How to Grow More Connections on LinkedIn
If you want the best network for your business, or you want to create business relationship with people of like minds, LinkedIn is just the perfect place. It is a platform for making meaningful connections with B2B prospect s, potential hires, and business partners.
Most people have however undermined its opportunities and so underutilized it, while others don’t know how to use it. The most consistent error new LinkedIn users make after creating the LinkedIn account is not making connections, or being satisfied with a few connections.
The more your connections, the more your chances of having good business relationships, and customers. So how can you get to that 500+ connections status fast?
Here are a few tips for growing your network in an appropriate, useful way.
How to Grow More Connections on LinkedIn
1. Post often
When a connection “likes” your status update, all of their connections can see your original post in their feed. If your content seems relevant to them, they may take the step to sending an invitation to connect. Posting more often creates more opportunities to receive likes, shares, and comments, thus syndicating your content across homepage feeds everywhere. When posting, learn to include a call to action.
2. Engage in Groups
A simple like or comment can go a long way in establishing a rapport that leads to a connection. Once you find and join a group, participate by starting a discussion or asking a question. And be sure to join both big and small groups.
3. Create a good LinkedIn profile
Having a wonderfully drafted and beautifully looking profile attracts people to connect with you. Ensure that your best achievements and qualifications are not missing in your profile as they are a plus for you. Often times, people who are interested in connecting with you or doing business with you, would always check your LinkedIn profile. It is that important and necessary.
4. Leverage keywords in your profile
Just like optimizing your website or copy for SEO, LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to attract profile visitors based on the words you choose. Therefore, every single word counts. Use common variations of your job title and duties to ensure you’re not invisible because of semantics. Adding keywords to your profile can lead to more views.
5. Engage with your connections’ updates
Develop a relationship with your new connections by reviewing your wall regularly to share, comment on and like other people’s updates and posts. It gets them to notice you and like your posts in turn. Some go ahead to view your profile, and eventually send you a note. This interaction lets people know you exist and gives you more visibility. Some of these people are likely to want to know more about you, leading to new connections.
6. Personalize connection requests
When you send a connection request, personalize it in some way for that person. How did you meet? How do you know him or her? Why do you want to connect? Here’s an example of a simple but personal connection request you can tweak and reuse.
Personalized connection requests increase the chances people will approve your request and give you a better shot at landing a sale.
7. Add Your LinkedIn URL to Your Email Signature
Your LinkedIn profile is like a resume, a testimonial, social proof, a portfolio of projects and clients and proof of expert value, all in one convenient place. In your email signature, rather than send prospects to your Facebook account (or nowhere at all), send people to your LinkedIn profile.
Go to your LinkedIn vanity URL, a clickable link that’s easy to recognize and easy to remember. In the Contact Info section of your profile, click the gear icon next to your LinkedIn URL. Then on the next page, look for the Your Public Profile URL section, where you can make changes.
Once you have your vanity URL, add it to your email signature to make it easy for people to connect with you. Adding the URL to your business card is a plus for you.
8. Create a group, and start a discussion
This brings you instant credibility, as people like to network with experts and other well-connected people. When people join your group, they’ll likely want to connect with you, the group owner. They already know who you are and like what you have to say.
9. Post content to linkedIn’s publishing platform
LinkedIn has a publishing platform that makes it easy to publish attractive posts, look like an expert (three posts are displayed with images at the top of your profile page) and showcase more of what you know and do in a professional format.
One of the key benefits of the publishing platform is that your posts are seen by the entire LinkedIn community, beyond your connections, which increases your exposure. Those who normally wouldn’t see your profile in search results will have a chance to find out what you do and how you can help them.
Make sure you publish at least a few times a month to keep your content fresh and current.
10. Use long-form posts to tell an inspiring story
This is the big one. If you've logged onto LinkedIn any time during the past six months, you've probably seen these types of posts. Long in length, short and staccato in sentence structure, and uplifting in its message, these posts go viral on a daily basis.
The rule of thumb here is to begin with a "hook" (approach it like you would a headline), never go over 2-3 lines of text (this increases readability), and to be vulnerable.
11. Share trending articles.
When you're in a crunch and don't have the time to write a long-form post or article, sharing trending pieces from other LinkedIn users is a solid alternative. To avoid being stale, be sure to add 1-2 sentences of your own commentary on the piece you're sharing.
12. Use your headlines for social proofing.
No matter how you decide to craft your LinkedIn headline, be sure there's some sort of social proofing in it to catch the attention of other LinkedIn users. If you write for a top-notch publication, put it in your headline. If your company has helped one million people learn how to program computers, put it in your headline.
13. Network with LinkedIn influencers and tag them in your content.
Use the same discretion with this tactic as you would any other social interaction. Tagging an influencer in your post is only okay after you've established a solid relationship with them, and the post is relevant.
Don't ever spam influencers. Add value first by commenting on their posts or messaging them.
14. Publish videos too
Over time, we have come to see videos posted on social media gaining more attention than normal posts with pictures and posts with pictures more than those without one. Videos have driven incredible results for many content marketers.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that you need 501 connections for a start, to show the 500+ mark next to your profile and be considered part of the elite expert tier. Those who see your profile will know you use LinkedIn to do business add value and connect.
Getting to 500+ LinkedIn connections doesn't happen overnight, and if you already have 500+ connections, you shouldn't just stop there. LinkedIn is the easiest and most powerful networking tool of our time, putting you one click away from meeting anyone; all without leaving your couch. These tips should make the idea of growing your number of connections less intimidating, more realistic, and much more fun.
Are you satisfied with these? Do you need more clarity on some or all of the points being listed here? Do comment what you feel right below in the comment box. But if any of these make sense to you, then waste no time in changing the face and usage of your LinkedIn account. Don’t leave me out on the connection.
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