Quick Answer: Adding Connections on LinkedIn
When LinkedIn prompts you to “Add Someone to Your Network”, it means LinkedIn is suggesting you connect with another LinkedIn member by sending them an invitation to connect. On LinkedIn, connecting with other members is how you build your professional network.
LinkedIn will recommend connections for you to add based on your shared connections, industries, companies, locations, schools, and other factors. Adding someone to your LinkedIn network allows you to view their full profile, communicate with them through LinkedIn messaging, see jobs posted by them, be notified about their updates and new roles, and more.
So in summary, when LinkedIn suggests you “Add Someone to Your Network”, it wants you to send them a connection invitation to connect your LinkedIn profiles and build out your professional network on the platform.
Understanding LinkedIn Connections
LinkedIn connections are the basis for building your professional network on the platform. Here are some key things to know about LinkedIn connections:
– Connections allow you to view each other’s full profiles, including work history, education, skills, recommendations, and more. This gives you a fuller picture of someone’s professional background.
– You can message and share articles or other content with your connections directly through LinkedIn. This facilitates professional communication.
– You will see posts, job changes, and other updates from your connections in your LinkedIn feed. This helps you stay up-to-date on their career.
– Connections expand your 2nd and 3rd degree networks on LinkedIn, allowing you to be introduced through mutual connections.
– The more connections you have, the more robust your LinkedIn presence and personal brand become. A large network signals professional credibility.
– However, it’s better to connect with professionals you know and trust rather than accept every connection invite. Strive for quality over quantity in your network.
– There are limits on how many connection invitations you can send per week to avoid spamming. LinkedIn monitors invitation activity.
Overall, adding someone as a connection on LinkedIn represents bringing them into your professional circle. You are endorsing each other’s credibility and agreeing to share career updates, new opportunities, and insider knowledge. So choose connections carefully based on existing professional relationships.
Why Does LinkedIn Recommend Connections?
Now that you understand the meaning and purpose of LinkedIn connections, you may be wondering – why does LinkedIn specifically recommend that you add certain people to your network?
There are a few reasons LinkedIn’s algorithms suggest connections:
– You share another LinkedIn connection in common. Having mutual connections is a strong signal you may know each other or should connect.
– You work for the same company or attended the same school. Coworkers, alumni, and other shared affiliations are logical connections.
– Your profiles have similar skills, interests, or other attributes. This indicates you likely have commonalities to bond over or explore professionally.
– The other member has a premium account. LinkedIn suggests paid subscribers to further encourage premium upgrades.
– You have similar professional backgrounds or networks. Even without explicit overlaps, LinkedIn predicts you may benefit from connecting.
– The other user actively engages on LinkedIn. Active members tend to make valuable connections who post interesting content.
– You visited the other member’s profile. Looking at someone else’s profile often signifies interest in connecting.
– The member explicitly said they are open to connecting with you. Users can indicate networking interest on their profiles.
– It has been a while since you connected with someone new. Periodically accepting suggestions can enhance your network’s growth and diversity over time.
So in summary, LinkedIn leverages its data and algorithms to recommend connections most likely to reciprocate and add value to your professional network, based on commonalities, compatibility, premium status, networking intent, and other factors.
How to Send a LinkedIn Connection Request
Ready to add someone LinkedIn suggested to your professional network? Here are simple step-by-step instructions for sending a connection invitation:
1. Click on My Network from your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Under Manage my network, click See all.
3. Search for the name of the individual you want to connect with. You can also scroll through Suggestions.
4. On their profile, click Connect beside their photo.
5. A window will pop up allowing you to customize your invitation with a note. Consider adding context about why you want to connect.
6. Click Send Invitation. Your invitation will now show up in the member’s notifications.
7. If they accept, you are now connected! If not, you can send invites to other recommendations.
It just takes a few clicks to add a new connection on LinkedIn through the website. The LinkedIn mobile app also makes it easy to connect while scrolling through your feed. Simply tap the Connect button on member profiles.
Tips for Connecting
Here are some tips to get the most out of sending LinkedIn connection invitations:
– Personalize each request with a message referencing a shared connection, employer, university, or common interest. This increases acceptance rates.
– Connect sparingly to avoid coming across as spammy. Focus on quality over quantity in your network.
– Follow up if you don’t hear back, but avoid pestering potential connections who may wish to ignore the invite.
– Don’t take rejections personally. Some members are highly selective or overwhelmed by requests.
– Take the initiative and request connections from interesting professionals you find through search or recommendations.
– Thank new connections and engage with their content. Valuable relationships are mutually beneficial.
– Connect with those you meet in-person at events, conferences, and seminars. It’s less awkward to connect post-meeting.
– Consider paying for a premium LinkedIn account to unlock more profile searches and connection requests.
Building up your LinkedIn network does take some time and effort. But thoughtfully sending customized connection invitations to professionals you admire or have existing ties with can pay dividends for your career down the road.
