Connections #028 – The World’s Number 1 LinkedIn User
Ron Bates is a Headhunter, Executive Search Consultant & Recruiter based in San Francisco, USA.
He’s also widely known as LinkedIn’s most-connected user – with around 40,000 direct Connections. However, while Ron’s name is well-known to many people, he himself maintains a fairly low personal profile.
In this interview, we chat with LinkedIn’s ‘Man of Mystery’, as Ron reveals many details about himself, how he first became involved with LinkedIn, the time he spends each week maintaining and interacting with his network – and the business benefit he receives from having such a large number of connections.
For anyone that is curious about what being a LinkedIn ‘Power User’ is all about – this is is definitely the place to find out.
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Then share it with your network – or show your support by writing a Review on iTunes.
And don’t be shy – please leave a Comment. Your feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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Thank you
Stan Relihan
Expert Executive Search: www.expertsearch.com.au
April 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
G’day Stan
You were right, this is the best one yet! Hard to beat this episode, but I’m sure you’ll give it a go.
All the best.
Glen
April 10th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Thank you Stan,
a man never finish to learn,
and the best is to learn for people better than us ;)
Ciao
Carlo
April 10th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Excellent interview. Very informative.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Stan/Ron,
This was very informative! I learned something new about you two as well. Thank you very much…
Regards,
-Steven Burda [burda.mba(at)gmail.com]
http://www.retireat21.com/interview/Steven-Burda-Interview-with-a-super-networker
April 10th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Thanks Stan,
Great Interviews, excellent information.
A few weeks ago Marc Freedman and this week Ron Bates.
Who is next?
Ehab Elagaty
Australia’s 2nd Most Connected Linked member (everyone knows who is #1)
http://www.linkedin.com/in/sapnetwork
linkedin.ehab4sap [at] gmail.com
April 10th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Stan, this was so good, I added your podcast link from the community noticeboard on my website
David Craker
April 11th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Thank you!
April 11th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Thank you both for such an informative podcast. When we have resources such as LinkedIn right at our fingertips, it truly is a small world afterall!
April 11th, 2008 at 1:43 am
Stan & Ron,
Ron thanks for sharing your time and expertise.
I look forward to telling people to listen to the podcast as I come across others who need to understand how to bring “Networking” not “Need-working” to the group.
Best,
Dean Holmes, Sr.
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Synchronus a Vision Company
http://www.linkedin.com/in/synchronus
April 11th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Very informative podcast….thank you so much for sharing. I’ve been an avid user of LinkedIn for several years now, and I’m finally reaping the fruits of my rapidly growing network (my last 3 senior SAP hires have all come from LinkedIn).
Again, thank you!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:21 am
That was great Stan. I think I picked a lot from your discussion, and I look at sticking close to most of these tips to leverage my presence in Linkedin.
Thanks again !
April 11th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Hi Stan, really informative podcast, thanks! It’s really interesting to hear how the LinkedIn experts are making the best use of the service.
All the best,
Zac
April 11th, 2008 at 5:59 am
An informative podcast. I have struggled with the best way to avoid ‘need-working’ and welcome any ideas – possibly a future podcast – on how to network effectively.
Thanks for your ideas and time, guys. I look forward to future discussions.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Excellent!! I LOVE it!!! Looking forward to more such interviews on the Power of Networking!!
Cheers,
Babhui
http://www.linkedin.com/in/babhui
April 11th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Stan,
Thank you for thinking about me and sending the link to your interview with Ron Bates. I found the interview very interesting and I plan to share it with my colleagues.
I have been networking long before tools like LinkedIn were around, but LinkedIn has enhanced the way I conduct networking – and have used it for many applications.
Please keep up the great work and keep in touch!
Robert Lewis, (LION, 2300+)
MBA Student, Cornell University
http://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlewis
April 11th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Awesome as usual Stan!
Thanks for sharing with us Ron!
Stay Great.
:-) Best Regards,
Marilyn Magallanes
MTIN & TTTC Founder
April 11th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Hi Stan,
Thank you again for the Podcast Link related to your interview with Ron. Ron is GREAT personality and low profile. I send him an invitation to connect on linkedin and in 1 hour time Ron accepted.
