LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 660 million users worldwide. On LinkedIn, users can connect with each other to grow their professional networks. There are two main ways to interact with other members on LinkedIn – sending connection requests and following profiles.
When you send a connection request to another member, you are asking to be directly connected to them on LinkedIn. Once a connection request is accepted, the other member will be added to your LinkedIn network and you will be added to theirs. Being connected allows you to directly message each other, see updates from each other, endorse each other’s skills and more.
Following a LinkedIn member is different than connecting with them. When you follow someone, you are subscribing to their public updates without being connected to them. This allows you to see the posts they share with their network without needing them to approve connecting with you.
So in summary:
– Connecting allows mutual access between LinkedIn members for direct communication and engagement. Both members have to approve the connection.
– Following allows you to see someone’s public updates without them needing to approve connecting with you. It is a one-way subscription to their posts.
When to Send a Connect Request
Here are some common instances when sending a connection request is appropriate on LinkedIn:
– You know the person professionally: If you have worked together, went to school together, done business together, etc a connection request is generally appropriate. Include a note refreshing their memory on how you know each other.
– You were introduced by a mutual connection: Ask the mutual connection for an introduction first, then send a connection request referencing that you were introduced by the mutual contact.
– You meet someone at an event: Send a request soon after meeting them in person and reference the event you met at.
– You would like to talk business: If you share common business interests, mention those interests in your request note and what you’d like to discuss.
– After interviewing with a company: Connect with the hiring manager and those you interviewed with to stay top of mind.
When to Follow Someone
Here are instances when following may be a better initial option before connecting:
– The person is an influencer or thought leader: Follow them to keep up with their public posts and articles.
– The person works at a company of interest: Follow to get their employer’s updates.
– Little in common professionally: If you lack a clear professional connection, follow first to establish one through their posts.
– Person is extremely high profile: The individual may be unlikely to accept connection requests from those they don’t know well. Follow them instead.
– You want to remain anonymous: Following allows you to maintain privacy while still hearing from them.
– After networking events: It may be too soon to connect after just meeting. Follow them and then connect later when you have had more interaction.
How to Write a Good Connect Request Message
The message you send when requesting to connect plays a key role in whether your request will be accepted. Here are some tips for writing effective connect notes:
– Personalize the message with their name.
– Keep it brief, 1-2 sentences max.
– State who you are and how you know each other or your common connection.
– Add value by sharing an article, congratulating recent news, or mentioning shared interests.
– Use a warm but professional tone.
Here are examples of good connect request messages:
| Message |
|---|
| Hi Jane, I hope you are doing well! It was great meeting you last week at the Digital Media conference. I enjoyed our conversation about leveraging social media. I’d like to stay in touch. |
| John, I see you also went to the University of Michigan – go blue! As a fellow alumni I’d be happy to connect. |
| Hi Alex, Bill Chen mentioned that I should connect with you about potentially partnering on mobile projects. I look forward to discussing further! |
Reasons Connection Requests May Be Rejected
It can be disappointing when a connection request is rejected on LinkedIn. Here are some common reasons they may have declined:
– Don’t recognize your name: Always include info about how you know each other or met.
– Note was too generic or impersonal: Personalize each request to show you actually read their profile.
– Too much of a sales or recruiting pitch: Keep the focus on networking, not selling.
– Find connection too random: Clearly establish you have a relevant connection or share interests.
– Already have too many contacts: Be selective in who you connect with to avoid spamming.
– Protecting privacy: Some people limit unknown contacts, don’t take it personally.
– They missed the request: Try sending it again in a few months.
Should You Send a Follow Up Message After Rejection?
If a connection request is rejected, it’s best not to send an immediate follow up message. Here are some reasons why:
– Can come across as pushy or demanding.
– They have already indicated they do not wish to connect.
– You can still follow them to see their public posts.
– Give them space and try again in a few months if appropriate.
– Take time to improve your own profile and contributions first. Become a better potential contact.
– If they indicate openness to connect later, respect that timing.
Instead of messaging right after a rejection, focus your energy on strengthening your own LinkedIn presence. Provide value through your posts and activities. Over time, a past connection may be more open to a new request once they see your positive contributions.
Is It Okay to Ask Why a Connection Request Was Rejected?
It’s generally not recommended to ask someone directly why they rejected your connection request. Here’s why you may want to avoid this:
– Puts them in an awkward position, especially if personal or professional reasons.
– They are under no obligation to accept every request sent.
– The reason may simply be lack of enough familiarity yet. Give it time.
– Don’t take it personally. Many reject requests due to trying to limit contacts.
– Take cues from their profile on shared interests and connections you should highlight instead.
– Focus efforts on improving your own brand and establishing expertise they would value.
– Continue engaging with their public content and build familiarity that way first.
– Wait and then make another request some months later if appropriate.
How to Politely Follow Up After Meeting Someone
It can be fine to follow up if you’ve met someone in person that you would like to connect with on LinkedIn. Here are some tips on doing so politely:
– Send the request soon after meeting, within the same week, while the meeting is fresh.
