Having a large network of connections on LinkedIn can be hugely beneficial for your career and business. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform and connects you to a vast pool of professionals in your industry. But growing your network and increasing your connections takes time and effort. In this article, we’ll explore some clever tricks and strategies to rapidly expand your LinkedIn connections.
Optimize your profile
The first step is ensuring your LinkedIn profile is complete, professional and optimized to attract connections. Include a compelling headline, summary section detailing your background, list all your skills and expertise, highlight projects and volunteer work. Showcase your accomplishments, certifications and honors. Add media like photos, videos and presentations to make your profile standout. The more complete and optimized your profile, the more appealing you become for potential connections.
Leverage your current network
Import your email contacts into LinkedIn to connect with people you already know. Message your connections asking them to write recommendations to boost your credibility. Interact regularly by liking and commenting on your connections’ posts to stay top of mind. Look through your connections’ networks and use the “Connect > Ask for an introduction” feature. People are far more likely to accept connection requests when introduced through a mutual contact.
Join LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn Groups based on topics, industries, interests, universities and more are a goldmine for expanding connections. Join relevant groups in your niche and be an active participant by engaging in conversations, asking and answering questions, posting interesting articles. You’ll gain visibility and connect with like-minded professionals. Contribute value to build relationships before sending connection invites.
Follow companies and influencers
Follow companies you admire, key influencers and thought leaders in your field. Like and comment on their content, share their posts and mention them. This gets their attention so they’re more likely to reciprocate and connect back. It also exposes you to new audiences such as their followers who you can potentially connect with.
Connect with alumni
LinkedIn automatically highlights alumni from your university working at companies you view. Connect with fellow alumni as you have the shared university bond. Alumni are usually very willing to connect on LinkedIn to help fellow graduates. Proactively search for alumni from your university working in your industry and send them InMail messages to connect.
Attend events
Attending in-person industry events, conferences, meetups and tradeshows allows connecting directly with many professionals at once. Identify attendees you want to connect with, approach them, bring up shared connections and exchange business cards. Follow up afterwards sending connection invites referencing your conversation. Virtual events also present networking opportunities through group chats and messaging participants.
Publish your articles, posts and content
Build your brand and thought leadership by consistently posting informative, relevant and engaging content for your target audience. Publish company updates, industry news, tips, insightful articles, videos, podcasts and more. Include calls to action like asking viewers to connect. This positions you as an expert and expands your reach so new contacts seek you out.
Utilize advanced search filters
LinkedIn’s advanced search allows filtering by location, company, job function, skills, alma mater and more. For example, you can search for “IT professionals in Vancouver who attended UBC”. Use boolean search operators AND, OR and NOT to refine searches further. Message and invite the resulting profiles to connect. Tailor connection requests for maximum relevance and response rates.
Advanced search filters
| Filter | Search options |
|---|---|
| Location | Country, city, province, region |
| Company | Company name |
| School | University, college |
| Industry | Information technology, healthcare, education |
| Job function | Marketing, engineering, human resources |
| Skills | Social media marketing, Java, project management |
Recommend connections to your networks
Who you know, knows others that can broaden your connections. When viewing profiles of promising potential contacts, select “Connect > Ask to recommend this profile”. This prompts relevant members of your network to introduce you. Being recommended makes acceptance more likely as it establishes credibility.
Send personalized InMail messages
Instead of generic invites, send customized InMail messages explaining why you’d value connecting. Reference shared experiences, interests, groups and contacts. InMail gets priority inbox placement and response rates over standard invites. However, limit InMails or you may be flagged for spamming behavior.
Offer value
Avoid asking to connect right away. First engage by liking posts, commenting on updates, providing helpful information and resources. Establish yourself as someone who adds value. Once a relationship is built, the prospect will often make the first move to connect. Consistently interacting without expectation builds goodwill that pays dividends.
Use LinkedIn education features (LinkedIn Campus/University Pages)
Current students and alumni extensively use LinkedIn’s education features like Campus Pages and University Pages. Join your university’s Group, follow Campus/University Pages to see school news and updates, check alumni listings. Connecting with seniors for career advice is appreciated. You gain mobility partners when classmates graduate and move to companies you want entry to.
Examples of LinkedIn education features
- Campus Pages – Available for over 30,000 high schools and colleges. Showcases student and alumni activity.
- University Pages – Over 14,000 universities with news, jobs, discussions.
- Alumni tool – Browse alumni from your university and connect.
- Campus Groups – Join official university student & alumni groups.
Conclusion
Expanding your LinkedIn network requires patience and consistency. There is no shortcut to overnight connections. Apply the tips discussed to gradually but steadily grow your profile. Prioritize quality over quantity of connections. Nurture relationships by engaging meaningfully with your network. The more value you provide, the faster word spreads about your expertise, ultimately leading to more people eager to connect.