How To Connect With Anyone On Linkedin - (Updated)

So, you are looking to build your network and connect with people who can further your career. Here are some tips and tricks that have helped me build my 30k+ network with some of the top influencers in the world. It has been an incredible journey and I have been helped by so many people here. (you know who you are) I am writing this in order to give back and share what I have learned with you. ??

1) Professional profile headshot + well written bio.

This is absolutely key if you want people to think you are worth connecting with. Take the time to really think about what you want your profile to say. I absolutely cringe when I see people saying things like "currently looking for work".

More than that, you're also limiting your discoverability, as the title description is one of the key factors LinkedIn uses to align your profile with relevant on-platform search queries.

Guess what? if you put "Looking for work" you look available and look like nobody wants you. Just plain and simple don't do it.

Put your best foot forward and spend the money on a digital passport photo at bare minimum. If you want to take it a step further book a photo session with a local agency.

A professional head shot will immediately make your profile stand out. And remember its first impressions! It only takes 13 milliseconds for your brain to register an image and 50 milliseconds for your brain to form a first impression.

This app can analyze your Linkedin profile picture

Next hire a professional CV writer to writer your bio. Alternatively take some time and look at other peoples, choose the top 10 you like pick them apart and put what you like into yours.

Remember the entire world is looking at your profile. Take the time it deserves to really polish and fine tune it.

2) Have At Least 500 Connections

Why is this? Well because if you have less than 500 it will say how many you have. And if you have 501+ it will only say 500. I find myself often not connecting with people that have less than five hundred connections because I want to be connected with people who are movers and shakers. People who have networks like mine that will help me to grow as I will help them grow. This may sound a bit selfish but it is also being realistic. People with less connections are generally less active on Linkedin and will not be online to share/view your posts.

3) Connection Requests

Never send blank connection requests. It is lazy and just looks like you don't care enough to spend a few seconds introducing yourself and letting the person know why they should connect with you.

*Bonus points for spending some time researching the person before you message them to find common ground. Compliments work as well!

4) Connect through people you know already

This one works great, new connections often feel obligated to connect because it is someone they know introducing them. This is an excellent way to get into the circle of trust. Don't be shy, nobody in life is going to give you anything if you don't ask for it.

5) Use Tools To Find Peoples Emails

Many CEOS and influencers require that you know their personal email before you are able to send a connection request. Now you can spend a lot of time searching Google or you can use tools like Ninja Outreach to quickly put in a domain they are associated with and it will populate their email! This is an incredible tool and one of my secret weapons to connecting with some of the worlds most elite.

*Fun fact this is also the tool I used to pitch over 150 reporters and landed my first Forbes article with.

Simply go to "content prospecting" and click "email finder" on the far right hand side. Then enter the domain of the person you are trying to connect with.

Depending on the domain you might have to filter through some results. So it is often best to look for their personal domain rather than where they work.

Another tip is to check their personal twitter. More often than not an email or personal domain will be listed.

6) Get Noticed

Sometimes unfortunately all of the above tips just won't cut it. That is when you have to work extra hard. How do you do this? Well you have to have them notice you. This can be incredibly easy or incredibly hard depending on how active the person you are trying to connect with is on social media.

A) Comment on their posts and updates

B) Follow them on every social media platform you can find them on

C) Re-share, Retweet posts and agenda's that they are pushing. Done in a savvy way even the most influential people will sit up and take notice.

7) Have Others Shine A Light On You

Have your connections @ you and the person you want to connect with into social media posts in a complimentary way. This often takes some planning and social engineering but it can be done.

These seven simple tips will help you build your network in the most incredible way. Soon you will find other influential people reaching out to you asking for you to connect them!

Did I miss anything? Please comment and share if you found this article helpful! ??