Maximize Your LinkedIn: Quality Connections Over Quantity

Are you focused on growing your LinkedIn network smarter, not bigger? 🧠

We’ve all been tempted to chase large follower counts, and I’ll share WHY quality over quantity is the real game-changer for growing your LinkedIn network.

In this Mondays with Mindi episode, we focus on building a targeted connection strategy on LinkedIn that leads to meaningful relationships and long-term success.

Spoiler alert: it’s not about sending 100 connection requests per day and hoping for the best!

Ready to build a valuable LinkedIn network that works for you?

You Don’t Need 500+ Connections…

Let me tell you a story about Annie, one of the participants in my LinkedIn Accelerator program and also one of the amazing women I met while going through Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy program. Annie had been a software developer for years, but she always felt there was something more out there for her. She wanted to step out of her comfort zone and start a business focused on empowering women in leadership roles. But like so many, she wasn’t sure how to make the leap.

Annie came to me feeling overwhelmed by the thought of building a LinkedIn presence. She didn’t have a huge following, and the idea of spending hours on the platform every day was just not realistic for her. She wasn’t aiming for viral posts or trying to rack up thousands of connections. She just wanted to make meaningful connections and get her message out there.

I worked with Annie to optimize her profile, develop authentic content, and, most importantly, connect with intention. I always tell my clients that you don’t need to go viral or have a massive following to make LinkedIn work for you. It’s all about genuine connections and showing up consistently in a way that feels right for you.

Annie embraced that approach. She applied what she learned, and before she knew it, she had connected with a leader at a global manufacturer. They had a real, authentic conversation about leadership and the challenges women face. Annie shared her vision, and it resonated so much that she pitched a leadership training proposal on the spot.

Here’s the best part—her proposal was accepted. She secured a major opportunity with this organization, all with fewer than 500 LinkedIn connections and without spending hours every day glued to her screen. Annie’s story is proof that you don’t need to go viral to make an impact. It’s the steady, genuine approach that really gets results.

And every time I think about Annie’s journey, it reminds me that sustainable growth on LinkedIn always beats chasing those fleeting viral moments.

Nobody Cares If You Have 10K Connections

A lot of us get caught up in the numbers game on LinkedIn, thinking that a large connection count equals success. They may:

- Send mass connection requests without any personalization

- Accept all incoming connection requests without vetting

- Chase arbitrary milestones like reaching 500+ connections

But here’s the reality: having thousands of connections doesn’t mean much if those people aren’t relevant to your goals. A big, unfocused network is far less valuable than a smaller, curated one filled with the right people. It’s the quality of your connections that matters—the people who actually engage with your content, offer insights, and open doors to opportunities.

Then, in the rush to grow our network, many of us skip over the importance of personalization by:

- Sending out generic connection messages

- Reaching out to people without researching who they are or what they do

- Failing to engage after the connection is made

This lack of thought and effort makes it hard to stand out or build any meaningful relationships. A personalized message tailored to the person you're trying to connect with shows genuine interest and leaves a lasting impression.

In the past month, I reached 10K followers, and I realized how many of them I don’t really know on a professional level. I am currently combing through my network to make it a bit more targeted and relevant to the direction I’m heading professionally right now.

Remember: If you’re just playing the numbers game, you’re missing out on forming deeper, more valuable connections that could actually advance your career or business.

Bigger LinkedIn Network ≠ Better LinkedIn Network

Alright, let’s talk about one of the things I see a lot on LinkedIn—people chasing huge connection numbers like it’s some kind of badge of honor. But here’s the reality: having a massive, unfocused network on LinkedIn can actually work against you.

First off, when your network is huge but not relevant, engagement drops. You’re connected to thousands of people who may not care about what you’re sharing. So, you put out content, and instead of sparking insightful conversations, you’re getting…crickets.

It’s frustrating, right? And worse, the people who should be seeing your posts might not even come across them because your content gets buried in a sea of irrelevant connections.

And then there’s the overwhelm factor. When you’ve got this huge network, your inbox blows up with random messages and notifications from people who aren’t really aligned with what you’re doing.

It can feel like you’re constantly wading through clutter just to find the conversations that matter. Instead of focusing on valuable connections that can move the needle for you, you’re spending time weeding through noise.

Another thing to think about is how this impacts your personal brand. When you’re connected to a ton of people across different industries, your message can get watered down. It’s harder to stand out as an expert in your niche.

But when your network is more curated and targeted, you become top-of-mind for the right people—the ones who value your expertise and want to engage with your content. So instead of aiming for numbers, aim for quality. It’ll make a huge difference in how you’re perceived and the opportunities that come your way.

Personalized Connection Strategy: The Key to Building a Valuable Network

If you’ve been on LinkedIn long enough, you’ve probably noticed that not all connection requests are created equal. Some feel personal, some feel generic, and some… well, they look like they’re copy-pasted a hundred times.

