- 1. Build connections and interact with people on LinkedIn
- 2. Networking on LinkedIn tips: Send personalized connection requests
- 3. Nurture relationships with your connections
- 4. LinkedIn networking tips: Post engaging content
- 5. Networking tips LinkedIn: Join LinkedIn groups
- Key takeaways
Having a stand-out LinkedIn profile is a great thing, but adding networking to the mix could provide you with some amazing job opportunities and career advancement. Here are some top tips for strategic networking on LinkedIn!
While scanning job adverts, sending your polished resume, and crossing your fingers that you land an interview is still a typical and traditional route to securing a new job, strategic networking on LinkedIn can provide you with the opportunity to take control of your own destiny.
Think of a spider, weaving an intricate networking web that eventually covers increasingly larger areas. Positioned strategically at the center of this network, the spider can capture its target market and enjoy the rewards. With over 760+ million users across global locations, the possibilities are endless with LinkedIn as your spider’s web!
In this blog, we will provide you with 5 tips for networking on LinkedIn:
Build connections and interact with people on LinkedIn
Personalize your connection requests
Nurture relationships with your connections
Post engaging content
Join LinkedIn groups
“Networking is not just about connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.” – Michele Jennae, Author
1. Build connections and interact with people on LinkedIn
LinkedIn can be a bit intimidating. If you are a new user, you may be a bit overwhelmed in terms of who and who not to connect with. The best approach is to try your best to ignore the temptation to hesitate and take the plunge toward building up your connections on LinkedIn.
Connect with people who work in similar roles or industries, those who can deliver insight relating to your career or business or that you can see yourself working with in the future.
A great starting point is to check out the “People You May Know” feature which is located in the “My Network” tab, then under “Connections.” This will provide you with lots of suggestions of people to connect with who work in similar roles and industries. You can also enter your email address to import your contacts which is a super quick way to grow your network on LinkedIn.
2. Networking on LinkedIn tips: Send personalized connection requests
When you send a connection request, make sure it is personalized and not the standard LinkedIn invitation as this will come across as a bit robotic and will likely be ignored.
Introducing yourself and outlining why you are getting in touch is a great way to establish a fledgling LinkedIn relationship and avoid looking like you are sending masses of connection requests to bump up your numbers!
Here are some examples for inspiration:
Example #1: Praise the recipient Hi (First Name) I just read your article ‘The Four Traits of Effective Leaders’ which was great and insightful in terms of taking a step back and looking at how we lead a team. Keep up the amazing work! Would be great to follow up and stay in touch. Let’s connect! (Your First Name) |
Highlighting shared interests is another great approach:
Example #2: Shared interests Hi (First Name) A few months ago, your post popped up in my feed covering (Topic area of an interesting feed) and I found it interesting. I’ve read many of your posts since and I can tell we have lots in common, like (Topic area of a later post you have seen.) Would you like to connect? (Your First Name) |
Another option is to mention a mutual connection:
Example #3: Mutual connection Hi (First Name) I checked your profile because we have a mutual connection (Enter details of the mutual connection). I am really impressed by seeing what you do at ABC Company. Would you like to join my network? (Your First Name) |
3. Nurture relationships with your connections
Nurturing and developing your relationships once a connection request is accepted is vital. If you really want to create meaningful connections when networking, taking time to engage with each person you have connected with will achieve this goal.
So, how do you do this?
Like and share your connections’ content and add positive comments to their posts
Check out their profile and identify something specific or personal to them. Follow this up by asking your connection a question related to that.
Send a congratulatory email if they post about a business win or achievement
Email periodically to catch up with your connections. Set up calendar reminders every six weeks so you can touch base with your close contacts.
While these outreach activities may be a little time-consuming, they can lead to a top-performing LinkedIn lead-generation strategy if delivered well. Connections will be impressed and flattered that you are interested in them and that you are willing to invest time in building a relationship.
Expert Tip
Studies show the best days to post on LinkedIn to secure the highest levels of engagement are Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Wednesday ranks the highest! Posting two to five times per week is recommended, or at least once a week. Complete test runs first so you can tweak the timing of your posts in line with your target audience.
4. LinkedIn networking tips: Post engaging content
Creating and sharing content on LinkedIn is a surefire way to get you noticed by hiring managers, recruiters, and industry leaders. Publishing articles on LinkedIn allows you to share your expertise with your connections and land you more users who discover your platform.
Sharing a great article or re-sharing a connection’s LinkedIn post is a good way to get started. You can add a few key takeaways based on your experience to these posts too. For example, if a Human Resources Manager is sharing their experience and success in boosting staff retention, value their comments and add some insights and unique perspectives of your own.
As your confidence grows, you will begin to create your own engaging content that is interesting, informative, and valuable. In no time you will be a thought leader in your industry!
So, what are the main ways of posting engaging content:
Create social media posts that entertain, inspire, teach and tell a story. Studies show that 67% of social media posts that entertain are likely to get a like or comment.
Use hashtags to attract the type of people you want to work with and grow your professional network
Start a conversation in the comments section of your article
Run a poll so you can gain some feedback from your network and start up a new conversation following responses
Mix it up! Create short- and long-form articles and use cool visuals (photos, videos, etc.)
- Reply if someone comments on your content. This could simply be a thank-you or a question about their experience or what they liked about your post.
- Be overly formal on LinkedIn. While LinkedIn is a business platform, the tone is pretty informal. Applying some appropriate humor and showing character will make you stand out.
5. Networking tips LinkedIn: Join LinkedIn groups
If you want to maximize your networking reach on LinkedIn and connect with industry contacts, then joining a LinkedIn group related to your industry is a great strategy. For example, if you type in ‘digital marketing’ it brings up an eye-watering 21K groups!
If you want to make the most out of these groups, then making your search more specific will help you target a group in your niche area and deliver better results for you in terms of networking on LinkedIn. You only need to join a handful of these active groups and thousands of people will see your profile!
Interact with the LinkedIn group via discussions, share relevant content and answer questions to illustrate your expertise and help people out. This way you can become an established and valued member of the group.
Remember that groups are about community, so focus on being a valuable member of that community, rather than being overly focused on selling yourself. Group members will find it annoying if it’s all about you, and it won’t benefit you in terms of networking opportunities.
Key takeaways
Networking on LinkedIn is a great way to make positive connections in your industry, on both a local and global platform. Don’t hesitate, give it a go!
Building strong relationships and networks on LinkedIn with industry experts, recruiters, and potential clients can present you with potentially amazing opportunities.
Practice writing daily content to demonstrate your niche experience. Once you have honed this skill you will notice a major increase in your reach, connections, and network.
