How to Effectively Grow Your LinkedIn Connections

Unlike certain social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter that accepts both personal and business uses, LinkedIn is a social network strictly intended for business purposes.

Right from drafting of your profile to how you manage your relationships, the LinkedIn users expect professional behavior from you at all times.

To make the most out of LinkedIn, you need a fairly large-sized network. Regardless whether you use the site is for recruiting, marketing, branding or any other, the larger your network, the more exposure you will receive.

This leads to the obvious next question – how you can effectively grow your LinkedIn connections?

When you sign up for LinkedIn, the first thing you do is contact people that you know and invite them to be a connection. And this is a splendid way to start, however, it invariably results in a fairly small network. But no harm having a small network when you start out as you can always plan to gradually increase the network size.

To successfully enlarge your LinkedIn connections, it is important that you first know what is inappropriate and what is good LinkedIn etiquette.

To succeed on LinkedIn, show people your business side in an appealing manner. Your first impression should be a good impression as people are impatient and may not give you a second chance.

For instance, if you use an unprofessional image for your profile photo, you may never get another opportunity to redeem your reputation.

Use a head shot with an immaculate background, a cheerful face and a clear view of your eyes. Your picture must speak 1000 words.

Skip the over-stuffing of keywords. If your profile is stuffed with repetitive or inapt keywords, there is every chance that the visitors will not connect with you. Too many keywords can make your profile look suspect.

It is important to personalize each LinkedIn connection request you send. That is truly the key to enlarge your circle of connections on LinkedIn.

A generic message may indicate either you do not have the time to send a personal request or that they are not significant enough to warrant a personalized request. Personalize each connection request with a follow-up reminder and explain why he/she should connect with you.

Do not hesitate to seek endorsements from people that know your work. Endorse the skills of the people you are connected with to show that you appreciate their work. A LinkedIn endorsement is a fabulous way to convince someone that you notice and value their skills / knowledge.

Recommendations are different from endorsements. Only seek recommendations from people who can vouch for your work as recommendations from dubious people can wreck your reputation.