LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform, with over 850 million members worldwide. Making connections is a vital part of using LinkedIn effectively. Adding connections allows you to build your professional network, stay in touch with colleagues, connect with potential clients or partners, and discover new opportunities. But what exactly does it mean to add a connection on LinkedIn?
In simple terms, adding a connection on LinkedIn means inviting someone to connect with you on the platform. When you add someone as a connection, you are asking them to become part of your LinkedIn network. If they accept your invitation, they will be added to your connections list and you will be added to theirs. You will then be able to view each other’s profiles, share updates and interact through the platform.
There are a few key things to understand about adding LinkedIn connections:
You Must Send a Connection Request
To add a new connection on LinkedIn, you must send them an invitation which they can choose to accept or ignore. You cannot add someone to your connections without sending them a request first. The request will appear in their notifications and they can then decide whether to confirm the connection with you or not. Simply looking up someone’s profile and adding them to your list does not create a connection on LinkedIn. A mutual agreement is required through the connection request process.
Connections Must Be Established Relationships
LinkedIn is based on the importance of real-world connections. Although you can send a request to anyone, LinkedIn works best when you connect with people you already know and trust in some capacity – whether colleagues, classmates, clients, business partners etc. The platform is designed to help strengthen existing professional relationships online. Random connection requests are often ignored or declined. The most successful networkers focus on reconnecting with people they have already established relationships with.
Your Networks Will Expand Over Time
You do not need to add all your connections at once. LinkedIn is designed for you to gradually build up your network over time as you meet new people and reconnect with old contacts. It’s best to focus on reconnecting with your closest contacts first, and then work your way out to broader connections. As you spend more time on the platform, you will organically cross paths with new connections to add. With 850+ million members, there are always new relationships to be built on LinkedIn.
There Are Limits on How Many Connections You Can Add
To maintain the quality of connections, LinkedIn does limit the number of requests you can send. The limit is based on how many invitations you are sending compared to how many are being accepted. If too many of your requests are being ignored, your limit will be lower. If most of your requests receive a positive response, your limit will increase. The limit can be anywhere from a few invitations a week to several hundred invitations a day depending on your acceptance rate.
Adding Connections Boosts Your Visibility
The more connections you have, the more visible your profile becomes across LinkedIn. However, quality is more important than quantity when it comes to your network. It’s better to have 500 genuine connections than 50,000 random ones. Your connections are also notified when you share content or updates, increasing your reach. A bigger network means your professional brand and contributions have greater exposure.
New Connections Appear in Your “People Also Viewed” Module
When you add a new connection, their profile will automatically appear in the “People Also Viewed” module on your profile page. This allows other visitors to discover and connect with profiles related to you, helping expand your network. The more connections you add, the more comprehensive and useful this module becomes for viewers.
You Can Sync Connections From Your Email
To help you quickly find connections, LinkedIn allows you to sync your email contacts. This will showcase which of your email contacts also have LinkedIn profiles that you can connect with in just one click. Syncing lets you efficiently build your network from your existing address books and contact lists outside of LinkedIn. However, you still need to send a request and have it accepted before they are added.
LinkedIn Shows You How You Are Connected
When viewing someone’s profile, LinkedIn will indicate if you are already connected in any way – whether directly, through another connection, or via shared groups, education, interests etc. This allows you to discover the connectivity between you and someone before requesting to connect, helping inform your outreach. However, just because you are connected in some way does not necessarily mean they will accept a request. Use your best judgment.
Who You Choose to Connect With Matters
Being highly selective about who you connect with maintains the quality of your network. Avoid randomly connecting with people you have no relationship with or accepting every request you receive. You want your connections to strengthen your professional brand and opportunities. Focus on building connections with those who have common interests, goals, backgrounds, or professions with you. Relevance matters.
Recommendations Can Strengthen Connection Requests
If asking to connect with someone you have limited previous interaction with, a recommendation can improve your chances of having the request accepted. For example, if you are connected to someone who knows the person well, asking them for a recommendation can validate you are a worthwhile connection for them to accept. Recommendations add credibility.
