The Simple Trick to Grow Your LinkedIn Following Instantly

I love sharing my stories and advice with thousands of people around the world on LinkedIn. I feel so fortunate that this platform helps me engage with so people—from interns and managers to CEOs and founders—whom I may never have met otherwise.  

But sometimes, the actual “connection” part is challenging. Having so many strangers reaching out on LinkedIn can be overwhelming. I’m sure anyone trying to grow their personal brand or share expertise can relate. I have a never-ending backlog of people who are waiting for me to approve their connection. And as a busy CEO, this task is always at the bottom of my to-do list. That means there are tons of people who aren’t able to stay on top of my updates simply because I haven’t had time to click “accept” yet. 

Plus, it’s not really in anyone’s best interest to connect with every single person who sends a request. Your LinkedIn connections are most valuable when you know each other in real life. Maybe you worked together, went to the same school, or you see each other regularly at industry events. These are ideal acquaintances: You can vouch for each other’s work, look for collaboration opportunities, and find ways to support each other. But if your LinkedIn connections are mostly random people, it can make it harder to stay in touch with actual close relationships or find relevant people. Even if these strangers are immensely talented, trying to connect with everyone probably means you only truly connect with very few. (Related: The Most Important Job Founders Might Not Be Doing)

So, what can you do if you’re trying to expand your reach without watering down your primary network? Prompt people to “follow” you instead. LinkedIn added a feature a few years ago that changes the primary button on your profile page from “Connect” to “Follow.” Consider making that switch now. 

Why You Should Opt for the “Follow First” Strategy

When people follow you, they see all of your posts on their feed, and they can even comment on them. Unlike connecting, you don't see their posts on your feed (unless you follow them back), you can’t direct message each other (unless one of you has a Premium account), and you can’t endorse or write recommendations for each other. 

Not only is this great for you, but it’s also what most strangers trying to connect actually want. They want to see your updates and advice. I made this change recently, and within an hour, my follower count had grown by 70+ people. 

Don’t worry; changing your button to “Follow” doesn't mean that people can’t connect with you. That option is nested under the “More” button at the top of your profile, rather than being the primary prompt. And, if someone does follow you, they can still connect with you later. (Related: 3 Productivity Hacks That Help Me Crush My To-Do List)

Here’s How to Do It 

If this switch sounds like it aligns with your goals on LinkedIn, you can make it happen by clicking on “Me” in the top LinkedIn menu and then selecting “Settings & Privacy.” From there, go to the “Privacy” section, select “Blocking and hiding” on the lefthand menu, and click on the “Followers” section. Then, toggle the “Make follow primary” button to “Yes,” and be sure you have it set so everyone on LinkedIn can follow your updates. 

I’m excited to keep establishing ties with so many amazing professionals—just in a slightly different way than before. What do you think: Wanna give me a follow?

Tell me: If you’ve recently switched to a “follower first” profile, how did it work out for you? Please share your experience in the comments!

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Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of San Francisco–based Hint, a healthy lifestyle brand that produces the leading unsweetened flavored water scented sunscreen spray that’s oxybenzone and paraben-free and eucalyptus + lemon deodorant with 100% plant-derived ingredients and no aluminum. She is also the founder of The Kara Network (TKN), an online resource for aspiring and thriving business-minded people. Listen to her podcast, Unstoppable with Kara Goldin, where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and disruptors across various industries and keep up with her on Twitter,Facebook, and Instagram.