21 LinkedIn Do's and Don’ts to Grow Your Network
Are you ready to up your LinkedIn networking game?
If you’ve searched for “how to network effectively on LinkedIn,” you’ll find a LOT of tips, tricks, and templates. But here’s the truth: effective networking goes beyond simply hitting “connect.”
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫!
Today, we will dive into the key strategies for building meaningful relationships on LinkedIn. Too often, people overlook the importance of networking etiquette, focusing only on the numbers rather than the connections that count.
What if you approached networking with authenticity, purpose, and engagement instead?
We discuss the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn networking, from optimizing your profile to crafting personalized connection requests and engaging with posts.
This video is for you if you’re ready to actually have fun on LinkedIn, while also building genuine connections!
“How” You Do LinkedIn Matters More Than “What” You Do
When I taught the latest cohort of The LinkedIn Accelerator, it was an engaging group with a LOT of excellent questions. I was going through the recordings over the past week, and it got me thinking about today’s topic.
Many of the people I work with are in the process of either finding a new job or wanting to maximize their use of LinkedIn to promote their coaching, programs, or services. They are less interested in getting 10,000 followers in the next 30 days and more interested in long-term, sustainable engagement.
Questions centered around how to use their LinkedIn profile to “do the heavy lifting” when it came to attracting the right people, and then they wanted to know how to “do LinkedIn right” without having to invest in an expensive suite of tools or spend an hour a day digging around on LinkedIn.
The funny thing is that I just got an email yesterday from well-known expert with 100K+ followers, and they were raving about how they used this tool paired with that tool, and they are so happy they don’t have to spend as much time on LinkedIn. The irony was that this person is known as a LinkedIn expert… who does not want to be on LinkedIn! And, of course, they are an affiliate for each of these tools, making a nice commission on the backend.
Now, I don’t have a problem with affiliate marketing, but I do think this was interesting because they are trying to take you OFF LinkedIn to give you the results that being ON LinkedIn gives you. I found myself wanting to test drive both of those tools, but then I realized that it missed the point… I want to network ON LinkedIn. By spending more time inside the platform, I can help more people, like me, who are eager to network like a boss.
Okay, rant aside! Did that just count as one of my “don’ts”? Don’t avoid spending time ON LinkedIn to shortcut and automate the process if you’re here to do business… even if you think nobody will know the difference.
We’ll talk more about the rest of my do’s and don’ts on LinkedIn in just a moment.
21 LinkedIn Do’s and Don’ts to Grow Your Network
Networking etiquette on LinkedIn is crucial because, let’s face it, first impressions matter, even online. How you approach someone on LinkedIn can be the difference between forming a lasting connection or being ignored. So, today we’re going to go over the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn networking—so you can stand out, but in a good way."
🎯 LinkedIn Profile Optimization 🎯
Alright, before you even start connecting with people, let’s talk about profile optimization—because a half-done profile is like showing up to a networking event in sweats. Not the best look, right?
Here are the key do’s:
1. Do update your profile picture.
Make sure it’s a professional headshot that reflects who you are now, not 10 years ago. I took mine outdoors on an iPhone using portrait mode, and I actually don’t even recommend getting these professionally done if you can DIY.
2. Do craft a compelling headline.
Here’s a formula I love: Who You Are + Whom You Help + How You Help + Results You Generate. You want people to instantly know what you bring to the table and how you can help THEM.
3. Do fully optimize your profile.
Before you even think about sending connection requests, take at least 15 minutes to update your profile—make sure your summary, experience, and skills are all current and relevant. Note any sections that need to be reworked, but make sure there’s at least placeholder content there for now.
And now for the don’ts:
4. Don’t use too many emojis in your headline.
You want to come across as trustworthy, professional, and competent. Use keywords that matter to your audience and are also search-worthy phrases to help you show up in LinkedIn search.
5. Don’t leave your About section incomplete or empty.
Half-baked About sections send the message that you're not really on LinkedIn or don’t have the time to craft a compelling narrative about your professional journey.
6. Don't use generic headlines and summaries from AI.
Yeah, don’t do that. You’ve got to stand out in a sea of professionals. We can all tell. Use AI to help you, but be sure to add in some other elements that show a human actually wrote this headline.
And if you’re really feeling stuck on your LinkedIn profile, shoot me a DM. I will do a complementary 2-minute LinkedIn profile video review for you to share a few individual pointers… no, you don’t have to “join my list” to get this.
