Quality, not quantity, applies to many aspects of our lives. This includes the connections we make in real life, and on social media platforms – like LinkedIn.
If you own a company and are looking to grow your business, you’ll likely understand the need for value when it comes to your LinkedIn connections. After all, these could potentially be future customers, collaborators, and stakeholders.
But, if you’re struggling to find the time to create and optimise this part of your LinkedIn marketing strategy, it can be hard to make quality connections that aid the development of your company.
Luckily, there’s no need to fret.
In fact, you can start making connections in no time at all with some small steps highlighted by our expert team at StraightIn. Read on to find out 7 effective ways to get connections on LinkedIn and how many you might need, as well as our top do’s and don’ts when it comes to connecting with others…
Clean-up your LinkedIn profile
In professional terms, taking pride in your appearance shouldn’t just mean how you look physically, it should also extend to your social media presence. Meaning, you should tidy up your LinkedIn public profile and make sure it’s in tip-top shape.
Create and share engaging content
Another way you can increase connections on LinkedIn is by producing and sharing engaging content. This can be anything from visual content to blog posts, but ensure it provides a perspective that differs from those in your network. Keep your content topical, and aim to provide commentary on industry trends.
If you have an opinion, share it! Your personal insights are valuable when it comes to standing out against your competitors. As you post your expertise, you’ll find that media engagement on your profile will likely increase. If your content is helpful to your network, they might even share and repost it, which could mean more people relevant to your industry connect with you.
Collaborate with your existing LinkedIn network
When trying to get more connections on LinkedIn, don’t neglect your existing network. In fact, collaborating with them can be useful when it comes to connecting with like-minded industry leaders, and even prospective customers.
For example, if you create a weekly or monthly newsletter, you could ask your connection to collaborate on it – and vice versa. This way, you’re putting yourself in front of your connection’s network, increasing your exposure to other individuals who might help with the development of your business.
Optimise your profile
You should also ensure your LinkedIn profile is optimised on Google for search purposes. Include keywords that put you in front of the people you want to make connections with. To find relevant keywords, use the LinkedIn search bar and think about what those you want to attract might look for.
For example, if they’re looking for a beverage distributor in Manchester, they’ll likely search for those words. So, apply your role and your location to your profile’s tagline and bio to increase your chances of appearing in the SERPs. Furthermore, ensure you promote your profile as best as you can. This means featuring a link to your LinkedIn profile on your website, your email signature, and other social media profiles.
Maintain a consistent presence
Consistency is key to growing your network and promoting your LinkedIn profile. If you’ve decided to produce content, ensure you have a regular content schedule that you’re sticking to. It’s best to aim for a few posts a week. This way you will engage your audience without overwhelming them.
Use your other social media channels to drive traffic to your LinkedIn profile. If you’ve written a blog that you think is helpful – share it on Instagram to boost your visibility on LinkedIn.
Attend networking events
Another way to grow your connections on LinkedIn is to attend in-person networking events. In these scenarios, you’re engaging with like-minded people who share your industry – and could potentially put you in front of individuals or other companies that could help grow your business.
For example, one of the connections you meet at a networking event might have a relationship with an investor that they could put you in touch with. Furthermore, after you connect with individuals from these events, don’t forget to utilise the ‘people you may know’ feature on LinkedIn. This feature uses an algorithm to put potential connections in front of you, who share similar interests, or even just work in the same industry.
Join LinkedIn groups
You can also increase your connections by joining LinkedIn groups. In these groups, you’ll find other thought leaders sharing their expertise and advice, or even asking for recommendations.
After you join, ensure you contribute regularly to help those in the group out. It’s a simple action, but it can go far in helping with your network growth. People will want to connect with you to hear more about your experience and expertise – so make sure you show it off when and wherever you can.
Getting connections on LinkedIn: StraightIn’s top do’s and don’ts
Of course, following the above steps can get you further on your journey to securing valuable connections. But, it’s best to bear in mind the following do’s and don’ts, so you can ensure you’re growing your network in the best way.
- Don’t act overfamiliar: Acting overfamiliar in a message to people you want to connect with can be off-putting. Ensure you find a good balance between professional and friendly.
- Do learn from your mistakes: If you’re using a repeated connection message for ease – but are noticing that prospective connections aren’t engaging with you, change it up. Have someone else read over the message for you and ask for feedback, as there might be something missing from your approach.
- Don’t take rejection personally: Rejection isn’t nice for anyone to experience – but it is a part of our daily lives, especially when it comes to growing your business. Take rejection in your stride and celebrate the small wins instead.
- Do follow-up: If you’ve not heard back from a connection, don’t be afraid to follow up with them. Just ensure you leave it a few days – and that you only chase them once. If you follow up more times, you could risk annoying them and the connection might never happen.
Optimising your LinkedIn profile is essential for establishing credibility and attracting potential customers. Start by using a high-quality professional headshot for your profile picture. Your banner should provide detailed information about yourself, your company, and the services you offer. This creates a lasting first impression and can increase the number of views on your profile.To engage potential prospects, create and share valuable content that provides clear insights into your business and its services. Remember, no one is likely to sign up for a service that feels incomplete or poorly presented.
Engaging with others by liking, commenting, and sharing content can significantly boost your profile’s visibility. This interaction demonstrates your credibility to your audience and can help you reach more potential clients when your content is shared.
Finally, take full advantage of LinkedIn’s search features and filters available through Sales Navigator. This tool allows you to connect directly with your B2B target audience, helping you turn them into leads. Using these search features helps you identify your ideal customer profile (ICP) and find relevant prospects, ultimately generating quality B2B leads.
Tom Watson , StraightInHow to get connections on LinkedIn: FAQs
How many LinkedIn connections should I have?
There is no set amount of LinkedIn connections you should have in order to succeed in growing your business. But…having a single-digit amount of connections isn’t really going to have a big impact on the development of your business.
According to Neil Schaffer, a renowned social media and digital strategy expert, you should have ten times as many connections as your age. So, we all need 210 connections each…
Jokes aside, it’s not a random number that Schaffer has conjured; the idea at the forefront of it all is that you should connect with a few people a day. So much so that in a year’s time, you’ll have amassed hundreds of connections.
Whilst it’s about quality and not quantity, there’s no doubt that having more connections will increase your visibility, engagement, and overall awareness of your brand.
How many connections can you make on LinkedIn per day?
LinkedIn doesn’t impose a daily limit on LinkedIn, but a weekly one amounting to a maximum of 100 connections a week.
So, in theory, this is about 14-15 connections per day, per week – if you have a basic LinkedIn account. With a LinkedIn Sales Navigator or premium account, this number increases to 250 connections per week.
Struggling to get your business in front of industry leaders? Link up with StraightIn for a LinkedIn marketing strategy that works
It’s all well and good having a vast amount of connections on LinkedIn – but if you don’t know how to put them to good use – what’s the point in having them?
If you’re running a business, you might have limited knowledge of how to make the most of your LinkedIn connections, or even just limited time. Thankfully, StraightIn is here to help you.
Our expert team has 5 years of experience and are ready to help you create a LinkedIn marketing strategy that actually works.
Our services include Outreach Marketing, LinkedIn Advertising, Content Marketing, and Personal Branding. Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can help you. Call 0161 518 4740, or email grow@straight-in.co.uk.