Connecting Opens Up New Opportunities
Connecting on LinkedIn serves many purposes beyond just expanding your network. It grants access to insider information about companies, opens doors to job and business prospects, allows you to discover experts and influencers, and lets you share knowledge. Brainstorm the type of opportunities connecting with someone could lead to before sending a request. Be strategic about the value each connection can add.
You Can Write a Personalized Note When Requesting to Connect
To improve your acceptance rate, take the time to write a customized message when requesting to connect with someone, rather than just clicking the standard invitation. Personalizing the note to explain who you are, what you have in common, and why you want to connect makes a positive impression. People appreciate knowing you viewed their profile and see value in the relationship.
| Connection Type | How to Connect on LinkedIn |
|---|---|
| Colleagues | Search for your coworkers by company name and reconnect through personalized requests referencing your working relationship. |
| Classmates | Join alumni groups on LinkedIn to locate and connect with fellow graduates through shared school experiences. |
| Clients/Partners | Proactively send customized requests to your business connections referencing your positive past collaboration. |
| Industry Contacts | Connect with professionals in your field by engaging with relevant content and groups. |
| Friends & Family | Upload your email contacts to find any personal connections who also have LinkedIn profiles. |
Table 1: Strategies for Connecting on LinkedIn by Relationship
You Can Import Connections From Other Social Networks
To quickly grow your LinkedIn network, you can pull in contacts from other social media profiles. LinkedIn allows you to import connections from platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Outlook and Google. However, this will only send connection requests, not automatically add them. The contacts still have to confirm the request on LinkedIn before officially becoming connections.
There Are Special Options for Showcasing Key Connections
As your network expands, you may want to highlight important connections by showcasing them as VIPs. This pins and displays them at the top of your connections list for prominence. You can also follow Influencers and Thought Leaders within your industry to stay on top of key insights and build your brand. These are LinkedIn power profiles who publish regular content.
Connecting is the First Step to Messaging
Once connected with someone, you can take your relationship to the next level by messaging them directly through LinkedIn. This allows you to communicate beyond their posts and updates. However, not all connections will be open to being messaged by everyone in their network. Use your judgment to determine if someone seems receptive to messaging.
Group Connections Expand Your Network
By joining LinkedIn Groups related to your interests and profession, you can connect with like-minded professionals who are members. Groups allow you to interact with new connections in a common forum by participating in discussions and sharing advice. This provides a natural way to establish and strengthen relationships.
Connecting Opens Doors Across the Globe
An exciting aspect of LinkedIn is the ability to make connections around the world. You are not limited to your geographic location. By reaching out globally, you can build an international network to share ideas and opportunities with. You can filter connections by location to cultivate relationships in specific countries.
Showcase Your Connections Publicly or Privately
Under your account settings, you can choose whether your connections are publicly visible on your profile or only visible to you. Keeping your connections private allows you to connect widely without worrying about the impression on your public profile. However, displaying connections can build your credibility and authority.
Recommendations From Connections Carry More Weight
Along with transforming who you know, connections also enhance credibility. Recommendations and endorsements from people you are connected with on LinkedIn are perceived as more authentic and trustworthy than anonymous ones. Your connections essentially vouch for your skills and expertise.
Connections Form the Backbone of Your Network
At its core, LinkedIn is about relationships. Your connections underpin everything you do on LinkedIn – from content sharing to business opportunities to recommendations. Treat your connections with care, connecting thoughtfully rather than randomly. Quality connections set you up for long-term success.
Conclusion
Adding a connection on LinkedIn represents reaching out to begin a mutually beneficial professional relationship with someone through the platform. It is based on establishing a link with another member in order to share updates, insights, and opportunities. However, connections must be earned through relationship-building. The strength of your network comes from the value of your connections. Be selective, thoughtful and strategic as you choose who to connect with and grow your LinkedIn network.