Growing your LinkedIn connections is important, but it’s not as important as building true connections. The numbers do matter, however, so these are my 5 recommendations for growing your LinkedIn connections.
Know your goals
Before you even look at the numbers or your profile, know your goals. Your LinkedIn activity should not be an afterthought or a task you forget to manage. Knowing what you want out of your time spent on LinkedIn helps you define how to move forward. Remember: the number of connections you have is a reflection of your presence, but it’s not a reflection of your influence. True influence is made and measured in your engagement, your conversations, and your lead generation results. When you focus on providing value and curating engaging conversations, you build genuine connections.
This is not a billboard
You may need to change your mindset about LinkedIn: this is not a billboard and announcements platform. Don’t treat your profile as a platform to spray content. Although you should make an announcement when you’ve had professional success, moved to a new position, or similar, don’t simply spray announcements. Your LinkedIn profile is an online presence you should use to create conversations, and that’s what your goal should be. Conversations generate leads, and leads bring you sales.
Optimise your profile
Now we can get down to the nitty-gritty! Your LinkedIn profile is your foundation for building meaningful connections. Make sure it’s fully optimised to showcase your expertise and make you easily discoverable by your target audience. Here are four simple ways to keep your profile up to date and optimised:
- Your headline: Create a compelling headline that clearly communicates what you do and the value you offer.
- Your keywords: Use relevant keywords throughout your profile, especially in the “About” section, to improve your search visibility.
- Your photograph: Ensure your profile photo is professional and approachable. Adding background images and multimedia content can also help your profile stand out. Yes, there are several areas on your LinkedIn profile where you can add extra content. Use them to your advantage!
- Your updates: Keep your profile up-to-date with your latest experience, skills, and accomplishments. This demonstrates your credibility and gives potential connections a reason to engage with you.
Time to get talking
Now that you have your mindset right, and your profile optimised, it’s time to get talking.
LinkedIn is a social platform, so treat it as one! Don’t just send generic connection requests – be sure to send a personalised note to the people you’re looking to connect with. Take the time to engage with your target audience in a genuine way. Comment on posts that resonate with you, share your own insights and ask thoughtful questions. This helps you find new connections, build relationships, and position yourself as a valuable, trustworthy connection. Use LinkedIn’s advanced search capabilities to find and connect with people in your industry or niche.
Keep up the conversation
Your current LinkedIn connections can be a powerful asset in growing your network. Never miss an opportunity to review your connections and identify opportunities to engage with them more deeply. For example, you can endorse your connections for their skills, congratulate them on career milestones, or share relevant content that may be of interest to them. This helps you strengthen those relationships and increases the likelihood of them introducing you in turn to their connections. You can also ask your connections for introductions to people they think you should know. Warm introductions are always more effective than cold outreach. Be intentional in how you go about this, as LinkedIn members who engage with their connections at least once a month are 40% more likely to be seen as trustworthy and credible. That’s where you want to be! Find and build genuine connections on LinkedIn, and keep up the conversations!
P.S. Here are 4 ways we can help you accelerate your Lead Generation results:
- Follow Adam Houlahan’s LinkedIn Profile Now Click Here
- Join our FREE LinkedIn Group and connect with entrepreneurs who are scaling too
It’s our Facebook community where smart entrepreneurs learn to get more leads and smart ways to scale using LinkedIn — Click Here
- Take our FREE LinkedIn Productivity Assessment
Score your current presence and activity on LinkedIn against industry best practice benchmarks. Receive customised results instantly and as a BONUS you’ll get a FREE PDF download of Amazon’s Best-selling book “The LinkedIn Playbook” Click Here - Join our Content Ninja Club Today!
This Club is a community of professionals who are dedicated to mastering LinkedIn engagement and seeing real results. In fact, members experience a 300% to 1000% increase in content traction!
The best part? You can join the Club accessing a comprehensive set of tools and resources for just $197 AUD/month with no lock-in contracts.
Join today Content Ninja Club Registration