– Reference the event or occasion you met them at.
– Keep the request short and don’t make it a sales pitch.
– If they do not accept after 1-2 weeks, let more time pass before following up again.
– When you follow up again, share a relevant article or other value with them.
– Accept that even after in person meetings, connections may not always occur. Don’t take it personally.
– Continue to engage with their public posts and establish a relationship that way.
– Limit follow up messages to no more than 2-3 times maximum over many months.
Can You Message Someone You’re Not Connected With?
On LinkedIn, you are not able to directly message another member that you are not connected with. All messaging requires an established connection.
If you would like to reach out to someone you are not connected to, you have a couple options:
– Send them a connection request with a message. If they accept, you can then message directly.
– Engage with their content in posts by liking and commenting. They may reach out to connect.
– If they list their contact info, reach out through their preferred channel like work email.
– Communicate with them indirectly by connecting and messaging mutual connections to facilitate an introduction.
– Interact in LinkedIn groups you are both members of by liking their posts and commenting.
– Follow their company page and engage with their employer’s updates to establish familiarity.
– Catch their attention by showcasing your expertise through posting valuable insights in your niche.
The goal is to establish awareness of common ground and shared interests that will motivate them to want to connect. With persistence and value, you can build relationships even without initial connections.
Is There Any Way to Message Someone You’re Not Connected To?
While LinkedIn does not allow users to message those they are not connected with, there are couple creative options to try indirectly reaching out to someone you don’t have a connections with:
– If you know their email address, email them referencing their LinkedIn profile and content to try and start a dialogue.
– Engage extensively with their posts and content on LinkedIn by liking, commenting, sharing, etc. They may reach out to you first.
– Look for LinkedIn groups that you are both members of and engage with each other’s discussions in the groups.
– Follow their company page and comment on updates to get on their radar.
– Connect with employees of their company who you are mutually linked to and mention your interest in connecting.
– Connect with former employees of their company, ask about them, and request an introduction.
– Share articles and posts relevant to their interests to attract their attention.
– Connect with their connections asking for an introduction based on common interests.
The key is using indirect means to get their attention focused on you. While you can’t directly message someone you’re not connected to, consistent valuable interactions will motivate them to want to connect.
How to Comment on Profiles if Not Connected
Unlike other social networks, LinkedIn does not allow users to post comments directly on someone’s profile if they are not connected. However, there are still ways to share feedback on a profile:
– Endorse their Skills: Click the + sign next to skills on their profile to endorse them.
– Like and Comment on Posts: Engage with their articles and updates to start a discussion.
– Share Their Content: Reposting their articles shows interest in their work.
– Congratulate Achievements: Comment on new position or work anniversaries they post.
– Follow Their Company: Stay updated on their employer news and comment on company posts.
– Join Their Groups: Become an active member in the same industry and interest groups.
– Contribute Similar Content: Establish your own expertise around their focus areas.
Without an existing connection, profile commenting is limited. Focus instead on actively engaging around the content they share publicly. Valuable contributions will organically facilitate connecting.
Should You Follow or Connect With Recruiters?
When engaging with recruiters on LinkedIn, it can be strategic to utilize both connecting and following depending on the situation:
– Follow recruiter company pages to get updates on new openings.
– Connect with 3rd party agency recruiters if looking for opportunities.
– Connect with corporate recruiters after applying to jobs or interviewing.
– Connect with past recruiters who placed you in roles to maintain relationships.
– Follow in-house recruiters if interested in opportunities but not actively looking.
– Connect with recruiters after networking events or meetings.
– Follow recruiter thought leaders to benefit from their career advice content.
– Connect selectively with a targeted subset of recruiters in your niche.
In general, focus on connecting with the recruiters most relevant to your current job search. Take a targeted approach based on where you are applying and who you have interviewed with. For recruiters outside your immediate search, follow their company pages to stay updated.
Connect vs Follow on LinkedIn: Summary Table
Here is a summary of the key differences between connecting with and following someone on LinkedIn:
| Connect | Follow |
|---|---|
| Become part of each other’s network | One-way following of their updates |
| See all activity and updates | See only public updates |
| Communicate directly via messaging | No messaging ability |
| Endorse each other’s skills | Can only endorse their skills |
| Mutual approval required | No approval required |
| Stay visible in their network | Lower visibility, easily overlooked |
When in doubt, focus on connecting with those you have an established professional relationship with and follow influencers or companies. Convert follows to connections over time as you interact more.
Conclusion
Connecting and following serve different purposes on LinkedIn. Connecting establishes mutually beneficial two-way relationships. Following enables you to stay updated without requiring approval.
When reaching out to new contacts, personalized connection requests will carry more weight and visibility. For existing contacts, weigh if connecting them may clutter their feeds or if following may suffice in the interim.
Focus on quality over quantity of connections. Nurture the connections you establish by regularly engaging with their content. Follow thought leaders in your space to enrich your feed with valuable insights.
By using a mix of targeted connecting and following, you can optimize your LinkedIn network for the maximum visibility, professional engagement and career insights.
