May 21, 2012 168 Comments

I Closed My LinkedIn Account

LinkedIn No More

I just closed my LinkedIn account. Why? Because at least a MONTH ago, I reported a fairly simple problem: I can’t seem to add people back when they request that we connect. Oh, that would be about the 2nd primary thing one does on the site. You make a profile and then you connect. That’s about it. The connecting part has been broken.

I’m done. I don’t care. Whatever.

Why post this? Because I’m forever asked by people why I don’t talk much about LinkedIn. Why? Because it hasn’t done much for me for business.

Lots of people do great by it. Lewis Howes is a LinkedIn hero. JD Gershbein is a LinkedIn hero. Maybe they know more.

Me? Maybe I’m using it wrong. Whatever. Wishing you well Mario and Reid and everyone else I know there. See you on Google+ or wherever else business gets done.

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  • http://www.liveyourwhy.net/ Terry Hadaway

    There are a few other people out there with my name. I’ll let people connect to them and think they are connected to me. It saves me a lot of time and frustration!

  • http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

    I’m confused by what you mean by “add people back.” I thought when someone requests to be connected to you, and you accept, you’re automatically connected to them?

    • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

      I have connection requests. 
      I look at the profile. 
      There’s a little checkbox to the left.
      There’s a button ‘accept’
      When I click that, nothing happens. 

      • http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

        Ok. Well, it worked for me just now. Checked the box, hit the accept button, said I’m connected.  Also tried hitting the accept button directly.

  • http://www.matthewdlyons.com/ matthewdlyons

    Interesting, and timely, post.

    I recently talked to someone about LinkedIn, which prompted me to check the account. I had connection invites that had been hanging open for months. (Clearly and indication on how I often I check in.) I think, like a lot of other network sites, I joined LinkedIn rather reflexively. I figured that I should put as much effort into “professional” networking as I did with social. Interestingly, I think the line between so-called professional and social networking is rather blurred. In fact, social media is much less about being social (read casual) for many, and is a part of a full-blown networking strategy for brands — both individuals and corporate.

    My wife talked to me recently about wanting to opt out of LinkedIn. It was less about being stretched too thin with online networking; and much more about the value of the service. She just doesn’t see the value for her, both as a recognizable person (brand) or her business (corporate).

    I appreciate that you added the qualifier that it may work for some, just not for you. I don’t know why people get so up in arms when one person bids farewell to a service they like.  Use what you like, but stop taking offense at someone disliking the same thing. It’s not personal.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

      It’s not that LI is bad or good. It’s whether it’s working for you. : ) 

  • Mengo

    I thought about that a long time. I think I’m gonna delete my account as
    well. I see no value of it, only spam mails that I’m unable to
    unsubscribe. Deleted my fb account the other day too.
     

  • http://www.3hatscommunications.com/blog/ davinabrewer

    Funny, I’ve been chatting with @ShellyKramer:twitter  today on ways to get more from LI – and it’s just the other side of this coin: use it or lose it, you get back what you put in. If a network isn’t working for you, if it’s not a productive use of your time – then either change how you use it, or if you can, walk. FWIW, I still want the SEO and find I get something out of my (admittedly limited) time on LI. 

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  • http://www.thenerdynurse.com/ The Nerdy Nurse

    I don’t see the return on my investment on linkedin, but I still think it has value.

  • http://windmillnetworking.com/ Neal Schaffer

    Sorry to hear about that Chris. Business is being closed on LinkedIn every day. Fly me out to Boston and I’ll be more than happy to spend a day with you to show you what I teach businesses… As for their Customer Service not being responsive enough to other issues, well, that’s another story…

  • http://www.jimbanks.co/ Jim Banks

    Chris, I’m curious, did you export all the connections first before deleting?

    I nearly did the same thing a few months back, despite having an account since 2004 because I got busy trying to connect with all the people who I genuinely did know, but because many people use gmail or hotmail accounts LI decided I was a spammer and cut me adding connections off at the knees.

    Thanks in no small part to some of your pearls of wisdom I am making Google+ the main thrust of my online activity, that and the real face to face stuff that will always win out for me. I will still dabble with FB for friends, maybe a joke every now and again, LinkedIn I’m admin for a performance marketing group, which I set up because of Lewis Howes saying how easy it was and Twitter just sits in the background telling me when people die.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

      I nearly wept when I read this. No. I didn’t think to do that. Ow.

  • thomsinger

    If you ever return to LinkedIn…. try my “Coffee, Meal or Beer” Rule (only link to those you have actually established a legitimate relationship).  I find it has made LinkedIn useful not to be linked to strangers.  I can still visit the pages of those I plan to meet with to discover information, but I disagree with those who think it best to link to everyone with a pulse…. as relationships must be “mutually beneficial” to have value (online and off), and simply collecting people is like hoarding phone books.

    • http://tech-buzz.net/ Thilak Rao

       Exactly my point! +1

    • http://empoprise-bi.blogspot.com/ John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises)

      I connected with Chris on LinkedIn some time ago, although I’d fail the “Coffee, Meal or Beer” rule. Of course, I didn’t misuse that relationship (I never asked him for a personal endorsement, for example) – perhaps some did.

      At the end of the day, despite the fact that my connection with Brogan provided me with 2nd level connections to a number of people, I never had occasion to pursue one of those connections (to the best of my recollection).

      Perhaps your rule makes sense.

    • http://ariherzog.com/ Ari Herzog

      So that’s why you wanted to have a meal with me — so you could connect with me? (Though, to be fair, we had connected earlier.)

