Increase your Connections on LinkedIN
LINKEDIN CONNECTIONS
HOW TO GET THEM AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM
The first thing you need to do on LinkedIn – after getting a great profile written about you – is to start increasing your number of connections.
I’m a great believer in quality connections rather than connections for connections sake.
However, you do need a certain number of connections on LinkedIn so that you can extend your reach to find the people who matter to you.
CONNECTIONS CHECKLIST
Proactively look for people to connect with you on LinkedIn.
Use this Checklist to start increasing the number of connections you have on LinkedIN.
TIP: Don’t leap in with a sales pitch or an “all about me”. Keep your messages light!
Remember to always think, “How am I going to make a connection request that they will want to accept?”
If you have connections in common, that is a great hook!
“Thanks for looking at my profile. Would you like to connect here?”
“Thanks for looking at my profile, I see we both went to “??” University! Would you like to connect with me here”
“Thanks for liking my post, I see we both know Dev Patel. I used to work with him on my first graduate role! Would you like to connect here?”
Connection Request Message: DON’T send the standard message. It looks awful! Take some time to “Add a Note” and write a short personal message along the lines of “Hi “client name” I’m really enjoying working with you and would love to connect here”
Start with the “easy” connections first:
- past colleagues
- university friends and acquaintances
- current clients
- past clients (if you had a good relationship!)
TIP – don’t even think about doing this all at once! Set aside some time – 5 or 10 minutes every few days or every week and make 3 – 5 connection requests each time.
When you have made your “obvious” connections, it’s time to take a deep breath and start looking for other people you may want as a connection.
Work through this list and see who you can connect with.
- Have a look at who has viewed your profile recently and send a message/connect with anyone who looks interesting
- Look at the second or third-degree connections between you and your best clients and your other connects. You can then leverage this connection and ask your client or colleague for an introduction or referral, or you can highlight this shared connection if you decide to send a connection request to the new contact directly.
- Check the ‘People Also Viewed’ section. Go to the profiles of your best clients or hot prospects that you are already connected to and look at the right sidebar. You will find other profiles who are similar to your clients/hot prospects.
WORK THROUGH
Building your Networking Plan
Work through the steps in this Guide and build a great plan to expand your network on LinkedIn. This Guide can also be used a more general networking plan but if you’re in this Game Plan, keep your focus on LinkedIn!
