LinkedIn Connection Requests: Why and How

It goes without saying that the power of LinkedIn shouldn’t be underestimated for anyone who wants to maximise their career potential. That said, it’s easy to make faux pas on this platform, especially with Connection Requests, the focus of this week’s blog.

In an ideal world, your LinkedIn profile would work in a way that would give you a modest and steady flow of inbound messages from people wanting you to have a conversation about new job opportunities. It follows, therefore, that making yourself findable on the platform is important. This has been the subject of many a blog, which you can find in our archive.

However, there are also a number of things you can actively do to contribute to this. We’ll be focusing on Connection Requests and why they’re important.

Why focus on connection requests?

First, numbers matter. You are much more likely to be ‘found’ on LinkedIn if you have 500 connections, as opposed to 50. The same goes for if you have 5000, rather than 500, and so on.

Second, profile views are important. The more profile views you encourage on a weekly and monthly basis, the more LinkedIn’s algorithms work to make you findable. Sending a connection request often, for obvious reasons, leads to profile views.

You might not want to use LinkedIn as a tool in your job search, but instead to prospect for new business opportunities. Connection requests are a key activity, if not necessarily a vital on, to this end too.

How can you build strong professional relationships on LinkedIn?

1. Target the right people: Think carefully about who you’d like to be connected to and search for them on LinkedIn. Ideally, they’ll be second degree connections. You may want to draw up a list of the ‘archetypes’ who it would be interesting and useful to be connected to. Once done, you can list the search criteria for each with items such as: degree of connection (2nd), keywords, location, titles, firms, etc.
2. Pay close attention to detail: Before connecting, read the person’s profile and pick up on anything interesting or noteworthy. For example, that might be people that you know in common, or an article that they posted. You’re seeking to demonstrate that you’re not just being spammy and playing a numbers game, but that you are genuinely interested in having them as a mutually beneficial network contact.
3. Write a bespoke message: Avoid using the generic connection request message that LinkedIn offers. Instead, personalise it by using the person’s first name, mention a common contact, and then expand upon the detail you noticed in their profile in Step 2. Keep it short and pithy.
4. Don’t pitch. That time may come later. For now, don’t ask to meet up, or say that you’re looking for a job or to pitch a business idea. If you want to do that then first you need to develop some rapport. Qualify the person and understand their interests and needs. Think about how you can genuinely give something of value, such as a relevant article. Finding ways to help and serve is key to fostering that network relationship.
5. Given that you don’t know this person yet, don’t be over familiar in tone or language.?
6. Finally, check for any typos or grammatical errors. Then, click send.

By carefully expanding your number of connections in LinkedIn, you’ll be going a long way to beginning to maximise the potential that the platform holds for enhancing your career. Follow on messages to generate genuine network relationships with the ethos of serving others will, without question, stand you in very good stead.?

If you’re interested in discussing how LinkedIn can play a fruitful role as part of a wider job search strategy, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a conversation.