I WIll Not Add You On LinkedIn If...

Because I've been getting a number of interesting requests lately, I'm beginning to believe that people don't really understand how LinkedIn works, and how it's different from less-professional social networks. So let me explain, in the form of a little mnemonic.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...you are shirtless in your profile picture.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...we have never met or had any contact before.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...you have three connections and nothing listed on your profile.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...you send me the request in a language I do not speak.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...your profession and mine do not overlap in any way.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...we are not professional contacts in some way.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...there is no plausible way we would ever do business together.

I will not add you on LinkedIn if...it looks like you just want to harvest my contacts.

Other people may have somewhat different rules, but the whole point of LinkedIn is that it's made up of professional connections -- i.e., people you actually know and have a business connection to. If that doesn't apply in your case, then I'm afraid the answer is No.