Using LinkedIn to seek career guidance and advice from a complete stranger may seem like an odd thing to do, but is totally acceptable and may even lead to your sliding a foot in a door you may have otherwise never known about.

Like most things, there’s a way–and then there’s the more effective way. Before you send a LinkedIn message to an industry pro you admire, make sure you’ve got these three bases covered:

1. Be specific: when seeking useful advice, you must communicate what it is you actually need help with. Lately, more and more folks reaching out to me via LinkedIn are asking for “my thoughts” on social media, PR or a relocation strategy, but don’t really ask me about anything in particular. It drives me nuts. There’s not a lot I can tell you about “living in D.C.” or “Twitter” because there is SO MUCH to tell you. Same goes for how I “feel” about working at X company or “networking.” There’s just too many ways to answer those generic questions, so I end up giving generic, not-at-all helpful answers.

2. Be brief: introduce yourself, explain why you are seeking the connection and what, specifically, you need to know/help with/advice on/are worried about, etc. then, thank the stranger for their time. The end. Read More…

Image by mafleen via Flickr

Reading this makes me sad, but David Cay Johnston’s play-by-play on the attitude and work approach of the Obama press shop-o-newbies (answering the phone, anyway) should be required reading for every aspiring public relations pro.

I’ve read Johnston’s words three times now and each time, something different makes me cry a little stands out. Here’s a quick sample:

Its 3 p.m. and the phone in the White House press secretary’s office is ringing. It rings and rings and rings. Eventually, a recorded voice asks callers to leave a message, followed by a second voice saying the voicemail box is full. Read More…

In the comments section of my 100% Nerd post re: geekish glee over finally achieving a complete LinkedIn profile, fellow flack MB shares a great observation and poses a question about proper LinkedIn etiquette:

I requested and was accepted into the LinkedIn network of friend-of-friend, whose business expertise is geeky communications & Web-type stuff.  In perusing the profile of my new-found e-friend, this person’s settings on LinkedIn are set to HIDE visibility access to “Connections.”

Isn’t the whole point of LinkedIn to help folks piece together the puzzle on *with whom* one’s profession leads one to interact? And make introductions, expertise requests etc, knowing we share mutual connection(s)?

Well, yeah. Connecting with peers and LINKING IN to friend-of-a-friend connections is the point, actually.

I keep my connections open for viewing, as do most of my LinkedIn peeps. And I have had peers request an introduction to a couple of my folks, which I happily provide because those requests are sincere.

LinkedIn even provides a one-off count for users. Mine says: 237 Connections links you to 2,458,900+ professionals. See! it’s all about connecting with those relevant 2nd and 3rd degree networks.

To MB’s point, the value of LinkedIn is that one can be validated and connected to other industry professionals or potential employees via a trusted source.  I don’t think you are wrong for hiding your contacts, you’re just missing the point of the communications tool. If you want a private, online address book, go set up a Plaxo account.

So, what say ye, LinkedIn-ers? Do you keep your connections visible or do you mark them as private? Does it even matter?