Connecting with someone on LinkedIn allows you to build your professional network and expand your reach. When you connect with someone, you are effectively requesting to add them to your network on LinkedIn. If they accept your connection request, they will be added to your connections list and you will be added to theirs. This allows you to interact with each other directly through messaging and see updates from their profile in your feed. There are a few key things that happen when you connect with someone on LinkedIn:
They Will Receive a Connection Request
When you initiate a connection request, the other member will receive a notification that you want to connect. They can then choose to accept or ignore your request. If they accept, you will be connected. If they ignore it, you will not be connected on LinkedIn. The connection request will indicate that you would like to add them to your professional network on LinkedIn.
You Will Be Added to Each Other’s Connections List
If the other member accepts your connection request, their name will be added to your “Connections” list on LinkedIn. Likewise, your name will be added to their list of connections. You can view your connections by going to your profile and clicking on “Connections”. This allows you to easily message, interact with, and view the profiles of those in your network.
You Will Have Access to Their Full Profile
When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, you gain full access to their profile, including sections that are only visible to direct connections such as their interests, accomplishments, skills, and recommendations. This gives you better insight into their professional background and qualifications. Likewise, they gain full access to your profile.
You Can Engage Directly With Each Other
Once connected on LinkedIn, you can directly interact with that person through messaging. You can also like and comment on their posts and articles directly from their profile. Being connected makes it easier to have professional conversations and engage with that person within the LinkedIn platform.
Your Degrees of Connection Increase
When you connect with new people on LinkedIn, your degrees of connection expand. For example, your first-degree connections are those you are directly connected with. Your second-degree connections are people connected to your first-degree connections. Connecting to new people increases the reach of your network by multiple degrees, allowing you access to wider range of professionals.
You May Appear in Recommended Contacts
LinkedIn’s algorithm may start recommending you as a suggested contact to members of that person’s network, and vice versa. When two people connect, LinkedIn sees their connection as an endorsement and may start suggesting both profiles to their respective networks.
Benefits of Connecting with Someone on LinkedIn
There are many potential benefits to sending and accepting connection requests on LinkedIn:
Expand Your Professional Network
Every new connection grows your overall professional network. This gives you a wider reach when engaging with other members. It also increases the scope of profiles and posts you can interact with through your feed. Expanding your network boosts your visibility and presence on LinkedIn.
Stay in Touch with Contacts
Connecting on LinkedIn allows you to stay in touch with business contacts, co-workers, clients and other professional acquaintances. It provides a centralized place to engage, message and learn about them even if you change companies or locations.
Increase Your Discoverability
The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have to appear in searches, feeds, and as recommended contacts. A wider network increases your discoverability and reach to new contacts.
Get Introduced to New Contacts
Your connections can introduce you to new contacts through features like LinkedIn’s automated “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” recommendations. The larger your network, the more exposure you get to 2nd and 3rd degree connections.
Find New Opportunities
Connecting with the right people can help you find new job opportunities, partners, clients and subject matter experts. Expanding your scope of connections improves your odds of being in the right place at the right time.
Get Insights From Their Profile
A connection allows you to view their full profile, giving you valuable insight into their background, interests, accomplishments, skills and recommendations. Their profile can help you understand how to best connect or do business with them.
Send Direct Messages
You can only message someone directly if you are connected on LinkedIn. This allows you to reach out to them one-on-one with questions, proposals, requests or to simply keep in touch. Messaging enables direct professional communication.
Best Practices for Connecting
To get the most out of connecting on LinkedIn, keep these best practices in mind:
Personalize Your Request
Always customize your connection request with a quick note explaining who you are and why you’d like to connect. This gives context beyond just clicking the “Connect” button.
Refresh Your Memory First
Before reaching out, review their profile to refresh your memory about their background and qualifications. This ensures your request will be more meaningful and personalized.
Be Selective
Don’t spam connection requests. Be selective and intentional about who you connect with. Focus on those you already know or have strong professional reasons to interact with. Quality connections are more valuable than quantity.
