Maximizing the quality of LinkedIn connections
I'll admit it: having a lot of LinkedIn connections is excellent. It gives me more access to quality candidates. But, honestly, so what? When writing this, I have just over 7K connections on LI. How many of those people do I know? About 10% of them. So this article is as much for me as it is for you.
When you focus on building meaningful LinkedIn connections, you're not just expanding your network, you're opening doors to better opportunities and more rewarding interactions. The results you'll get from these connections will be far more valuable than a large but shallow network.
Among the many social networking options available today, LinkedIn stands out as a top option for professionals and job seekers. The site is designed to foster business networking, making it an ideal place to develop your professional connections. However, having a few hundred or even a few thousand LinkedIn connections won't necessarily help your career. It's far better to have a few meaningful connections than many useless ones. Quality always trumps quantity in the world of networking.
What is a meaningful LinkedIn connection?
A meaningful connection is not just about the number of connections you have, but the value they bring to your professional life. It's a relationship that benefits both parties involved. If you're the only one getting anything out of the connection, why should the other person bother to stay connected? Such connections can quickly blossom into lifelong relationships, but for a meaningful connection to last, it has to be a two-way street.
For instance, a meaningful connection could involve sharing job leads, providing career advice, or even collaborating on a project. Since LinkedIn is all about business networking, a meaningful LinkedIn connection likely involves adding professional value on some level. It might mean helping you to find that perfect job, providing advice and mentorship to boost your career, or giving you access to potential clients.
Finding the right person to connect with on LinkedIn
If you've spent time on LinkedIn, you've undoubtedly received invitations to connect from total strangers, many of whom use the default LinkedIn request to join. These requests typically come from people who adopt the 'shotgun' approach to networking, which involves building as many connections as possible without considering whether a particular connection will provide value. It's like casting a wide net and hoping for the best, but it often leads to a network filled with irrelevant or inactive connections.
Network on LinkedIn with people you know
A great place to start building connections is with the people you know. Instead of adopting the "shotgun" approach, focus on quality over quantity. LinkedIn offers several tools to help you find and connect with specific people. You can import a list of email contacts, browse through the "People you may know" section of your My Network page, or enter the person's name into the search bar on the LinkedIn homepage.
Network on LinkedIn with people from Groups
Joining relevant LinkedIn groups is another great way to meet people and make meaningful connections. You can search for groups by name or keyword by using the search bar at the top of your LinkedIn homepage, and LinkedIn will also recommend groups that it believes are a good fit for you. LinkedIn's list of guided groups is in the Groups option from the Work menu; you can bring it up by clicking the Discover link at the top.
Sending a LinkedIn invitation
Ideally, every LinkedIn invitation you make will be to someone you already have some connection with. It may be a colleague, someone you met at a tradeshow or marketing event, or even a friend of a friend — be sure to mention the connection in your LinkedIn invitation.
For example, if you are in the same LinkedIn group with a person and want to connect with them, you might send them something similar to this sample invitation:
"Hello Joe, you may remember me from X group on LinkedIn. Since we are in the same line of work and share many interests, it would be great to connect with you.
It's best not to assume that the person you're connecting with will immediately remember you because a conversation that was deeply meaningful to you may not have made the same impact on them.
Offer a favor
Asking a near-stranger to do you a favor immediately is unlikely to give them a good impression of you. Instead, take the opposite approach: Offer to do something for your new connection as early as possible in the relationship. If you can, slide a favor offer into the connection invitation. By showing the other person that you can immediately be of value, you'll encourage them to connect with you and put in the time and effort it takes to create an ongoing relationship.
Your favor doesn't have to be a big deal. Starting small is usually best because offering to do a huge blessing for a distant acquaintance can make that person very uncomfortable. A few ideas for low-stakes but thoughtful favors include sharing an event they might be interested in, sharing helpful online resources about their field, brainstorming ideas for a challenge they're facing at work, or offering to introduce them to a connection you think they'd enjoy speaking with. Here's an example of a favored message:
"Hi, Joe,
I hope you've been well. I've decided to begin a job search and am currently exploring opportunities in your field. I came across your company while researching and admire the work you've been doing in X. I recently read this article, which was extremely interesting and relevant [link to article]. I'd love to schedule a quick 10-minute call to hear your thoughts.
Thank you in advance for your time!
[Your Name]"
Ask for help
You've made meaningful connections on LinkedIn and are ready to reach out! But how can you ask your network for job search help in the right way that will get results? Be thoughtful in your approach, clear your objective, and always express gratitude for assistance. Here's a sample message:
"Hello Joe,
I hope you've been well!
I've decided to make a career change and am currently exploring different opportunities in your Industry. Since I know you have a great deal of experience, you'd be the perfect person to get in touch with. Would you be open to speaking for 10 minutes this week?
