With a whopping 875 million active users, LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool for B2B professionals. But, how do you find the right people? How do you reach out? How do you build long-term relationships? Questions like these don’t have a definite answer, which is why it can be a bit confusing for a beginner. In this guide, we’ll show you how to effectively use LinkedIn to grow your professional network. By the end, you’ll also know the most important LinkedIn networking best practices. Let’s dive in.
5 Effective Ways to Network on LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides you with the tools to find and interact with people within your industry. You don’t want to network with everyone on the platform. Find people who you share mutual interests with. Here are 5 ways to network with the right people on LinkedIn.
Send Connection Requests
This is inarguably the most obvious way to connect with anyone on LinkedIn. You send them a connection request, with an optional note. They either accept or ignore your request. To send a connection request to someone, head over to their profile page and click on “More”. Then, click on “Connect”.
You will then have two options:
- Send the request without adding a note
- Add an optional note
You can also import contacts from your phone book, address book, and more.
LinkedIn Searches
The search bar lets you find the right professionals to connect with. It lets you find people based on the job role, industry, and more. For instance, if you want to connect with digital marketers, just enter the phrase and select appropriate filters.
You can apply a range of filters to make your search more and more specific.
People You May Know
As you start connecting with people on LinkedIn, the algorithm will start showing relevant profiles in the “recommended for you” section. You might see it while scrolling your LinkedIn home feed.
Under the “Network” tab, you’ll find a lot of recommendations by LinkedIn based on different criteria, including:
- People from your university
- From similar job roles
- Mutual LinkedIn connections
- The same industry
For instance, it recommends profiles you may know in the IT industry.
Even if you don’t know these people, connecting with them makes sense as they’re in the same industry as yours. Finding and connecting with people this way lets you build a relevant network.
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LinkedIn Events
LinkedIn events are a great place to meet like-minded people with similar interests. To find events in your industry, go to your “Network” tab and scroll down until you find the “Online Events for you” section.
If you don’t see enough recommendations in this section, head over to the LinkedIn search bar and put a keyword there. Then, filter the results by “Events”.
LinkedIn Groups
A niche-based LinkedIn group is a perfect place to connect with people and build your network. To find relevant groups, you can use the LinkedIn search bar. Enter any keyword and apply the “Groups” filter. You’ll get a list of groups you can join and start your networking efforts.
LinkedIn Networking Best Practices
LinkedIn is a constantly evolving B2B networking platform, which makes it crucial for marketers to stay in touch with the latest best practices. Here are some tips to help you build a high-quality network on LinkedIn.
Optimize Your Profile
The first thing you want to do is optimize your LinkedIn profile page. Why’s it important? Because anyone you try to connect with will check your profile. If it doesn’t offer enough relevant information, they won’t accept your connection request. Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your expertise, experience, who you help, and what you offer. The process involves creating an eye-catching banner, using a professional headshot, and making the “About me” section clear and crisp.
Write Content
Content creation should be something you do regularly. Your content on LinkedIn will be in the form of posts and articles. Posting content relevant to your industry helps you:
- Establish trust and authority
- Attract connections organically
- Promote your services and offers
Personalize Your Outreach
Sending connection requests with a personalized message generally improves the chances of acceptance. It’s a great way to stand out from all the other requests the other person might be receiving and ignoring. Make sure to include a brief introduction about yourself and why you want to connect.
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Share Others’ Content
One of the quickest ways to get noticed is by sharing other people’s posts and articles. This is especially an effective way to network with people that are otherwise difficult to connect with. You can also tag other people in your posts. This will activate the law of reciprocity, compelling the other person to share your content with their audience as well.
Use Automation
When you know how to leverage automation, it lets you completely automate your LinkedIn networking. The benefits of automation include:
- Mass outreach with personalized messages
- Analytics and tracking
- Save a lot of time
- Generate leads on autopilot
- And more
How to Use LinkedIn for Networking: FAQs
Let’s briefly answer some frequently asked questions about how to use LinkedIn for networking.
How Do You Use LinkedIn to Make Your Connection?
To make new connections on LinkedIn, you can use the advanced search, network page, and LinkedIn’s recommendations. Optimize your profile and send connections to people in your industry with personalized notes.
How Do I Engage with My LinkedIn Network?
LinkedIn groups are a great place to engage with like-minded professionals and build a network. Just make sure to join relevant groups in your industry and add value.
How Do I Networking on LinkedIn With No Experience?
If you’re new to LinkedIn, join relevant groups and participate in discussions. Send connection requests regularly to fellow professionals in your industry. Also, write unique and helpful content in the form of posts and articles regularly.
Conclusion
When it comes to professional B2B networking, there’s nothing more powerful than LinkedIn. The platform gives you features to make your networking efforts more effective, including the advanced search bar, recommended profiles, and networking events. Start by finding people in your industry by using the search bar. Then, send personalized messages with your connection requests to stand out. Engage in groups, and events, and publish relevant, helpful content to attract more connections and build authority.
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