Follow Up After Connecting
If someone accepts your request, follow up with a message. Thank them for connecting, and include an idea or question to kick off the professional conversation. Don’t let new connections go cold.
Provide Value
Look for ways to add value by endorsing skills, writing recommendations, or sharing their content with your network. Don’t just focus on what they can do for you. Offer to help them in a meaningful way.
Keep Your Profile Updated
To encourage accepts from your requests, make sure your own LinkedIn profile is complete, detailed and up-to-date. This portrays your professional brand in the best possible light.
LinkedIn’s Connection Request Settings
LinkedIn provides members with settings to control who can connect with them and send them requests. Understanding these settings is helpful for connecting professionally:
Your Network
The “Your Network” setting controls who can send you connection requests. Options include:
– Your Connections – Only people already in your network can request to connect again if the connection is lost.
– Your Connections + Once Removed – First + second degree connections can request.
– Your Connections + Twice Removed – Up to third degree connections can request.
– Everyone – Anyone on LinkedIn can request to connect, even strangers.
discretion needed
Review Connection Requests
The “Review connection requests” setting determines which requests you must manually approve before connecting. Options include:
– No One – All requests will be automatically approved.
– Your Connections – Only requests from those already in your network will auto-approve.
– Your Connections + Once Removed – Requests from first and second degree connections will auto-approve.
– Everyone – Every request, even from complete strangers, will pend for your review before connecting.
Blocked Members
You can block specific members from interacting with you and seeing your profile. Blocked members cannot send you connection requests.
Understanding these settings allows you to control who can connect with you while still encouraging beneficial connections.
Troubleshooting LinkedIn Connections
Here are some common troubleshooting tips for LinkedIn connections:
Requests Aren’t Being Accepted
If your requests are frequently ignored, try personalizing them more, reviewing profiles beforehand, and connecting thoughtfully with those you already know and trust. Avoid spamming requests. Also be sure your own profile is complete and portrays your professionalism.
Connections Dropped
If a connection disappears, it’s likely because either you or they removed the other from your respective connections lists. You can try requesting to connect again if the relationship warrants it.
Seeing Irrelevant Profiles
If your feed shows irrelevant profiles, visit your account settings and make sure “LinkedIn Feed preferences” are adjusted to your professional interests and connections. This filters content.
Notifications Are Overwhelming
If you get too many connection notifications, modify your settings. Turn off notifications for form messages and customize notifications to reduce volume.
Can’t Message Connections
Occasionally a connection’s profile settings may prevent direct messaging. Respect their preferences and connect in other ways, like commenting on posts or liking their content. Messaging works for most connections.
Connections Are Inactive
If your connections aren’t engaging, try participating more yourself by commenting, posting, liking and sharing. Active engagement encourages your whole network to participate more across LinkedIn.
Is Connecting on LinkedIn Worth It?
Expanding your connections on LinkedIn is worth the effort for most professionals, with a few caveats:
– Focus on quality connections, not quantity. Connect thoughtfully.
– Be selective about who you connect with. Don’t spam requests.
– Personalize connection requests to improve acceptance rates.
– Follow up after connecting to start meaningful conversations.
– Keep your own profile updated, or it discourages accepts.
– Monitor your notification and privacy settings.
– Block any members exhibiting inappropriate or unprofessional behavior.
With reasonable expectations and best practices, connecting on LinkedIn provides access to new opportunities and an expanded professional network.
Conclusion
Connecting with other professionals on LinkedIn can open up many rewarding opportunities. By sending and accepting thoughtful connection requests, you are able to expand your network, increase your visibility, stay in touch with important contacts, and uncover new possibilities. However, connections are most valuable when they facilitate real professional engagement between members. The best way to benefit from your LinkedIn connections is to interact regularly through messaging, posting, commenting and sharing useful content. This brings your global network to life. With a sound connecting strategy and active participation, LinkedIn can become an indispensable tool for building your professional brand and relationships.