I can't tell you how much I appreciate any help as I work on making this switch.
All the best,
[Your Name]"
How to respond to LinkedIn invitations
If you're active on LinkedIn, you may be inundated with requests. Often, someone other than you will initiate the connection request. In most cases, it makes sense to accept every connection invitation, even if it's just a generic request to connect. After all, if the connection turns out to be meaningless or they start spamming you with recommendations, you can permanently remove them from your network.
When you receive an invitation, it's a good idea to peek at the person's LinkedIn profile. Profiles often contain just the information you need to make a meaningful connection.
For example, suppose you get an invitation to connect, and that person works for a company you've always admired. In that case, you can message him after accepting the connection and tell them how you feel about the company. After you've taken the time to have a few conversations with them and perhaps done them a favor or two, you can then take the next step and ask for their help (or, better yet, their advice) with getting a job there. Here's a sample LinkedIn response:
"Hi Joe, Thanks for your request to connect. I see you work for [X company]. I've always admired their innovation in the [Industry] space. I'd love to set up a 10-minute call to hear your thoughts.
Summary
Building a network of meaningful LinkedIn connections unquestionably takes more time and effort than simply inviting random strangers to connect with you. However, the rewards you can reap from your efforts are well worth the cost and can help push you toward your top career goals.
LinkedIn Endorsements
LinkedIn endorsements can be a massive boost in a job search. There are many ways to use LinkedIn. From connecting with co-workers, acquaintances, and other industry colleagues to working with recruiters and applying for jobs, LinkedIn is a hub of activity. That means you should be utilizing all the features that LinkedIn has to offer, including LinkedIn endorsements.
What are LinkedIn endorsements?
LinkedIn endorsements are a simple way for your colleagues and connections to recognize your expertise in a specific field with just one click. These seemingly simple endorsements can elevate you and your profile above the other thousands of people on LinkedIn vying for the same career path as you.
For example, a study by the Avid Careerist found that you will rank more highly in LinkedIn search results if you have a more significant number of endorsements for the skill a recruiter is seeking.
What is the difference between LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations?
With LinkedIn endorsements, your connections can endorse the skills you included in your profile with just one click.
Recommendations add more value to your profile than one-click endorsements — but both are still necessary for a successful profile.
Since LinkedIn's collaborative features were released, several million people have received endorsements from colleagues they never thought to ask. Here are a few steps to optimize your endorsements and return the love.
How to get endorsements on LinkedIn
List your relevant skills.
Think like a salesperson. Determine which of your technical skills and core competencies are most important to your Industry and relevant to your current job goals. List these skills first, from most to least important—a road map for people to endorse the correct talents.
Endorse fellow professionals
Start with your closest colleagues since these are the people who you know the best and are most likely to return the favor. For these colleagues, endorse the skills you've seen them demonstrate in the workplace, and they will be sure to reciprocate.
After endorsing your closest colleagues, endorse the skills of those you met at essential functions or during your time at work, such as clients, vendors, or freelancers.
Ask for endorsements on LinkedIn.
This is the trickiest technique: asking for endorsements on your LinkedIn profile. You want people to acknowledge your skills and strengths, but you don't want to come off as begging for disingenuous favors.
Instead of sending tons of generic "please endorse me" messages, personalize your requests by noting a specific project you worked on with each person you asked. Gently remind them of your contributions and ask them to offer comments on the project through skill endorsements.
Make updates and links to your social media profiles.
Do you have a blog? This is a great way to display your skills and earn endorsements for connections you need to learn about. Share your latest blog posts using LinkedIn's update feature, make changes to your profile often, and engage other users who connect with you. In other words, don't become the LinkedIn equivalent of a wallflower.
Many people are on LinkedIn, but only some update their statuses regularly. You'll get on your connections' radar if you post updates to LinkedIn. If you're sharing insightful quotes and quality content related to the LinkedIn skills you have listed, you'll also give them a reason to endorse you for those skills.
Remember your manners
Remember to say thank you after you've received an endorsement. So many LinkedIn users take the endorsements their friends and colleagues post for granted and never take the time to say thanks. This is not only rude, but it also can hurt your relationship with the person. A quick but kind thank you for a LinkedIn endorsement goes.
Article by Eric Palmer
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With nearly ten years of experience connecting top salespeople with the perfect opportunities, I'm driven by the challenge of finding the ideal fit for both companies and candidates. At MySalesRecruiter.co, I leverage my industry knowledge to streamline your hiring process and ensure you attract high-performing talent that aligns with your team's goals. I believe in a personal approach, understanding that each company and candidate is unique, and I strive to find the perfect match for both, making you feel valued and understood in the process.
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