Managing Existing Connections
Once you successfully connect with new members, it’s important to maintain those relationships over time. Here are some best practices for managing your connections:
– Like and comment on your connections’ posts to sustain engagement with their content. This keeps you top of mind.
– Similarly, share your own updates that would interest your network like new jobs, projects, articles, and media appearances.
– Congratulate connections on work anniversaries, promotions, new roles, and other milestones they share. Recognizing their advances strengthens bonds.
– Follow up with occasional messages checking in and asking thoughtful questions to nurture relationships. But avoid over-messaging.
– Participate in LinkedIn Groups where your connections are members to interact in subject-specific discussions.
– Use advanced LinkedIn search filters to find connections by company, title, location, shared school, and other criteria as helpful.
– Flag inactive connections for removal if they disengage from LinkedIn for prolonged periods. Declutter when needed.
– However, avoid “power networking” where you constantly add and prune connections using them transactionally. This damages trust.
The best LinkedIn members are authentic relationship builders who want to help others in their network while accomplishing their own goals. Keep that spirit of service in mind as you continue connecting with professionals in your field.
Limits on Sending Requests
To prevent spam and maintain quality, LinkedIn places certain limits around sending connection invitations:
– LinkedIn members are allowed to send a maximum of 300 connection requests per week. This resets weekly.
– Only paid Premium account holders can send InMail messages to members they are not connected with, up to a limit per month.
– Free account holders trying to message non-connections will get limited to around 100 per month before being capped.
– Ignored connection requests or rejected InMail messages count negatively toward send limits.
– Users perceived to be abusing invitations may have additional restrictions imposed by LinkedIn.
The exact number of weekly requests allowed depends on your account status and history. If you hit the cap, LinkedIn will notify you to wait until your allowance resets the following week.
While heavy networking is discouraged, for those looking to expedite relationship-building, Premium accounts offer higher connection and messaging allotments. But focus on quality over spamming contacts.
Troubleshooting LinkedIn Connections
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you are having issues with LinkedIn connections:
**Can’t add a connection:**
– Make sure you entered their name correctly. Try searching again or using their profile URL.
– They may have reached their connection limit, which caps total connections allowed.
– Some members selectively limit who can connect, or change settings like email verification.
**Connection requests going unanswered:**
– Politely follow up noting your original invite. But don’t harass members who wish to ignore.
– Check if requests are going to the member’s Other inbox rather than primary one.
– Consider asking for an introduction through shared connections to establish trust.
**Can’t message a connection:**
– They may have adjusted settings to limit who can message them directly. Respect their preferences.
– Try contacting them through another channel like work email if appropriate. Don’t overstep.
– For non-connections, InMail requires a Premium account, and has send limits.
**Connection removed me:**
– Understand members occasionally prune networks or disconnect from the platform. Don’t take it personally.
– You may wish to reach out and politely ask if you have offended them or find out why they removed the connection.
– Avoid burning bridges. Always conduct yourself professionally towards your network.
**Too many invitations sent:**
– Wait until your connection request reset day as noted in LinkedIn notifications.
– Focus on building relationships, not just amassing contacts. Quality over quantity.
– If continuously hitting caps, a Premium account may be worthwhile for heavier networking needs.
With a combination of etiquette, troubleshooting, and understanding LinkedIn’s limits, you can tactfully and successfully grow your professional network over time. The connections made can benefit your career in countless ways.
Using Connections for Career Opportunities
A major benefit of LinkedIn connections is unlocking new career opportunities through your network. Here are some ways to capitalize on your contacts:
– Let connections know if you are actively job searching and open to new roles. Quality referrals can get your resume prioritized.
– Ask connections at target companies for insider advice on openings, hiring processes, and workplace culture to give you an edge.
– Connect with company leaders, department heads, managers, and recruiters who can facilitate introductions and refer you internally for positions.
– Attend LinkedIn events and conferences where you can network face-to-face with key connections, strengthening relationships.
– Get endorsements and recommendations from connections to enhance your LinkedIn profile and personal brand when applying for jobs.
– Join LinkedIn Groups where your connections are members and participate in order to stand out in niche professional communities.
– Follow companies you’re interested in working for to engage with their content and identify employee connections who can help your candidacy.
– Share career updates and accomplishments with your network to organically surface new opportunities aligned with your goals.
The vetting and credibility provided by a mutual connection can make a big difference when seeking jobs and career advancement. So cultivate win-win relationships that support everyone’s success through the power of community.
Conclusion
Adding someone as a connection on LinkedIn represents an endorsement of their professional credibility and a willingness to support each other’s career journeys. When LinkedIn recommends you “Add Someone to Your Network”, it has identified members who likely have value to contribute based on your shared affiliations, backgrounds, and interests.
Connecting opens up enhanced communication and engagement on the platform through content sharing, messaging, and keeping updated on each other’s progress. LinkedIn connections are the start of meaningful professional relationships that can benefit you both for years to come through expanded opportunities. So be selective but proactive in networking with those who can help you achieve your goals and vice versa. The more fully you leverage LinkedIn, the more it can elevate your career over the long term.