LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional networking platforms, with over 800 million members worldwide. One of the key benefits of LinkedIn is the ability to follow companies to stay up-to-date on their latest news, job openings, products and services. However, with over 55 million companies on LinkedIn, it can be overwhelming to find the right ones to follow. Here are some tips on how to find the best companies to follow on LinkedIn:
Search by Industry or Keyword
The LinkedIn search bar allows you to search for companies by industry, location or keywords. For example, you can search for “technology companies in San Francisco” or “fortune 500 retail companies”. This will pull up a list of relevant company pages you can check out and follow. Focus on keywords relevant to your own industry and interests. Following targeted companies makes it more likely their updates will be useful to you.
Check Out Company Pages of Places You’ve Worked
Scroll through the company pages of places you’ve worked at in the past. Oftentimes you’ve built connections with colleagues, managers and others while working there. Following the company means you’ll stay up-to-date on what’s happening there after you leave. You never know when that could lead to new job opportunities, partnerships or other openings down the road.
Look Through Your Connections’ Company Pages
Go through the company pages your 1st-level connections work at. Since these are companies your network works at already, they likely align with your own interests and industry. As an added bonus, following them strengthens the relationship with your connections who work there as well.
Check Competitors of Companies You Follow
Make a list of companies you already follow in your industry. Then visit their company pages and scroll down to the “People Also Viewed” section. This shows companies that are often viewed alongside the one you’re looking at. Since LinkedIn’s algorithm detects companies frequently viewed together, this is a great way to discover competitors and related businesses to follow.
Browse Featured Company Lists
LinkedIn curates lists featuring the most followed companies by industry, location and other categories. For example, you can find lists like “Most Followed Startups in London” or “Top Retailers in Canada”. Browse through different lists like these via LinkedIn’s toolbar to quickly identify relevant companies making an impact in your fields of interest.
Check Recommended Companies on Your LinkedIn Feed
As you engage with content on LinkedIn, their algorithm begins recommending companies for you to follow. The more you interact with relevant industry topics, the better LinkedIn gets at suggesting companies to follow. So keep an eye out right on your LinkedIn feed for companies the platform recommends you follow based on your activity.
Attend Industry Events and Follow the Companies There
Industry events like conferences, trade shows and networking meetups are filled with companies you may want to follow. Attend these events, take business cards, follow up with folks afterward and follow the company pages of anyone relevant you meet. This ensures you remember them and stay connected down the road.
Use Advanced LinkedIn Search Filters
Tap into LinkedIn’s advanced search filters to target companies based on specific criteria like industry, location, company size and more. For example, you can search for “companies with 500-1000 employees in the accounting industry”. The more filters you use, the more targeted the results.
Follow Companies You Admire or Aspire to Work For
Make a list of companies you admire, aspire to work for, or would love as a future client or partner. Even if they seem like a stretch right now, follow them on LinkedIn. This keeps you in tune with news of any job openings, business developments or other opportunities with them down the road.
Check “Who’s Viewed Your Profile”
LinkedIn shows you which companies have recently viewed your profile. Since they took the initiative to view you, they likely have some level of interest. Follow up by viewing their company page and following them as well to establish a mutual connection.
Follow Company Pages of Guest Speakers and Panelists
When you attend events with guest speakers or panelists, follow them and their companies afterwards. This helps nurture the new relationship and keeps you looped in on their latest company updates.
Search by Geographic Location
Search location names like “companies in Los Angeles” or “organizations in Sydney”. You can even narrow it down further by industry and add something like “technology companies in Miami”. Viewing companies by geographic area is a great way to connect with your local business community.
Check Suggested Follows When Writing Posts
When writing posts on LinkedIn, keep an eye on the “Suggested Follows” that pop up. These are companies LinkedIn recommends you follow based on keywords it detects in your post content. Highly relevant prospects often appear here.
Follow Suppliers, Vendors and Business Partners
Make a list of any suppliers, vendors, freelancers, agencies, consultants or other business partners you work with. Follow their company pages to stay connected and get their latest updates right in your feed.
Attend Local Networking Events
Attending local in-person networking events like chamber of commerce mixers enables you to meet companies in your area. Collect their business cards, connect with them afterward and follow their company pages.
Check “People Also Followed”
When on a company’s LinkedIn page, scroll down to the “People Also Followed” section. This shows other companies their own followers also follow. Since these companies share the same target audience, they likely work in related industries.
Follow Company Accounts That Engage With You
Notice which company accounts view your profile, like or comment on your posts, or interact with your content in other ways. Follow these companies in return to continue building the budding relationship.
Visit Company Booths at Industry Conferences
Conferences and trade shows dedicate sections to company booths and displays. Take time walking around these areas and follow up afterward with companies relevant to you. This networking establishes industry connections.
Check Competitor Job Postings for Companies
Use competitor job postings to identify related companies in your field. For example, if a software developer role lists companies like Oracle and SAP as competitors, they likely work in the same industry. Follow companies mentioned to stay aware of competitors.
Follow Company Accounts Interacting With Your Content
Pay attention to which company pages view, share, comment or otherwise engage with content you post. Follow these relevant companies to continue developing relationships with them.
Conclusion
Following the right mix of companies on LinkedIn keeps you plugged into news, job postings and other updates that matter in your industry. Take advantage of LinkedIn’s targeted search features, curated company lists, algorithm suggestions and profile analytics to discover companies worth following. Building connections expands your professional network and boosts your industry awareness. Focus on companies in your niche, local area, companies you admire and aspire to work for. Proactively engage with company accounts that interact with your profile and content as well. Dedicate time regularly to company research and relationship-building on LinkedIn to maximize the value of your feed.
Category | Tips for Finding Companies |
---|---|
Search Tools | – Industry/keyword search – Advanced filters – Location search |
Your Connections | – Companies your connections work for – View who’s viewed your profile |
Events | – Industry conferences/tradeshows – Local networking events – Panels and speakers |
Company Page Features | – “People also viewed” – “People also followed” – Suggested follows |
LinkedIn Feed | – Recommended companies – Interacting company accounts |
Your Goals | – Past employers – Companies you admire – Dream employers – Suppliers/business partners |
Here are some additional tips for optimizing the companies you follow on LinkedIn:
- Aim for a mix of small, midsize and large companies to diversify your feed
- Include competitors to stay atop industry trends and news
- Follow no more than a few hundred companies closely aligned with your goals
- Occasionally audit companies you follow and unfollow any that are no longer relevant
- Engage regularly with updates from followed companies by liking and commenting
- Turn on notifications from prioritized companies so you never miss key updates
Overall, strategic company following keeps your finger on the pulse of industry happenings, opportunities, and connections most important to your career needs. So be intentional about companies you follow, engage with their content, and evaluate periodically to ensure only the most relevant ones make the cut.