LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform, with over 722 million users across more than 200 countries and territories worldwide (as of April 2022). The platform allows users to connect with professionals in their industry, search for jobs, follow companies, join industry groups, and more. In today’s digital age, LinkedIn has become an invaluable tool for networking and building connections.
Connecting with Other Professionals
One of the core functionalities of LinkedIn is the ability to connect with other professionals in your industry or location. You can send connection requests to recruiters, colleagues, clients, business partners, and more. Once connected, you can directly message them or see updates from their profile in your feed. This makes it easy to stay in touch and strengthen relationships with your network.
LinkedIn allows you to grow your network organically by connecting with 2nd and 3rd degree connections. You can also proactively search for and connect with professionals who attended a certain university, work at a specific company, have particular skills, live in a certain area, and more. Having a robust LinkedIn network gives you access to connections, opportunities, and insights you may not have otherwise.
Joining Industry Groups
In addition to individual connections, LinkedIn features large industry Groups you can join to connect with professionals in your field. These groups allow members to share content, discuss industry news, post job openings, participate in virtual events, and more. Groups range from a few members to over 1 million members for very broad professional categories. Joining relevant Groups allows you to gain visibility and connect with a targeted audience.
For example, a marketer could join Groups like Content Marketing Professionals, Digital Marketing Specialists, Social Media Marketing, and Inbound Marketers. Through posting in those Groups, they can establish themselves as a thought leader and subject matter expert. Some Groups are location-based, allowing professionals to connect with others in their local community. Groups also routinely host live discussions and virtual events to facilitate networking.
Searching for the Right Connections
The advanced search functionality on LinkedIn gives you a plethora of options for finding the right people to connect with. You can search by name, company, title, skills, location, mutual connections, Groups, universities attended, and more. For example, you could search for marketing managers at tech companies in the San Francisco Bay Area who graduated from your alma mater. This allows you to send targeted connection requests to professionals who are most relevant to you.
LinkedIn Premium allows you to take your search a step further with features like being able to search for Group members, seeing the full list of people who viewed your profile, and sending InMail messages to anyone on LinkedIn (even if you’re not connected). Using the robust search tools helps you quickly find qualified prospects, referral partners, potential clients, and subject matter experts in your industry.
Getting Recommendations
Recommendations on LinkedIn, typically displayed on an individual’s profile, serve as public endorsements of someone’s skills, accomplishments, work product, and character. Professionals use recommendations to build credibility and showcase their capabilities to their network. When evaluating job candidates, hiring managers often look to LinkedIn recommendations to supplement a resume.
Asking your connections for recommendations and skill endorsements is a great way to strengthen relationships with them. Most professionals are happy to write recommendations for co-workers, colleagues, clients, and business partners they respect. The more recommendations you accumulate from respected industry players, the more you establish your reputation. This reflects positively on you and boosts your professional brand.
Following Companies
Following companies you are interested in or have worked with on LinkedIn is an easy way to stay up-to-date on their products, services, culture, job openings, news coverage, and more. Most corporate LinkedIn pages share frequent updates, allowing you to gain insider knowledge. You can like and comment on company posts to further engage. Following companies demonstrates your interest and provides exposure for you within their network.
When employees of the company you are following share updates, those will appear in your LinkedIn feed as well. This gives you a chance to directly connect with and build relationships with professionals who work at companies you may want to gain employment with someday. Following companies also alerts you to new job openings the moment they are posted.
Participating in LinkedIn Groups
Joining and actively participating in LinkedIn Groups related to your industry or professional interests is a great networking technique. With over 2 million Groups on LinkedIn, you can surely find several relevant to you. Once in a Group, you can weigh in on discussions, post interesting articles or resources, ask and answer questions, and establish your credibility as an expert.
When other Group members notice your regular insightful contributions, they will likely view your profile and potentially connect with you. Some may even invite you to connect outside the Group on LinkedIn. Groups also routinely host virtual meetups and events where you can network with fellow professionals live. Consistent involvement in a few niche Groups allows you to build strong relationships over time.
Connecting at Conferences or Events
When attending industry conferences, trade shows, networking events, seminars, and other in-person activities, you can leverage LinkedIn before, during, and after to maximize connections. Ahead of time, search attendees and speakers on LinkedIn to see who you may want to connect with. Reach out to schedule meetings or send InMail messages expressing your desire to meet up.
During the event, let relevant attendees know you want to connect on LinkedIn. Most will oblige if there is shared interest. Follow up with your new connections with personalized LinkedIn messages after you have met in person. Staying top of mind will enhance the relationship. You can even create a LinkedIn Group or Event page for conference attendees to stay connected.
