A LinkedIn contact list allows you to organize and manage your connections on the platform. It’s a useful tool for segmenting your network and keeping track of your most important contacts.
How does the LinkedIn contact list work?
The LinkedIn contact list feature allows you to create customized lists of connections. You can add any of your 1st-degree connections to a list. This helps you categorize and group your connections for easier relationship management.
For example, you may create a list for your close colleagues, a list for customers, a list for industry experts, etc. The lists you create are private and only visible to you.
To add someone to a list, simply go to their profile and click “Add to list” under the “More” dropdown menu. You’ll then be able to select which list you want to add them to or create a new list.
You can also add multiple connections to a list at once by going to your My Network page, selecting the contacts you want to add, and choosing “Add to list”.
Once your lists are created, you’ll be able to view and manage them from the Account menu at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. From here, you can view your lists, edit list names, add or remove connections, and more.
Benefits of using LinkedIn contact lists
Here are some of the key benefits of using LinkedIn contact lists:
- Organize your network. Group your most important connections into categorized lists for easy access and relationship management.
- Segment for targeted communication. Tailor your messages and connection requests to specific lists.
- Prioritize your network. Identify your top contacts and influencers who you want to actively engage with.
- Keep key contacts handy. Have your most valuable connections readily available to quickly message or search.
- Track your outreach. See who you have messaged recently from particular lists.
- Identify gaps. Determine areas or individuals you should connect with based on your list categories.
- Personalize your feed. Follow lists to prioritize relevant content from those groups.
Types of LinkedIn contact lists
Here are some common types of LinkedIn contact lists that people create and how they can be used effectively:
Industry list
Add connections who work in your industry or field of interest to an industry list. This allows you to easily track industry trends, news, and opportunities by following the list feed. You can also turn to these contacts for specific industry advice and insights.
Company list
Group connections by their company to keep track of your contacts at targeted organizations. This helps when networking about job opportunities or partnership options within particular companies.
Location list
Categorize your connections based on geographic location. This enables you to connect with contacts for regional events, opportunities, and industry news.
Role or title list
Create lists based on your contacts’ job titles or roles. For example, compile a list of managers, directors, salespeople, developers, recruiters, designers, etc. Segmenting by role allows personalized outreach.
School list
Keep your alumni network organized by adding school and university contacts to separate lists. Easily network with, ask questions of, and share opportunities with fellow alumni.
Group or association list
List your connections from specific groups and associations, like professional organizations, conferences, clubs, boards, etc. This helps you collaborate and engage within these groups.
Customer or client list
Track your customers and clients by adding them to targeted lists. Enables personalized communication and provides visibility into these important relationships.
Prospects list
Organize your prospects and leads into lists by industry, role, region, etc. Follow up with and convert these potential opportunities more efficiently.
Personal list
Add close friends, family, and personal acquaintances to a private list for your eyes only. Keep your personal and professional networks separate.
Tips for managing your LinkedIn lists
Here are some best practices for organizing and managing your LinkedIn contact lists:
- Create new lists for specific purposes or segments as needed. Avoid list clutter.
- Name your lists clearly based on the type of contacts (e.g., “Industry Experts” vs a vague name like “Group 2”).
- Combine similar lists when appropriate to consolidate connections.
- Remember to continually add new connections to relevant lists as your network grows.
- Periodically review your lists and remove contacts if needed – don’t let your lists become outdated.
- Leverage LinkedIn tags to further segment your lists by location, industry, title, etc.
- Follow your key lists to see relevant content from those connections in your feed.
- Turn on list notifications to be notified when connections add you to lists.
- Respect the privacy of contacts by only adding them to relevant lists where appropriate.
LinkedIn contact list FAQs
How many lists can you create on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows you to create up to 50 contact lists. Each list can contain up to 500 connections.
Who can see your LinkedIn contact lists?
The lists you create are private and only visible to you. Other LinkedIn members will not be able to see which lists you have added them to.
Can you message a whole LinkedIn list at once?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not allow you to message an entire list at one time. You have to individually message each connection. However, you can easily filter your list view and message multiple connections from the list at once.
Can you export your LinkedIn lists?
Yes, LinkedIn enables you to export your contact lists. Simply go to the Account menu > Manage lists. Then select the list you want to export and choose the export list option.
This will download a CSV file containing info on the connections in that list which can be used in your CRM or other tools.
Can you make your LinkedIn lists public?
No, there is no option to make your custom LinkedIn lists public. The lists and their members will always remain private and visible only to you. There are public LinkedIn follower lists, but these are different than custom contact lists.
Conclusion
Using LinkedIn contact lists allows you to organize your professional network for more effective relationship management. Categorize your connections into customized lists based on industry, role, geography, company, and more. This enables targeted communication, networking, and opportunity sharing with your key contacts.
With the ability to create up to 50 lists containing 500 connections each, take advantage of this tool to segment your network. Follow best practices like using clear list names, continually adding new contacts, and reviewing your lists periodically. Your organized LinkedIn contact lists will then be a valuable asset in building and leveraging your professional community.