not sell to you, and not be sold by you.  Social networking is about relationship building; let's talk and build a relationship on LinkedIn. by Maria Marsala, Financial Advisor Coach   Read 86 more blunders at Carol Roth's website http://www.carolroth.com/unsolicited-business-advice/?p=6578

When you create an update (or retweet on other venues) and your update includes a link to someone else's website,  post a comment to the article you're using first.  Let us know about you, let us get to know you a bit better by reading your comment, too.  Use this tip to help you build deeper relationships with those who read your update or tweet. This way you may get some extra traction from the update, for doing something other than liking their article and sharing it with those who are connected to you.   Let me know what you think about this tip or add your tip, too! Like this Linkedin Tip?  View more of Maria's LinkedIn

The adage, "ask forgiveness, not permission", does not apply to the financial sector. Contact your compliance department to learn its social media protocol.  However, use a collaborative approach to making requests; don’t ask, “Can I . . .?” but rather, “How can I . . .?”  If your firm doesn’t have a written social networking usage document, get involved with creating one.  Volunteer as a test case. © 2011 Maria Marsala founded Elevating Your Business to provide focus and accountability to accounting and financial professionals seeking to substantially grow their business. Social networking is one of many marketing strategies advisors can use to grow their practice. Maria is a former Wall Street trader and was an

More than a year ago, I learned a lesson the hard way. I had my LinkedIn account shut down because the word "Coach" was in the first name, last name area of my LinkedIn profile. Someone had "flagged" my profile. LinkedIn reminded to read the LinkedIn Agreement and fix my name so that the area only included my name. I am noticing, especially in groups whose target is women who want to be millionaires, but on many LinkedIn Groups as well, that the first time I get to "see" a person is by looking at their logo. Social networking is about getting to know, like, and trust people who you may want to do business with.