When it comes to growing your network and presence on LinkedIn, one of the most common questions is whether it’s better to connect with someone or simply follow them. Both connecting and following serve different purposes and have unique benefits, so the right approach depends on your specific goals and the types of relationships you want to build on the platform. Here’s an in-depth look at the key differences between connecting and following on LinkedIn to help inform your networking strategy.
What does it mean to connect on LinkedIn?
Connecting with someone on LinkedIn establishes a two-way, first-degree connection between you and the other person. When you connect, you become directly tied to each other’s profiles and gain access to each other’s networks. Connecting also allows you to message each other directly through LinkedIn’s messaging system.
Some key things to know about connecting:
– Requires mutual agreement – For a connection to be made, the other person has to accept your connection request.
– Visible on profiles – Your connections are publicly visible on your profile. Likewise, your name will appear on the profiles of those you’re connected to.
– Grows your network – Every new connection expands your immediate network by one. Their connections become second-degree connections for you.
– Enables direct communication – Connecting opens up the ability to message each other directly on LinkedIn. You can also write recommendations for each other.
– Indicates endorsement – Agreeing to connect conveys a level of trust and endorsement between the two parties.
What does it mean to follow someone on LinkedIn?
Following someone on LinkedIn allows you to stay up-to-date with their activity and posts without establishing a formal, two-way connection. Following simply means you will subscribe to the person’s profile feed.
Key things to know about following:
– One-way – You can follow someone without them needing to follow you back. No mutual agreement is required.
– Private – Your followers are not publicly listed anywhere on your profile. Only you can see who follows you.
– Gets updates – By following someone, their profile updates and posts will show in your home feed. It’s a way to keep tabs on their activity.
– No direct messaging – Following does not allow you to message the person directly or interact beyond their public posts.
– Low commitment – Following someone represents a lower level of commitment than connecting. It does not confer a formal endorsement.
When is it better to connect on LinkedIn?
Here are some situations where sending a connection request is the better option over simply following someone:
– You want to initiate direct communication – Connecting opens up the ability to message that person through LinkedIn’s messaging platform. Following does not.
– You hope to develop a stronger relationship – Connecting indicates a greater commitment and endorsement compared to just following someone. It can lead to a stronger professional relationship over time.
– You want to expand your immediate network – Connections become part of your first-degree network. Following does not add anyone to your direct connections.
– You want to exchange recommendations – Connecting allows you to write and display recommendations for each other on your profiles. Followers cannot do this.
– You want to indicate a partnership – Connecting can signal a professional partnership or working relationship that you want to make public. Following does not have the same effect.
– You want to discover 2nd-degree connections – Your new connections expose you to their networks as well, unlocking new potential contacts. Following does not expand your network.
When is it better to follow someone on LinkedIn?
Here are some instances where following may be a better initial approach than sending a connection request:
– You hope to connect later – Following allows you to demonstrate initial interest and keep tabs on someone with the possible intent of connecting down the line.
– You want to limit commitments – Following comes with less expectations and commitments than connecting, which requires mutual consent and trust.
– You have no immediate need to message – If you don’t need to message someone right away, following allows you to simply monitor their updates.
– You want to maintain boundaries – Following certain personal contacts, family members, or celebrities can be a way to remain connected from a distance without crossing professional boundaries.
– You want to avoid cluttering contacts’ feeds – Following means you won’t clutter someone’s feed with unnecessary updates if they only have a casual interest in your company or profile.
– You want to discretely monitor competitors – Following competitors or companies in your industry can help you monitor their activity without signalling any formal partnership.
Can you connect AND follow someone?
Yes, it is possible to both connect with someone and follow them on LinkedIn. You may want to do both if you have an established connection with someone but also want to make sure you receive all their updates in your home feed. The two actions are not mutually exclusive.
Following someone you’re already connected with can be a good way to strengthen the relationship and also amplify their content across your own feed. The main benefit is ensuring you have maximum visibility into their activity and don’t miss relevant posts.
LinkedIn connection requests vs. followers comparison chart
Action | Connection Request | Follow |
---|---|---|
What it establishes | Two-way, first degree connection | One-way following |
Requires mutual consent? | Yes | No |
Visible publicly? | Yes, connections are listed | No, followers are not visible |
Expands your network? | Yes | No |
Enables messaging? | Yes | No |
Signals endorsement? | Yes | No |
Tips for sending connection requests
If you’ve evaluated that sending a connection request makes the most sense for your goals, here are some tips for reaching out effectively:
– Personalize each request with a customized message – Don’t use LinkedIn’s generic copy. Take a minute to write a unique note explaining why you want to connect.