      • thomsinger

        Ari… yes, we had connected before our lunch (when I was in Boston)… but not before several emails and a phone call (if my memory serves me). While the coffee, meal and beer rule is a good guide, I do have digital equivalents that come into play, too. But I stand by my point that linking to everyone who breathes air just makes all these social media sites into phone books.

        • http://ariherzog.com/ Ari Herzog

          You suggest I cull my connections and remove anyone I haven’t met in the flesh or talked to on the phone?

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  • http://twitter.com/MySOdotCom Kevin Green

    Still getting value from LinkedIn … who would still have a twitter account if it were about things actually working ;)

    • http://chrisbrogan.com/ Chris Brogan

      Touché. I love that reply, actually.

    • http://www.donnamaria.com/ Donna Maria Coles Johnson

       Bwaaah. LOL!

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  • http://twitter.com/BrightwireNW BrightWire Networks

    I recently started building my LinkedIn profile, which I use to build groups of people that relate to my profession.  I build groups of colleagues, regional business contacts, competitors, potential recruits, or even prospects.  I don’t spam people and I’m not hoarding contacts simply for the sake of getting that 500+ moniker.

    I check relevant LinkedIn news feeds and comments in Groups to keep informed (much like a twitter feed).  I post my own blog and twitter updates to LinkedIn.I do believe that most people, including myself, don’t realize the full potential of LinkedIn, but I see it as the appropriate place to build professional connections, which I certainly wouldn’t do on Facebook – that’s limited to friends and people I’ve actually met in person and had a conversation with.

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  • Ferane

    For a young graduate like me, its has value 

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  • http://twitter.com/susanborst susan borst

    Without LinkedIn, I would not have my current job as this is where a recruiter ‘found’ me.  So you could say I’m a big LinkedIn fan! 

    I use it passively and like it for keeping track of former work associates and friends.  I have not experienced the same issues in returning a follow request, but can understand how that could be frustrating. 

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  • http://Smallbiztechnology.com Ramon Ray

    thanks for sharing Chris! For the other 27+ millions small businesses other there – LinkedIn is a powerful tool for connecting one on one with other professionals. If there were no LinkedIn, I personally would not miss it though…to some degree.

    • Eduardo Gonzalez Loumiet, MBA,

      Ramon: Great seeing on Chris’ blog. Been a long time since the LISTA event in NYC. 

      I have a few issues with LinkedIn myself, below are a few: 

      1. The feed is way too overloaded. 
      2. There is a limit to the number of groups you can join.
      3. Why have a Premium service? Its pricey IMHO. 
      4. The algorithm behind the “People You May Know” feature is weak. I don’t know half the people on my recommended list.
      5.  When you try to use the search field on the top right of the page, the drop-down part of the user name drops down, not allowing  you to use the search functionality. 

      I visit the site 2 x a week…not a huge fan.

      Eduardo Gonzalez Loumiet

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  • http://www.linkedstrategies.com/ Nathan Kievman

    Sorry Chris, it’s been a while for me to reply because I was dealing with “Relationship Selling” appointments (80) all generated through LinkedIn with my exact market in the past two weeks.
    Tell you what we can do… let’s try something. You make me a deal that If in 30 Days I can get you significant business opportunities through LinkedIn, you will reopen your account and we can put together a real case study on the impact of LinkedIn when used right. We can still slam their customer support and management approach challenges they are dealing with, but this will make a significant impact on your business.

    you have my email, let me know what you would like to do. I will run a LinkedIn Business Accelerator program for you. You will likely result in more than 50 to 100 appointments from your exact target market that is very interested and can use right now your services. What’s that worth to you? This is the power of LinkedIn Chris. Let’s talk. 

    $9 Million for clients in the past two years says something…

    The irony of this all, is you are the exact market I work with the most… consultant and business owner. 

    Everyone reading that agrees with this choice clearly has no idea about the true power of this platform. You just need the right information applied strategically… LINKEDIN IS NOT TWITTER OR FACEBOOK, social is not the norm for the members, you have to approach, act and think differently. I suspect this is part of the challenge you have faced Chris which is why you have left.

    No worries, we all make mistakes. My challenge to you stands. Email or Call me anytime.

    Nate

  • http://www.sjfpc.com/home.html Steven J Fromm & Associates

    Hey Chris: I understand where you are coming from. I have not found LInkedIn directly helpful. But I recently did a google search for Philadelphia corporate attorneys and my Linkedin profile popped up on the first page. That was really surprising. So from that standpoint, I guess it has some value. Not sure what other advantages it offers.

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  • http://twitter.com/bestwebstrategy marymac (✿◠‿◠)

    Bottom line: only spend time on the sites that serve your purpose. I am glad Chris got off LinkedIn — he is a heavy hitter and it sends a message to LinkedIn to step up their performance.

    Google+ is whack — not enough users to make it worth my time.

    Google+ seems to pay web pundits to promote it. If Google+ were that great, it would have a large user base and they would not have to pay people with large audiences to write about it (am not going to name names here…but it’s pretty easy to tell when someone is being paid to promote a service. Not talking about you, Chris…I figure you switched to Google+ because you dropped LinkedIn).

    Twitter and LinkedIn are my favorites for B2B lead generation. But just because I use LinkedIn, does not mean I like the user experience. My two cents. Come tell me what you think, if you’re on Twitter: @bestwebstrategy

  • http://twitter.com/lizisaacslwc Liz Isaacs

    Wish you the very best on Google+ and anywhere else you may roam on the social media stratosphere. If it’ not working for you, it’s not working for you even though I have noticed that your profile is still up and this isn’t the first time you said you were leaving (2010 –served as a literary muse for Lewis Howes in one of his blog pieces), While I may not have as many contacts as you as of yet–I still have made some wonderful connections and have gotten many job offers from there. Anyway…again best of luck!

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