Summary:
I think it is a really bad idea to become a LinkedIn LION, except for a few exceptions. However, here’s how to become one if you want to, and I can show you how to get over 1,600 connections in a week.
Details:
What is a LinkedIn LION?
LION stands for LinkedIn Open Networker, and describes a bunch of people who want to connect with anyone and everyone they possibly can. The advantages to this are:
- you have a much larger network, and can see profiles for more people
- you have access to the email addresses for all of these LIONs
Disadvantages of being a LinkedIn LION
The biggest disadvantage of being a LION is that is that you lose one of the great powers of LinkedIn. If you have a normal network, comprised of people that you know, then when you to an advanced search in LinkedIn (as I have discussed in many of my newsletters), your 2nd level connections are connected thru someone you know. That common connection is usually the best way to actually get to speak to the target person.
The more unfamiliar you are with your connections, the more likely it will be that the target of your search is connected through someone you don’t know. If you are connected to LIONs, especially if you are connected to 1,600+ of them, you know they are all connecting to thousands of people they don’t know, so your network becomes so diluted that your 2nd level connections are usually meaningless.
Getting spammed
Another disadvantage is that all of your 1st level connections can get your email address. You know that lots of spammers will become LIONs just to get as many email addresses as they can from as many professionals as they can. They will spam you, and they will sell your email address to other spammers. This is also why I’ve recommended in the past that your primary LinkedIn address not be your main email address.
Becoming a LION, if you insist
Regardless, some people want to become LIONs. If you do, please send me a LinkedIn invitation at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickomalley/ and in the message say “Become a LION”.
I won’t judge, and I wil sed you the steps, and you can have 1,600+ connections within a few days.
