LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows users to connect with other professionals in their industry. When you connect with someone directly on LinkedIn, they become a 1st level connection. Your 1st level connections then have their own set of connections, which are your 2nd level connections.
How do you get 2nd level connections on LinkedIn?
You gain 2nd level connections automatically when your 1st level connections connect with other people. For example, if you are connected with Jane, and Jane is connected with John, then John is your 2nd level connection, even if you don’t know John directly.
So your network on LinkedIn grows exponentially as your 1st level connections add more people to their networks. Even if you only have 100 direct connections, you could potentially have thousands of 2nd level connections through your 1st level network.
What can you do with 2nd level connections?
Here are some things you can do with your 2nd level LinkedIn connections:
- View their full profiles – You can browse through your 2nd level connections’ profiles to learn more about them, what they do, where they work, and their background.
- See who you know in common – LinkedIn will show you any shared connections you may have with a 2nd level connection.
- Send connection requests – You can send a connection request to a 2nd level connection to try to convert them into a 1st level connection.
- Send messages – You can send one-off messages to your 2nd level connections, even without being directly connected.
- Get introduced – You can ask any shared 1st level connections for an introduction to a 2nd level connection.
Why are 2nd level connections valuable?
Here are some of the key benefits of having a wide 2nd level network on LinkedIn:
- Expand your reach – You can exponentially grow your overall LinkedIn network through 2nd level connections. This gives you a much wider reach when looking for job opportunities, business deals, partnerships, clients, etc.
- Gain new insights – By connecting with colleagues of colleagues, you gain exposure to many more professionals in your industry. This can provide you with new perspectives, ideas, and business intelligence.
- Increase visibility – A large 2nd level network makes you more visible and gives you higher credibility on LinkedIn. This can be helpful for personal branding.
- Tap into “warm” introductions – An introduction made through a mutual connection is often better received than a “cold” outreach. So 2nd level connections can facilitate these warm introductions.
- Find “friends of friends” – You can more easily network with and develop rapport with other professionals who run in similar circles.
How to expand your 2nd level network
Here are some tips to help expand your 2nd level connections on LinkedIn:
- Connect with more people who work in your industry or fields of interest. The more 1st level connections you have, the more 2nd level connections you gain.
- Join alumni groups from your university or college. Connect with former classmates who will likely have overlapping professional networks.
- Join industry-specific LinkedIn groups and connect with other like-minded members.
- Follow companies you admire and connect with their employees.
- Constantly expand your own LinkedIn network with new 1st level connections to keep the growth going.
- Use advanced search filters to find 2nd level connections who meet specific criteria you’re looking for.
- Tap into your network’s networks by getting introductions through shared connections.
How to connect with 2nd level connections
To reach out to a 2nd level connection on LinkedIn, you have a few options:
- Send an inMail message – You are allowed to send messages directly to your 2nd level connections. However, realize that the open/response rates for inMail are generally low.
- Ask for an introduction – Reach out to any 1st level connections you share with the 2nd level connection. Ask them for a personal introduction. This warm approach has a much higher chance of success.
- Invite to connect – You can send a connection invitation to a 2nd level connection. Include a customized note explaining who you are, why you’d like to connect, and how you could mutually benefit from the connection.
- Comment & engage – Comment on and like their posts to start engaging organically. After building some rapport, you can then try requesting to connect.
The key when reaching out to 2nd level connections is to be personal, thoughtful, and provide value. Explain why connecting would be mutually beneficial, not just a one-sided ask.
How to manage your 2nd level network
Here are some tips for maintaining your 2nd level LinkedIn connections:
- Organize your connections using tags and lists to group 2nd level connections by company, industry, location, job function, etc.
- Monitor your 2nd level network feed for interesting content and updates you can engage with.
- Periodically sort your 2nd level list by “Most recently added” to see who the newest connections are.
- Save 2nd level connections who are particularly interesting as LinkedIn favorites for easy access later.
- Hide 2nd level connections who aren’t relevant, so your feed stays focused.
- Proactively reach out to select 2nd level connections to start building rapport.
- Ask 1st level connections for introductions when you want to elevate a 2nd level connection.
By cultivating and managing your 2nd level network, you can turn those “friends of friends” into stronger professional relationships over time.
2nd Level vs. 3rd Level Connections
The main differences between 2nd and 3rd level LinkedIn connections are:
| 2nd Level Connection | 3rd Level Connection |
|---|---|
| A direct connection of your 1st level connection | A connection of a 2nd level connection |
| Visible in your connections list | Not visible in connections list |
| Can message directly | Cannot message directly |
| Can see profile and activity | Very limited profile visibility |
| Easier to connect with | Harder to connect with |
The more degrees of separation there are, the lower the level of visibility and access you have to that connection unless you directly connect with them.
Tips for leveraging 3rd level connections
While harder to leverage than 2nd level connections, here are some ways you can try to use 3rd level LinkedIn connections:
- Ask for an introduction through a shared 2nd level connection.
- Connect with their company or community groups.
- Look for them at industry events or conferences.
- Connect by identifying you have similar connections or interests.
- Gain visibility by promoting yourself as an industry expert.
Pro Tips for 2nd Level Networking
To maximize the power of your 2nd level LinkedIn network, keep these pro tips in mind:
- Focus on quality over quantity. Cultivate genuinely mutually beneficial relationships.
- Always customize connection requests and messages. No spamming.
- Provide value and build rapport before asking for something in return.
- Respect boundaries and don’t be overly pushy or aggressive.
- Monitor your network’s activities and celebrate their big news or milestones.
- Follow up and stay engaged over time – don’t just connect once and forget them.
- Understand their priorities and challenges and see how you can help.
- Facilitate warm introductions to strengthen the potential relationship.
Conclusion
Having a wide and engaged 2nd level network on LinkedIn can significantly expand your professional opportunities and online visibility. But focus on quality over quantity and always provide value in your 2nd level relationships. With some ongoing cultivation, 2nd level connections can become collaborative partners, new clients, helpful mentors, or trusted advisors throughout your career.