All the best to both of you.
Yoshua
Bali Island
April 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Stan,
Great interview. Hats off to you. After having been on Linked-In for over 3 years now getting to hear from Ron Bates himself of how its helped him immensely was good to know.
Linked-In cannot be a substitute to real world networking!!! And i was surprised to heard that Ron just spends 2 hours managing his requests every week.
Cheers,
Sandeep Balaji
http://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeepbalaji
April 11th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Hi Stan,
Thanks tons for sending this link. I totally enjoyed this podcast and was enlightened on networking (quality in quantity) – interesting indeed!
Thanks for featuring The connections show and introducing Ron – btw, I sent Ron an invite and he responded quickly! I’m stoked :)
Cheers,
Bev
April 11th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Hi Stan,
Great interview. It’s inspiring to hear the thoughts of one of the foremost internet networkers. I was partucilarly intersted to hear Ron’s comments about implied familiarity. Having been an Executive Recruiter myself for over 10 years I have found linkedin to be not only hugely beneficial to myself in that I can qualify a prospect but have also found that it has encouraged clients and prospective candidates to reduce barriers and instigate dialogue themselves, were previosly there may have been initial resistance.
Great stuff. Look forward to hearing more.
Regards
Colin
April 11th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Wow,
Thanks so much Stan. This is a Trrerific…..interview….!!!
And much Thanks to Ron Bates. Ron connected with me when I was just getting
started on LinkedIn. I was in the process of building my network and didn’t have
many connections and he connected with me. As you can imagine, just connecting with
Ron, blew up my network, ….. so to speak of course. Thanks again, guys.
Stan, thanks again for connecting. You are a fantastic resource.
warmly,
Alberto ; )
April 11th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Wow,
This is a great interview. Thanks Stan. Your are such a great resource.
Ron, thanks again for connecting. You connected with me when I had practically
zero connections and blew me up….!!!! Long live LinkedIn….!!!!!
Alberto ; )
April 11th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Stan, Ron,
a very helpfully impact about using linkedin “The Better Way”.
After your Dialogue: My first intuition made me change my settings: Make my Connections visible is a necessary decision!
Thanks. Kai.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Stan, Ron,
A very helpfully insight about using LinkedIn “The Better Wayâ€.
After your Dialogue: My first intuition made me change my settings: Make my Connections visible is a necessary decision!
Thanks. Kai.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Thank you Stan,
Great interview, Ron has an interesting perspective on networking that everyone can learn from…
Doc Bob
April 11th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Stan,
This podcast was outstanding! Ron Bates truly colors-in all of the squares about the real potential for online networking, particularly using Linkedin.
Bravo !
Dave
April 11th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Great show again Stan.
I loved how Ron clarifies the quality vs. quantity issue so cogently. The understanding that how large or small your desired network is should depend on what you do and what your objectives are for in networking is very important. Based on my conversations with you and the insight of your guests as well as other LI users, I have come to the conclusion that there is no best way to network – there are different approaches that are right for different people.
Looking forward to the next one!
Michael
April 12th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Great job like always….thanks, Stan
Daniele
April 12th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Building a social network is a lot like the age old question; “How do you eat an elephant?”. One bit at a time.
Little by little we Open Networkers are all trying to find new ways to increase the size of our networks so hearing from a “master” like Ron is invaluable. Thanks Ron and Stan.
Jeff Weidner
jeffweidnerlinkedin AT gmail.com
http://htcresearch.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffweidner
Feel free to join my group on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/44169/3ED8F804D9C7
April 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Stan:
Excellent podcast. Outstanding. First time I’ve heard anything from Ron Bates. His history with LI reflects my history – certainly to a much lesser degree; but I too started with reluctance and now I am an avid user who now “gets it” and it now brings business in the door. I think for most, you need to get past the “gets it” stage and then it all makes perfect sense.
Again, very good. Best regards. Jeff
Jeffrey L. Taylor LI profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/washingtonlobbyist
April 12th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Stan,
Initiatives as this one are great value additions to individual efforts.
They help super impose plans in the right directions.
You deserve a very big pat on the back…for Ronbating us.
Thank you.
