The Do's and Don'ts of Networking on LinkedIn

In 2002, in Mountain View, California, social media met an employment service and birthed LinkedIn, one of today’s top professional networking sites. The keyword being networking. Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn is not meant for posting cute selfies and life updates. The goal is to network with people and build connections in the professional world.

Here are 10 tips to successfully network on LinkedIn:

1- Connect intentionally.

Do not blanket connect. Do your homework before connecting with someone. Find people to connect to who work in the industry you are looking to break into or who are in the position you aspire to. Don’t just connect with anyone and everyone- this is not Facebook. Be intentional and strategic about who you connect with. While diversity in contacts is great, you can achieve this while still connecting with people within your realm of expertise.

2- Send thoughtful messages to connect.

In in any relationship, work-related or personal, a common way to start conversation is shared interests or experiences. When you message someone on LinkedIn requesting to connect, don’t just send the generic “Join my network on LinkedIn” message. Instead, craft a thoughtful message discussing what connection or shared interest you have with each other and the reason you are reaching out.

3- Do your homework.

Find out where the person attended college, what their degree is in, or how long they have been at their current company. Get to know a little about them. If necessary, be ready to explain why the person should connect with you.

4- Talk about THEM.

It’s a well-known fact that people love to talk about themselves. Networking is not the time for your personal soapbox. Talk about the other person. Ask informed and educated questions about the person and their work. Offer (genuine) compliments. Before you know it, you will find yourself in conversation and building a key relationship.

5- Focus on common interests.

When you share a common interest or experience, focus in on it. Maybe you both have work in NYC or you went to the same college. Talk about it. Take it up a level by giving them new information related to the topic of shared interest. For example, “Did you know that our alma mater has launched a new program in fine arts in the last year?” Tell them something they did not know.

6- Exchange services/expertise.

Lets say the person you are networking with on LinkedIn has been dying to travel to Austin for a festival and you are familiar with Austin. This is an opportunity to turn your knowledge into networking and connection building. Share your expertise and knowledge about something important to the person you are connecting with. 

7- Leave a LinkedIn message with an ask.

Before leaving a conversation, ask if it is OK to stay in touch and if you can send along your resume. You can even ask to set up an informational phone call. This is the end goal, the take home, the win. You are building up the conversation ultimately to walk away with a real connection. Save your ask for the end of the talk. Keep it short, polite, and simple. Since everyone understands the importance of connecting, the answer more than likely will be yes.

8- Post often and with intention.

Outside of connecting and talking to other people on LinkedIn, another important networking rule-of-thumb is to post meaningful content. If you are working in a tech startup, then what is the latest news in the technology landscape? Share content that is timely and relevant to what you do. Also, share any news about your career like accomplishments or stories about you.

9- Keep your profile up-to-date.

Another important key to networking on LinkedIn is to keep an up-to-date profile. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to connect with someone on a career platform where there career information is wrong. Recruiters want to know that you are looking for work. (An indicator for seeking employment can be turned on.) Potential clients want to know the type of work you have in your freelance portfolio. Keep your profile, especially your header, current.

10- Interact with others.

Once you build your network full of people within your industry or realm of expertise, interact with them. Like posts. Comment. Reshare. The beauty of LinkedIn is that it is a social media platform. Use its unique functions to be active and present online. Make people notice you by being an active user.