Can I change connections to followers on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn allows users to connect with other professionals and build a network. When you connect with someone, you become a 1st-degree connection. Your connections’ connections are your 2nd-degree connections, and so on. LinkedIn also has a “Follow” feature that lets you follow other users without connecting.

What’s the difference between connections and followers on LinkedIn?

There are a few key differences between connections and followers on LinkedIn:

• Connections are mutual – Both users must agree to connect. Followers are one-way – You can follow someone without them following you back.
• You can see more profile information about your connections. Followers can only see your public profile and posts.
• You can message connections directly. To message followers you are not connected to, you must pay for Premium.
• The number of connections shows your network size. Followers are not included in your connections number.

In summary, connections indicate a two-way professional relationship, while following simply subscribes you to someone’s public updates without establishing a mutual connection.

Can I convert a connection to a follower?

Yes, you can convert existing LinkedIn connections to followers. Here is how:

1. Go to your connections list on LinkedIn.
2. Find the connection you want to convert to a follower.
3. Hover over their name and click “More”.
4. Select “Remove connection”.
5. Confirm that you want to remove the connection.

Once you remove the connection, you will still be able to follow that person, but they will no longer show up as a 1st-degree connection.

Can I convert a follower to a connection?

You cannot directly convert a follower to a connection on LinkedIn. To connect with a follower, you must send them a connection invitation which they must accept. Here is how to do it:

1. Go to your followers list.
2. Find the follower you want to connect to.
3. Click “Connect” next to their name.
4. This will send them a connection invitation. If they accept, you will become connected.

There are a couple things to keep in mind when converting followers to connections:

• You can only send connection invitations to followers who have their invitations setting enabled.
• The follower can ignore or decline your invitation, so there is no guarantee they will accept.
• Mass connection invitations to followers may be seen as spammy.

Best practices for managing connections and followers

Here are some best practices when managing your LinkedIn connections and followers:

• Connect only with people you know and trust. Don’t accept invites from strangers.
• Be selective about who you choose to follow.
• Set your profile visibility and invitation preferences appropriately.
• Personalize connection invitations with a note.
• Follow subject matter experts and thought leaders to receive their updates.
• Focus more on quality of connections than quantity.
• Review your connections regularly and remove inactive ones.

Pros and cons of having more connections vs. followers

In summary, connections are preferable for building an engaged professional network, while followers provide more passive value through updates and insights.

Should I choose connections or followers?

Most LinkedIn experts recommend focusing on cultivating quality connections relevant to your industry and professional role. A few hundred meaningful connections are far more valuable than thousands of random contacts.

However, followers still have value in supplementing your content feed with news and ideas. Follow influencers, brands, media outlets, and other sources that provide valuable updates.

Aim for a balanced approach when managing your LinkedIn network:

• Connect only with those you want in your professional network.
• Be selective about who you follow for updates and news.
• Review both your connections and followers regularly.
• Remove inactives over time to maintain an engaged network.

How many connections and followers should I have?

There are no rules for the ideal number of connections and followers. Quality matters more than quantity. However, here are some benchmarks to aim for:

• 500+ connections for job seekers and professionals
• 1000+ connections for managers and executives
• 100-500+ followers for most profiles

Focus first on building out your connections with relevant contacts. Then follow companies and influencers to supplement your feed.

Tips to gain more quality connections and followers

Here are some tips to help expand your high-value connections and followers on LinkedIn:

• Complete your profile 100% to signal credibility and professionalism.
• Engage actively by commenting on posts, joining groups, and messaging connections.
• Share and create useful updates that provide value.
• Use advanced search filters to find relevant contacts to connect with.
• Follow companies you want to work for or do business with.
• Build authority by sharing insights and thought leadership content.
• Use LinkedIn’s automated suggestions for “People You May Know”.
• Use connection invitations selectively rather than automatically connecting to everyone.

Conclusion

LinkedIn connections indicate engaged professional relationships, while followers represent a more passive subscription to receive updates.

Quality connections are ideal for building an effective professional network on LinkedIn. Followers supplement your feed with relevant news and insights.

Focus on selectively cultivating connections first, then follow strategically. Maintain your network by pruning inactive contacts periodically.

With a thoughtful strategy, you can leverage LinkedIn connections and followers to enhance your career opportunities and business relationships.