Arun
http://www.linkedin.com/in/arunslinks
http://www.arunsinha.ws
skype: tarzancalls
April 12th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Hello Stan and Ron,
What a wonderful interview. Definately the best podcasst yet. Thanks you for such an informative and timely interview.
Sheilah
April 12th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Hello Stan and Ron,
Great interview, as Ron I was given a link to join various times and finally accepted. I wish I did the very first time. Great opportunity to get to know people across the world and like Harvey Mackey, Dig your well before your Thirsty.
George C. Murray
Plant Manager-Rockwell Automation
April 13th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Hello Stan and Ron,
A great interview, packed with value withint its 20+ minutes, the important points having been discussed about networking.
With networking becoming more and more complex, and the rise of online networking tools, this interview was a much needed highlight on this topic.
Thank you very much Stan and Ron ; and long life to TPN.
All the best,
Eric
April 13th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
What a great interview. I recently became a member of LinkedIn. I have never been much of a networker, and did not understand the value of building a group like this. This interview really puts it all in perspective for me.
Thanks!
Georgia Stewart
April 14th, 2008 at 3:47 am
learn more about Ron Bates here:
http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=92202
April 16th, 2008 at 2:39 am
This was a great inspiration for using LinkedIn for networking. Thanks for the info!
April 19th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Stan, I found you on linked in and followed my nose. I love the concept of such a powerful yet intimate conversation adding value all at my desk. The conversation with Ron was real and showed that depth of relationship can happen using the amazing technology we have available today. You’ve shown me how to be even more of a global citizen. Thank-you for putting these podcasts together, well done, I’ll be tuning into more, very inspirational. Tanya Lacy – Melbourne Australia
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Thanks Stan.
One more very interesting interview.
Parviz
April 28th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Stan,
What a wonderful interview… Excellent!! Looking forward to more such interviews on the Power of Networking!!
Thanks RON for your time and expertise.
Cheers!
Sunny Gene
http://www.linkeding.com/in/sunnygene
May 17th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Hi Stan and Ron:
Ron – you are so humble and sincere to be the Number One LinkedIn User…… You spent a lot of time putting networking in the proper context to one’s business needs and purpose. You shared some great tips and insights on networking. But more importantly, you shared the importance of time and energy you devote to maintaining those relationships. It is hard to imagine getting the volume of invitations you alluded to–100-150/week just from LinkedIn–and that is only one component of the many databases you use in your business. Whew….
Thanks,
Caryl
May 18th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Stan
Excellent podcast and definitely one of the best from a great series.
And many thanks for the mention about our interaction with LinkedIn on Mobile platform.
Cheers, Iggy Pintado
Telstra Busines
July 8th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Hi,
Just a very quick ‘thank you’! Just listened to the interview which was sent to me by a colleague about a month ago – when I started at Red Talent.
As a total novice to LinkedIn, it is a wonderfully succinct way of outlining it’s value – and as a naturally reticent Brit. who prefers to avoid intruding on others ‘personal space’ – a good introduction on how to use it.
I have, however, always believed in networking, given ‘what goes round, come round’, though Paulo Coelho puts it more eloquently! THANK YOU – and if you would like to link in, more than delighted! Saludos from Spain. Eleanor [eleanor.bannister@redtalent.com]
July 16th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Very informative conversation.
Ron, you touched on lots of good points, but one that totally resonated with me was your comment about expectations.
i believe you essentially said if you go into LinkedIn expecting to take, take, take before you ever give you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
Greg
September 8th, 2008 at 6:02 am
I have only 18000 connections vs Ron’s 40000 . I nevertheless wrote a blog post that goes the same way he does.
1st advice “Grow your network while you don’t need it”
2nd advice “know why you want to network”
3rd advice “get recommendations from current and past colleagues posted on your profile”
4th advice “make heavy use of the Q&A feature (on LinkedIn) or post on forums”
5th advice “never use standard boiler plate templates” when inviting people to connect
6th advice/fact “The more connections you have, the more time you must spend”
7th advice “join yahoo networking groups. You will learn a lot”
8th advice “Read other 2 cents advices”
9th advice “Do not forget other ways of networking”
http://eric-mariacher.blogspot.com/2006/05/my-2-cents-about-online-business.html