– Remind them where you met or your affiliation – Give context around where you may have crossed paths previously, such as at a conference, shared company, or affiliation.
– Highlight common connections – Name-dropping any mutual connections can increase their willingness to accept your request.
– Share why you want to connect – Let them know if you’re hoping to collaborate, exchange expertise, or simply strengthen your professional relationship.
– Suggest moving the conversation offline – If there are details to discuss, propose continuing the dialogue through email or meeting for coffee.
– Follow up on unanswered requests – If your initial request goes unanswered, follow up with another message re-stating your interest in connecting.
Sending group connection requests
LinkedIn also allows you to send connection requests to multiple people at once, which can be helpful for outreach after in-person events. Here are some best practices:
– Customize each message – Even in mass outreach, take the time to write one customized note relevant to each person.
– Limit batches – Stick to groups of no more than 30-40 people at a time to avoid seeming spammy.
– Refresh their memory – Give context like where you met them or what you discussed.
– Highlight common ground – Did you attend the same conference session? Were you in the same orientation group? Point out shared experiences.
– Suggest meeting again – Propose an action step like meeting for coffee to continue the relationship.
Tips for following strategically
Here are some suggestions for following effectively on LinkedIn to maximize the visibility you gain:
– Prioritize influencers in your industry – Stay up-to-date with top thought leaders by following their company pages and individual profiles.
– Follow competitors – Monitor competitor activity and strategies by following their LinkedIn company pages. You don’t need to connect.
– Seek out relevant content – Discover new articles, ideas, and trends by following publishers, bloggers, and other sharers of useful content.
– Identify upcoming conference speakers – Follow event speakers you plan to see so you’re up-to-speed on their work before the event.
– Follow Starbucks profiles – Starbucks has unique content on their many regional/local pages worth following for marketing and social media inspiration.
– Tap into niche communities – Follow hashtags and LinkedIn groups focused on your specialty to join relevant conversations.
– Follow old colleagues and classmates – Keep up with former coworkers’ and fellow alums’ career developments by following them. No need to connect with everyone.
Following with discretion
While following can be anonymous, keep in mind appearances if you’re following contacts you have difficult relationships with. For example:
– Don’t follow ex-significant others or former friends if trying to create distance. The appearance of monitoring them can reignite tensions.
– Be cautious following bosses or VIPs at your company. Follows are private but can still feel intrusive.
– Consider optics if following controversial public figures. Their content may reflect on your brand.
LinkedIn connection request and follow etiquette
To keep relationship-building on LinkedIn positive, tactful, and beneficial on both sides, keep these etiquette tips in mind:
– Personalize every request – Take the time to write unique messages, even when doing mass outreach. Form messages are obvious.
– Follow up if needed – One follow-up is acceptable if they miss your initial request, but don’t harass contacts who don’t respond.
– Accept or decline promptly – Leave requests hanging can create an awkward dynamic. Offer a quick yes or no.
– Decline politely – If declining a request, briefly explain why using a positive tone.
– Avoid over-connecting – Be selective about who you connect with to avoid coming across as desperate or indiscriminate.
– Don’t follow excessively – Following hundreds or thousands can feel like overstepping professional boundaries. Keep follows focused.
– Use common sense – Apply normal social judgment around boundaries and privacy expectations when connecting or following.
LinkedIn’s relationship visibility settings
LinkedIn offers controls to adjust the visibility settings of your connections and followers. Where appropriate, limiting visibility can help keep relationships private. Settings to know:
You can toggle your connections visibility on/off so other users can/cannot see your connections.
You can choose whether your # of followers is displayed on your profile for other users to see or is hidden.
Regardless of settings, you will always be able to privately see the full list of your connections and followers within your account. Other users’ access is what the settings affect.
Adjust based on your comfort level and privacy concerns. For many, the default full visibility for networking transparency is appropriate. But you can limit visibility of certain relationships if preferred.
Conclusion
Both connecting and following serve important, yet distinct purposes on LinkedIn. Connecting enables direct communication, expands your network, and conveys professional endorsements. Following offers a lower-commitment way to stay updated on industry influencers, peers, and competitor content.
Evaluate each contact and your intentions in order to determine whether connecting, following, or both is the right fit. Maintain courteous communication and privacy settings as you engage. With some strategic relationship-building on LinkedIn, you can enjoy the benefits of an expanded professional network.