Thinking of sending a PM? Grrrrrreat stuff. Here's some tips to help the conversation along.
What to do:
1. Adress the person by their full name (if available) with proper salutation. Unless you have no other option, do not adress people by their screen name.
2. Always, if contacting the person for the first time, include a link to your resume, or write a good intro about your self, including dropping the names of 3rd parties who can vouch for you.
To make an online resume go to
http://hiveresume.com/
3. Suck up. When contacting some body, include a reflection on how much you like one of their posts and how much you agree with it. You need to show that you
care about the other person and have a similar attitude towards business issues.
If you do not do these things your letter either looks like spam, or you force the receipint to have to enquire about who you are and what you do - which wastes time for everybody.
What NOT to do:
1. Use bad spelling/syntax. Do not use emicons, fail to capitalise first word in any sense, or use IM shortcuts. The recipient is not your buddy.
2. If fundraising, do not use words like "I have a good idea", or "I am looking for investors". Instead, follow the standard rules of pitching. If you don't know what they are - ask the recipient "What's the best way to pitch you?"
Please add anything I've failed to cover.
