LinkedIn is a professional social networking site that allows users to connect with other professionals in their industry or location. When two LinkedIn members connect by accepting each other’s connection requests, they become 1st-degree connections.
1st Connections
Your 1st-degree connections are people you directly connect with on LinkedIn. These are people you likely know and have worked with in real life, such as co-workers, classmates, colleagues, friends, etc. When you send or accept a connection request from someone, you become 1st-degree connections on LinkedIn.
Having 1st-degree connections is important on LinkedIn because it allows you to grow your professional network. The more 1st-degree connections you have, the larger your network will be. A robust network on LinkedIn has many benefits, such as:
- Increasing your visibility and reach
- Gaining access to connections’ networks
- Receiving endorsements and recommendations
- Hearing about job opportunities
- Connecting with potential clients or business partners
LinkedIn limits direct connection requests to avoid spamming. But there are some ways to increase your 1st-degree connections:
- Importing contacts from your email
- Connecting with coworkers and classmates
- Connecting with people you meet at events and conferences
- Following up with people you’ve worked with
- Joining LinkedIn Groups related to your industry
It’s best to connect with people you know and avoid sending random connection requests. Focus on building an authentic, engaged network. Interact regularly with your connections by liking and commenting on their posts, endorsing their skills, messaging them, etc.
2nd Connections
Your 2nd-degree connections on LinkedIn are people who are connected to your 1st-degree connections. For example, if you are connected with Jane, and Jane is connected with Mark, then Mark would be your 2nd-degree connection, even though you are not directly connected to him.
You can see all your 2nd-degree connections in the “Connections” section of LinkedIn. Some key things to know about 2nd-degree connections:
- You cannot directly message 2nd-degree connections on LinkedIn unless you upgrade to a premium account
- You can request an introduction through a mutual 1st-degree connection
- 2nd-degree connections may appear as “People You May Know”
- You have access to limited profile information about them
2nd-degree connections still offer value on LinkedIn, such as:
- Expanding your overall network reach
- Discovering “People You May Know” recommendations
- Unlocking access to 3rd-degree connections
- Seeing full profiles if they view your profile
Some tips for leveraging your 2nd-degree connections include:
- Checking for shared connections and requesting introductions
- Looking for “People You May Know” suggestions
- Following their company pages to stay updated
- Endorsing their skills if applicable
3rd Connections
Your 3rd-degree connections on LinkedIn are people connected to your 2nd-degree connections. For example, if you’re connected to Jane (1st degree), and Jane is connected to Mark (2nd degree), and Mark is connected to Lisa, then Lisa would be your 3rd-degree connection.
You likely do not know these people directly, but they are part of your extended network. Key things to know about 3rd-degree connections:
- You can only see limited profile information about them
- You cannot directly interact or message them
- They may show up as suggested 3rd-degree connections
The main value of 3rd-degree connections on LinkedIn is their potential. Some ways to benefit from 3rd-degree connections include:
- Discovering new people in your broader industry or location
- Seeing the full profile and connecting if they visit your profile
- Finding them in “People You May Know” once they become a 2nd-degree connection
- Seeing any shared connections and requesting an introduction
How Connections Expand Your Network
The different degrees of LinkedIn connections create an exponentially expanding network for each user. Here’s an example network diagram:
1st Connections | 10 people |
2nd Connections | 10 * 10 = 100 people |
3rd Connections | 10 * 100 = 1,000 people |
As you can see, even a small number of 1st-degree connections can drastically grow your total network size due to the exponential effect. This is why LinkedIn connects you with 3rd-degree connections – it exposes you to far more professionals than just your 1st-degree network.
Some other key benefits of expanded networks through different connection levels:
- Discover new opportunities and information
- Increase visibility for you and your brand
- Gain access to “warm” introductions and referrals
- Connect with the best candidates for jobs
- Draw insights about trends in your industry
Connecting with People You Don’t Know
Is it ok to connect with someone you don’t know very well on LinkedIn? There are mixed opinions on this.
Some experts recommend only connecting with people you know and have interacted with. Random connection requests come across as inauthentic and may be ignored or rejected.
However, others argue that part of LinkedIn’s value is connecting with new people, not just existing contacts. As long as your request is customized and thoughtful, it can be fine to connect with strangers.
Here are some best practices if you want to connect with someone you don’t know:
- Personalize your request by mentioning how you found them, something you have in common, or why you want to connect.
- Send a follow-up message after connecting to build the relationship.
- Recommend connecting over coffee or a phone call to get to know each other.
- Engage with their content and offer value by commenting or sharing.
The key is to make the effort to build a real connection, not just swell your connections number. Add value, communicate respectfully, and focus on quality over quantity.
Is There a Limit to LinkedIn Connections?
Currently, there is no limit to the number of 1st-degree connections you can have on LinkedIn. However, 2nd and 3rd-degree networks are essentially limitless.
