Private Message (PM) Tips

[akula]

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.

[mjohns]

????????????

[weightpro]

Thanks Akula for the advice.

Merry Christmas to you.

[KenyanEntrepreneur]

Does this include you?What if i want to go straight to the point?some of us pay dearly for the time spent online.

[jasaunders]

I reccomend "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Farazzi. He gives great advice on how to pitch, make contact with people you don't know or don't know well, what to include in letters and emails, etc... His advice, a lot of which is common sense, is invaluable to make strong connections in the business world.

[Dale King]

KenyanEntrepreneur wrote:
Does this include you?What if i want to go straight to the point?some of us pay dearly for the time spent online.

KenyanEntrepreneur just nailed it. Be courteous. Be professional and get straight to the point!

Dale King

[zoobie]

Thanks akula for the tips.

[buynick]

It's too bad that this even has to be said. Thanks anyways.

[jesterx]

just be polite...I hate rude people on PM or that come accros rude people.

I only help those that ask nicely...not the frantic ones that insist they must get help or else......LOL

give things to people info, money, help and you will be rewarded seven fold......hey did you hear john reese just gave away a car to one of the stompernet people....cool huh...and a good example of this..... john reese you are a ledgend.

[Deejay]

No one ever does those first 3 points to me when PMing.....and I don't think I even would want them too.

- Introduce yourself
- Give details
- Ask Question
- Thank them

Thats how I expect/send them.

[akula]

No one ever does those first 3 points to me when PMing.....and I don't think I even would want them too.

- Introduce yourself
- Give details
- Ask Question
- Thank them

Thats how I expect/send them.

so true

IM is worse

I can't use it at all

people just tend to start conversations that lead no where

I mean, networking is one thing....chit chat with strangers on IM is another