I passed 7,000 Connections on LinkedIn! Am I doing this right?

So, I just passed 7,000 Connections on LinkedIn and it got me thinking, am I even doing this right?

Two burning questions running through my mind:

1. Am I diluting my network? 
2. Am I using Linkedin correctly?

Here is what I've come up with.

Am I diluting my network? 

For those of you who don't know I actually studied to be a pharmacologist!

So it felt all too fitting to use a serial dilution factor image as an example as I would have done many of these in the old days in the labs at Edinburgh University.

Is connecting with people that engage and interact with my profile and or content resulting in a diluted network?

Hell No!

Linkedin is and has been changing for years with a gradual and now aggressive swing to the more "social" and less "formal" business style and some people are crushing this! 

Gather some inspiration by checking and following, Rish Mathur from our friends at LeadIQ

But some people are honestly truly hating this change. I'm sure you've heard something along the lines of:

Why is LinkedIn becoming more like Facebook, What on earth are people sharing, it's so annoying and little value just preaching!

Yes, maybe the lines are blurring?

I agree some of it is getting out of control and it's annoying, but let's also not forget about the unfollow button which means you can turn off that noise (and linkedin should be self-selecting after that).

Also worth pointing out, I have a 142 contacts to connections gap (so people do unfollow me and have found my content annoying also) check out the image below:

However, when you do find or follow someone that inspires you, makes you question things, gives you more ideas and a different perspective. This is Amazing!

Just look at Denmark and maybe more specifically Copenhagen (we love using Linkedin here btw if you're reading this from anywhere else in the world).

Prior to me starting to really make some noise on Linkedin (in 2017) I never really saw anyone innovating on here and pushing regular posts, with creative, engaging and entertaining content?

Full transparency, I won't and don't take credit for starting this kind of movement but I'm very confident I played a big part in it based on feedback I've received over the years!

Am I using Linkedin correctly?

Is there a correct way to use Linkedin?

Who knows but there are for sure some useful guidelines to work from and around.

Does anyone still remember the term LIONS (Linkedin Open Networkers)?

Those people, that just accumulated as many f@#$ing connections as possible in a bid to just have the ultimate book of business.

Let's face it, they absolutely had no leverage with any of those people and if you'd ask them for an intro they would be like, huh I don't know them…

IMO that for sure is not the right way to use linkedin!

I read a really good post a while back shared by Kate Carroll, one of Linkedin's Managing Editors which helped me gain perspective on how I wanted to use Linkedin.

Her post zoomed in on what people actually use Linkedin for and it often (but not only) boils down to 3 main things:

• Getting Better at their Jobs
• Industry Knowledge
• Finding Jobs
• BONUS - Prospecting New Business (Evil Sales People)

Gearing your content and brand positioning on LinkedIn to touch and tap into as many of these areas as possible is a long term winning strategy but "long term" is the important point.

You can't rush relationship building and brand building, it needs to build from a place of trust and authenticity.

So, What do you do? 

Are you connecting widely vs connecting with people you really know? 

Please leave your comments and keep up the #hustle.