Utilizing LinkedIn Jobs
LinkedIn Jobs allows you to search through millions of job postings by title, company, location, and other keywords. You can look broadly or filter by your precise criteria. Recruiters and hiring managers often post roles on LinkedIn Jobs before listing them publicly elsewhere. By using LinkedIn Jobs, you gain early access to opportunities.
You can also set job alerts to be notified when new roles matching your parameters are posted. The job application process is streamlined since your profile serves as your resume. Applying through LinkedIn allows recruiters to instantly see your full credentials. You are more likely to be noticed by submitting applications this way. Many recruiters also proactively search LinkedIn profiles for candidates, so keeping your profile updated is essential.
Connecting with Recruiters
Connecting directly with recruiters, talent acquisition specialists, and hiring managers on LinkedIn can unlock major opportunities. These professionals have immense influence in the hiring process for coveted roles and companies. Getting on their radar dramatically increases your odds of being considered for relevant openings.
You can search for recruiters based on company, location, industry, skills, Groups they are in, and more. Focus on sending messages to recruiters who could logically be interested in your background and skills. Avoid spamming recruiters with generic connection requests. Personalize your outreach and be thoughtful. Building relationships with key recruiters is a proven way to get your foot in the door.
Showcasing Thought Leadership
Posting engaging, original content on LinkedIn establishes you as an industry thought leader and subject matter expert. Whether through long-form posts, LinkedIn articles, or other formats, sharing your insights boosts your professional brand. Your connections and followers will come to see you as a trusted source of information. This content also appears prominently in Google search results, organically driving traffic to your profile.
When crafting content, provide value by educating on topics meaningful to your target audience. Tackling their pain points and providing solutions through your posts will make you highly visible. According to LinkedIn, LinkedIn members who publish long-form content receive 30% more profile views. Consistent high-quality content is key to cementing yourself as an authority.
Interacting via Content Comments
Commenting on content published by others is a simple yet effective networking technique. Start by actively liking and commenting on posts from your connections. This nurtures those relationships. You can also check LinkedIn’s discovery tab for top trending business articles and provide your thoughts.
Commenting on content allows you to display your knowledge while directing more people back to your profile. Other professionals who see your insightful comments may be inclined to connect with you. Through continuous value-driven participation, you significantly widen your reach. Aim to engage rather than self-promote when commenting on others’ content.
Sending Targeted Connection Requests
Instead of blindly sending generic connection requests, be deliberate in who you reach out to. Identify professionals who align with your industry, interests, location, skills, Groups, and companies. Personalize your requests to explain why you want to connect. Sending thoughtful connection requests boosts the likelihood of acceptance.
For example, don’t simply ask to connect with a marketing manager at a software company. Mention how you admire their content and would enjoy discussing marketing best practices for the tech industry. You can reference shared Groups, associations, conferences, companies, or interests that provide common ground. Focused relationship-building will continually expand your fruitful network.
Following Hashtags
Follow relevant hashtags like #softwareengineering, #digitalmarketing, #leadership, or #recruiting to see top posts on those topics. This exposes you to trending industry news, resources, job opportunities, and professionals to potentially connect with. You can also include relevant hashtags in your own posts to reach those interested in a particular topic. Post quality content under popular hashtags to gain significant visibility.
For instance, a financial advisor could use #personalfinance or #investing when sharing a post about retirement planning tips. This makes the content visible to anyone following those finance-related hashtags. In addition to including hashtags, you can search posts by hashtag to engage with content and profiles you may have otherwise missed.
Joining LinkedIn Local Chapters
If available in your city, join a LinkedIn Local Chapter to meet professionals in your area. Chapters hold networking events, speaker sessions, workshops, and volunteer opportunities. Attending local events is an easy way to make connections face-to-face. You can follow the Chapter and its members to stay informed about local happenings.
Introduce yourself to fellow Chapter members online and at in-person activities. Ask good questions and demonstrate interest in learning about what others do. Offer assistance and be generous in sharing your knowledge. Following up after meetings will help cultivate lasting local relationships. Tapping your local Chapter provides community and support.
Conclusion
With over 75% of professionals on LinkedIn, it has become the premiere platform for networking in the modern business world. Taking full advantage of LinkedIn’s myriad features allows you to efficiently build meaningful connections, expand your reach, enhance your personal brand, and uncover career-advancing opportunities. Consistent networking efforts can yield game-changing results. LinkedIn provides the tools to turn strangers into loyal allies.
From Groups and events to jobs and content, LinkedIn allows professional relationships to blossom. By authentically engaging with your growing network, you become a recognized thought leader. The connections made on LinkedIn often transcend the digital space, leading to collaborations, mentorships, new roles, investments, and other tangible growth for your career.
In today’s interconnected world, professionals who fail to leverage LinkedIn are missing out on unmatched access to people and possibilities. With strategic relationship-building techniques, patience, and participation, LinkedIn networking success can be yours.
