Today’s post is a little different.
Every now and then, I will get an email from Steven Burda if he likes a particular blog post. Just an acknowledgment, but I started to recognize his name. So when he sent an email today with a request to blog about this issue, I took notice.
Steven is a LinkedIn evangelist. He is a Super Connector, has over 2500 (yes – two thousand five hundred) recommendations and 500+ connections (what does that mean?). Unfortunately, he has reached the LinkedIn-imposed “limit” of connections he is allowed in his account.
To that end, he has written a letter to the LinkedIn Executives, and with his permission, I am reprinting it here:
Dear Linkedin Executive:
I’d like to ask you to please take the time to read this letter in its entirety and follow up…
My name is Steven Burda and I am not your average Linkedin member/user. I am not a LION, but a SuperConnector.
I want you to recognize that I am a diehard Linkedin member/user and evangelizer who spreads goodwill to thousands of people concerning Linkedin and social media arena. I have become a power-user and networker to the point that I became “over-connected” from the perspective of Linkedin. I have tried to use Linkedin in good faith according to the User Agreement and TOS, but I’m at the point where there is a major restriction placed on my account that I feel I are being discriminated against. I would like to resolve this issue with Linkedin through direct dialogue with an Executive. If Linkedin cannot respond to this request within a week of receipt of this correspondence, I will have no choice but to get back to my contacts in the mass media of the situation (which I don’t want to do) especially since I am featured in September 2009 book: “The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life” (Wiley & Sons, Hardcover). I received numerous awards, publications and recognition for the work that I’ve done in professional field, as well as being the Connector, a blogger and groups Moderator/Manager.
I work full-time for The Boeing Company in the finance department, but as an addition, I have stakes in two businesses: Burda Consulting Co (non-profit, registered in PA) and Burda Photography (recent business, started with my wife Alla). In addition, I am a public figure, published person and a mentor to many. I do speaking engagements on the benefits of mentoring, professional networking, social media and Web 2.0. I deal with and in contact with hundreds of professionals on a monthly basis. Because of me, I believe thousands of professionals have joined Linkedin or became more active in networking. I hope you do see what kind of buzz, and free viral PR/marketing I bring to Linkedin for the benefit of the good. Each person I connect with offline and online is a business opportunity!
Your company (Linkedin) and the management has placed, in my opinion, a harsh and an unwarranted cap on my account because I’m so well-networked and connected, thus, doing a disservice not only to me, but to those who want to be part of my network. This strict limitation is hurting my credibility, visibility and profitability. Those people who have sent me invitations are still awaiting my acceptance – and they are, but not limited to: my sister Yael, my father Lev Burda, as well as many real-life friends, neighbors, past/current colleagues, classmates and even former managers and teachers. Those people want to recommend me for the work I did and also want to be professionally associated with me – but they can’t due to this severe and unwarranted limitation. Also, there are hundreds, even thousands of people that I mentored over the years, and those who want to do business with me – those that want to be part of my exclusive network. As you see, currently I cannot send an invite to them – but more importantly, cannot accept their invites. This is very counterintuitive to networking and collaborating concept, and goes against your own motto “relationships that matter” – wouldn’t you think?
What about the fact that I cannot accept my dad, my sister, my current/past colleges and even my boss into my direct network on Linkedin is mindboggling!! I have over 2,300 recommendations and endorsements on my Linkedin profile for my work and service that I provide – wouldn’t this show that I am a legitimate, hard-working and consummate networking professional that makes things happen? As evangelist of Linkedin, I freely promote Linkedin at all the networking events, places and workshops that I attend. I’m 100% capable of managing my own network.
Would you be able to make things happen? Or is this becoming an issue similar to the censorship and limitations Google has experienced in China? Please confirm the receipt of this letter. I ask and encourage you to give me a direct call at [deleted] or e-mail me at: [deleted]. We need to talk this through, on the phone or via email. It has been since January 15th, 2009 that I cannot accept any and all of the invites from trusted people that are currently have pending in my inbox, and both I and the sender want it to be accepted ASAP for the mutual benefit and professional business dealings and exchange of ideas. This is a unique case, and hope it won’t be ignored. All I am asking is one of two things: 1) get a call from an Executive of Linkedin for a ten-minute phone discussion on this issue or 2) have the ability to accept my pending invitations I currently have in my Inbox.
I feel that only by giving an honest assessment of the situation and showing the desire to resolve outstanding issues, from both sides, will solve any potential misunderstandings, as well as future opinions and perceptions of what is really going on, and why.
Respectfully,
- Steven Burda, from Greater Philadelphia Area (Pennsylvania) | www.linkedin.com/in/burda
Steven also sent these links where others have written about the same issues. Perhaps it’s time that LinkedIn ListensIn.
http://tinyurl.com/WhyLimit
http://tinyurl.com/BlogOnLimit
http://tinyurl.com/WhoInvite