🤝 LinkedIn Connection Strategies 🤝
Now, let’s move on to building your network strategically. You don’t want to just connect with random people and hope for the best. Here are some do’s for your connection strategy:
7. Do start with people you know.
Begin by connecting with colleagues, clients, or even friends. These are your first 100 connections.
8. Do aim for 500-1,000 quality connections.
You don’t need to have thousands of connections to be credible, but getting to 500 is a good starting point for networking success. I also wrote an article about how to get 200 connections in 30 days, if you want to accelerate this process.
9. Do personalize your connection requests.
Please don’t just send the blank LinkedIn connection invitation, unless they would recognize you from somewhere else. Take 30 seconds to add a personal touch—it makes a big difference.
10. Do follow up after events.
If you attend a workshop, roundtable, or a virtual event, don’t hesitate to connect with the presenters or other active participants afterward. This is a great way to keep the conversation going beyond the event.
Don’ts:
11. Don’t skip your homework before you connect.
You would not cold call someone without looking them up online or finding out more information about them. Check out the person’s profile before you send the connection request.
12. Don't connect just for numbers.
It’s not a popularity contest. Every connection should have a purpose, and it should feel like a two-way street. We can tell if you’re just trying to goose your numbers!
13. Don’t pitch right away.
The worst thing you can do is connect with someone and immediately try to sell them something. A LOT of things count as “selling” to people on LinkedIn. Just because you’re not asking for them to purchase does not mean you are not selling! Build a relationship first.
Getting connected on LinkedIn is not something you want to rush into headfirst without a strategy. Be sure to think about the ONE group of people you want to add to your network first, and start with them. It’s not a race!
🗣️ LinkedIn Engagement Tips 🗣️
Okay, so now you’ve started connecting, but that’s just the beginning. Engaging with your network is just as important. Let’s talk about how to do it right:
Here’s what you should do:
14. Do engage in the comments.
When you comment on someone’s post, add something meaningful. This is your chance to show your expertise and personality. You can also just ask a question if you’re trying to learn more about the topic… shows you’re not a bot!
15. Do share valuable content regularly.
This isn’t just about promoting your own stuff. Share articles, insights, and resources that are helpful to your network. Find a pace that works with you, and stick with it.
16. Do use messaging for meaningful conversations.
When someone connects with you, don’t just leave it there. Drop them a quick message to introduce yourself or follow up on something they shared. I like to ask a follow-up question that is easy for them to answer or keeps the conversation going.
And the don’ts:
17. Don’t spam people with unsolicited messages.
If you have a sales pitch or webinar invite, LinkedIn messaging is not the place for it—unless the person has asked for it.
18. Don’t over-tag people on LinkedIn.
Tagging people for attention can backfire, especially if you don’t know them well. Plus, it looks very 2021, as that was the go-to strategy back then.
19. Don’t neglect your existing network.
It’s easy to get caught up in growing your network, but remember to nurture the relationships you already have. Don’t forget to re-engage with people you have not interacted with in a year or two.
20. Don’t outsource your engagement to a tool.
I mentioned this earlier, but no AI tool can replace the actual “you.” We’ve all seen those comments that look like someone just came out of nowhere and said “this is great!” without context.
21. Don’t over-optimize for the algorithm.
Big mistake for people who are trying to “go big” on LinkedIn is that they obsess over the algorithm when they really should be paying more attention to writing content for the people they can help.
To sum it all up: LinkedIn networking is about being intentional, authentic, and patient. Your profile sets the stage, your connections should be strategic, and engagement is where the magic happens.
If you follow these simple do’s and avoid the don’ts, you’ll build not just a bigger network, but a better one filled with meaningful connections.
I hope you found these tips helpful, and I challenge you to take at least one of these strategies and implement it on your LinkedIn today.
One more thing... before you start actively growing your LinkedIn network, make sure to optimize your LinkedIn profile to increase your chances of getting that connection invitation accepted. We talked about the importance of a good profile as a starting point today, and this is very important to ensure these do’s and don’ts work for you.
Check out my free, three-part mini-training How to Reboot Your LinkedIn Profile to Grow Your Online Business to help! It’s jam-packed with examples and a step-by-step approach to optimizing your headline, the two most important parts of your About section to get more inbound connections and build your list, along with what to do with your Experience sections!
Do you have a favorite LinkedIn do or don’t to add to the list? Leave it in the comments below👇!