There used to be a limit of 30,000 connections on LinkedIn, but this cap was removed in 2017. Some users now have over 100,000 connections!
While you can theoretically connect with an unlimited number of people, that doesn’t mean you should try to amass as big a network as possible. Too many meaningless connections can reduce your LinkedIn effectiveness.
Instead, focus on cultivating an engaged, quality network with strong ties. Aim for depth in your relationships, not breadth.
You want your connections to
- Know, like, and trust you
- Interact regularly with your content
- Be willing to introduce you to others
- Share opportunities relevant to you
These beneficial actions require an authentically built network centered around shared interests and values.
How Many Connections Should You Have?
How many LinkedIn connections should you aim for? Here are some benchmarks:
- Recent graduates – 150-300+ connections
- Early career – 500-750+ connections
- Mid-career – 750-1000+ connections
- Experienced professionals – 1000-1500+ connections
- Thought leaders – 1500-2000+ connections
However, the number of connections you need depends on your goals. If you want to:
- Find a new job – Connect with HR professionals and hiring managers
- Generate leads – Connect with your target audience
- Get introduced to partners – Connect with those offering partnerships
- Share your work – Connect with your industry
Focus less on totals and more on connecting with the right people in the right way.
Connection Request Etiquette
To build your network properly on LinkedIn, use good connection request etiquette:
- Only send requests to people you know or want to get to know better. Avoid spamming strangers.
- Personalize your request by mentioning how you found them or why you want to connect.
- Be selective – connect intentionally rather than with everyone possible.
- Follow up after connecting – say hello, share an article, or offer to help.
- Don’t take rejections personally – not everyone connects back.
Make an effort with your new connections. Engage with their content, congratulate them on milestones, and maintain the relationship. Don’t let connections go stale.
Finding the Right Connections
It’s not enough just to connect with people on LinkedIn – you need to find the right connections aligned with your goals. Here are some tips:
- Search by industry, job title, location and interests to find relevant people.
- Join targeted LinkedIn groups to connect with like-minded professionals.
- Follow companies you want to work for and connect with their employees.
- Attend industry events, seminars and conferences to meet people.
- Utilize advanced search filters and saved searches to find the right candidates.
Spend time cultivating the areas of your network that are most important for you right now. Tap into your connections for introductions to the right people.
Maintaining Connections Over Time
It’s not enough to just connect with people on LinkedIn – you need to maintain those connections by engaging over time. Some tips:
- Like and comment on your connections’ posts and updates
- Congratulate them on work milestones, promotions, birthdays, etc.
- Share relevant articles, videos and resources with your network
- Send personalized messages to catch up and ask good questions
- Offer to help your connections network or find opportunities
Stay top of mind by regularly interacting with your network. Don’t let connections become stagnant – nurture them for the long term.
Turning Connections into Opportunities
The ultimate goal on LinkedIn is converting your connections into tangible opportunities. Here’s how to make that happen:
- Leverage connections to get introduced to the right people
- Join discussions in LinkedIn Groups to establish expertise
- Use your network to gather insider information and advice
- Tap into connections when seeking a new job
- Utilize your network for business leads and sales prospects
When needed, don’t hesitate to politely ask your trusted connections for help or support. Offer to return the favor down the road.
Avoiding Bad Connections
While connecting to new people is great, you also want to beware of bad connections that can damage your LinkedIn reputation and effectiveness. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Random connection requests from people you don’t know
- Connections who spam your inbox with promotions
- Contacts with inappropriate or unprofessional profiles
- People who don’t engage or respond when you reach out
It’s perfectly fine to ignore or decline connection requests that don’t feel like a fit or come across as inauthentic. Don’t feel pressured to connect with everyone.
You can also unfollow or remove existing connections that provide little value and regularly post unhelpful content. Periodically pruning ineffective connections helps maintain a strong, focused network.
Maximizing the Value of Your Network
Follow these best practices to ensure you’re getting the most value from your professional network on LinkedIn:
- Customize connection requests to form more meaningful relationships
- Engage regularly with your connections by liking, commenting, sharing and messaging
- Offer help and support to strengthen bonds with your network
- Join relevant LinkedIn Groups to meet new people in your industry
- Tap into your connections for introductions, advice, opportunities, and intel
The more you put into growing and maintaining your network, the more you’ll get out of it. Aim for quality over quantity in your connections.
Conclusion
1st, 2nd and 3rd degree LinkedIn connections allow you to develop an expansive professional network full of opportunities. Focus on building strong, trusting relationships within your 1st-degree connections, while leveraging your extended network to grow your reach and amplify your voice.
Remember to connect selectively with the right people, engage meaningfully with your contacts, and provide mutual support. In this way, LinkedIn can become an invaluable hub for advancing your career through strategic connections at all levels.