One Simple Way To Grow Your Linkedin Network
Optimise your LinkedIn approach and gain time to develop real relationships online.
Can impersonal actually lead to being more personal? Intuitively I’ve always firmly thought “no!”. But experience has taught me otherwise. Growing your LinkedIn network is hard. And forming meaningful connections is even harder. While LinkedIn offers huge opportunity for entrepreneurs, with over 740 million users globally, it can really drain your time. I definitely learned this the hard way!
When I discovered an easier way to grow my LinkedIn network, the value of the site increased for me drastically. Read on to discover how my approach shifted…
Before- 30 mins per request
Like many startup founders, I poured a lot of time and energy into the wrong things early on. I wanted everyone I was reaching out to to understand what I was all about so I’d write detailed, tailored messages for each of them. I’d include everything from what I liked about them, their business, and how I saw us working together. This took about 30 minutes per person on average and definitely didn’t deliver a return on the investment of time!
I managed to tweak my approach slightly and get it down to 15 minutes per request, but this still resulted in hours sat at in a coffee shop tapping the add connection button.
After- 3 mins per request
These days, my approach looks as simple as this…
- Research connection
- Send a blank request
Researching is important because it allows you to set yourself up for a conversation in future, but you need to remember that LinkedIn is a networking platform! Everyone who is on there is open to the idea of networking. And, here’s the important part, everyone who is on there has the same opportunity to view your profile to assess whether there is scope for a connection.
In sending blank requests, I’ve cut down the time it takes me to add someone to 3 minutes.
I’ve only got anecdotal evidence, not hard data, but for me the before and after has led to no change in acceptance rates. If someone accepts you on LinkedIn, it’s actually unlikely to be because of the message you send them. More likely, like you, they’re open to networking and can see a possible future professional relationship.
Having a clearly filled out LinkedIn profile allows anyone who comes across you to quickly assess whether they want to connect. I’m no personal branding expert, but even the simple bits will help. A clear description and good quality images are super important. So too, are is your personality. You wouldn’t want to talk to someone at a networking event that did nothing other than list off their CV, so make your profile about you! Having a high quality, up to date profile allows anyone who comes across you to quickly assess whether they want to connect.
From there, you can make connections safe in the knowledge that you can invest your time into what matters- building relationships. Enjoy those new network connections!