Social Networking – LinkedIn Observation

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. How can we do that if the first represenation we see of someone is your logo? Which by the way, shouts ‘buy me’ and not ‘get to know me’. And how can we learn to trust you if by using your logo as our profile picture you’ve just gone agains the polices of the social networking site?

Maybe like me, you didn’t read the policies clearly enough. Maybe now is the time do to that?

I’ve seen the same thing happen with names — the part I learned quickly. Often I see popele, again, especially on this Group, using your company name as your name, or your website or email address. Why?

Interestingly enough…
As I cleaned out my LinkedIn connections of more than 2000 people in the last two years, the first to go were company names, people with no pictures, and people whose name I didn’t see.

Thoughts?