Open Networking on LinkedIn: Choosing to Connect with Everyone

How do you manage your LinkedIn invitations?  Do you choose to connect with everyone who sends an invitation?  Or do you look at your network as a carefully cultivated group of people you know and who know you?  Please answer the poll below.

This week, I watched two webinars in which the presenters promoted opening your network to anyone who asked for a spot.  After connecting to an author I enjoy who practices an open network philosophy, I considered this practice. I eventually decided to limit my connections to people I knew, plus people I met in person at events.  I believe Twitter offers a more open networking opportunity for me.

While preparing this post, I found a recent Q&A on LinkedIn that asked this question:

Why do YOU say yes to every connection request?

The responses offer a great back-and-forth of pros and cons.  If you choose to open network, you will find great tips to do it right.  For me, the responses clarified that my current method of accepting invitations from people I have met makes sense for me at this time and that is OK.  It is not a missed opportunity for me – at this time.