So, how can you build a connection strategy that’s targeted, personalized, and leads to meaningful relationships?

Step 1: Identify Your Target Audience

Before you even start sending connection requests, you need to know who you’re trying to connect with. Ask yourself:

• Who are the people that you can help to reach their professional goals?

• Which industries are they in?

• What job titles should you be targeting?

For example, if you're a consultant looking to attract new clients or strategic partners, you’ll want to focus on decision-makers in the industries you specialize in—CEOs, department heads, or other consultants who can refer business your way.

Once you’ve got your target audience in mind, LinkedIn’s search features are going to be your best friend. You can filter by location, industry, and even the companies they work for to find the right people. That’s how you start building a connection list that makes sense for YOU.

Tip: Be sure to upgrade your LinkedIn account to Premium if you want to use more targeted search features. Otherwise, you will be limited in the amount of searching you can do.

Step 2: Engage Before Connecting

You don’t always have to send a connection request right off the bat. One of the best ways to get on someone’s radar is by engaging with their content first. Not everyone posts content to LinkedIn, but be sure to see if they do.

Here’s how it works:

1. Follow them and keep an eye on their posts.

2. Leave thoughtful comments on their content.

3. After you’ve interacted a few times, THEN send your connection request.

This strategy works because you’re showing genuine interest in what they have to say before you even make the ask. It’s a slower approach, but it’s much more effective at building real relationships.

Step 3: Craft Personalized Connection Messages

Now, here’s the most important part: your connection message.

There’s nothing worse than receiving a connection request that says, “Let’s connect.” It’s impersonal, and it doesn’t give the recipient any reason to engage with you. Instead, we’re going to focus on personalization.

Here’s a quick framework you can use:

1. Start with their name—always a good first step!

2. Reference something specific about their profile, their work, or a recent post.

3. Find common ground, whether it’s shared connections, mutual interests, or similar industries.

Here’s a real-life connection invitation I used this past week to connect with other advisory board members.

Hi (first name)! It was great participating with you in the NCATS Director's Roundtable this week. I'm currently on the advisory board of All IN for Health, and it's always good to share ideas with others who are excited about research in our local communities. Would be great to connect here on LinkedIn! ~ Mindi

Simple, personalized, and it opens the door for meaningful conversation.

Tip: With a free LinkedIn account, you can send up to 10 custom invitations per month. Make each one count by personalizing your message. You also will only have 200 characters, so keep it short, clear, and focused on why connecting is valuable for both of you.

If you find that number too limiting, upgrade to ANY type of LinkedIn Premium account to send up to 250 connection invitations/week.

Step 4: Provide Value Upfront--no Pitch-Slaps!

Now that you’ve sent a personalized connection request, it’s time to offer value.

Think about it—people are more likely to engage with someone who brings something to the table. So, instead of diving straight into “Hey, I’d love to chat about my business,” try this approach:

(first name), thanks for connecting! I really enjoyed our discussion with Joni and found the presentation both engaging and motivating. One of my biggest takeaways was how we could address disparities in our communities. What stood out to you from the roundtable? ~ Mindi

By asking a question, this keeps the conversation going if they want to engage. I also did not ask for a phone call or impose on them in any way. If they are curious about what I do, they will check out my profile and ask. You want to show that you’re not just another person looking to sell something—you’re interested in starting a genuine, value-driven relationship.

The Simple Multi-Touch Approach

For those of you who have a free LinkedIn account, you can also follow a similar alternative approach, but it doesn’t require you to start with a personalized connection invitation.

Remember, if you’re serious about building relationships on LinkedIn, you’ll want to adopt your version of a multi-touch approach to ensure your connection strategy is effective.

Here’s a simple plan you can follow:

1. Send a blank connection request—no message.

2. Engage with their content within 3 days of connecting.

3. Send a personalized voice note as a thank you message after 5 days.

4. Follow up with a quick DM if they haven’t responded within 7 days. (Note: some people might find this “pushy,” so gauge how your audience responds to this amount of follow-up.)

The idea here is that you’re staying top of mind without overwhelming the person with too much too soon.

Your Focus is on Cultivating Professional Relationships

Lastly, remember this: LinkedIn is about relationships, not transactions.

Don’t jump straight into sales pitches or “Let’s collaborate” messages. Take the time to get to know the person, engage with their content, and build trust. Once you’ve built that rapport, business opportunities will naturally follow.

1. Identify your target audience.

2. Craft personalized connection messages.

3. Provide value upfront.

4. Engage before connecting.

5. Use a multi-touch approach to stay top of mind.

6. Focus on building genuine relationships, not just hitting numbers.

By following this strategy, you’re not just growing your LinkedIn network—you’re building a valuable community of people with the intention of helping them achieve their long-term goals.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! How do you go about getting connected on LinkedIn? Are there any pet peeves you have around receiving LinkedIn connection invites? Drop your comments below👇, and let’s chat.

Want to dive even deeper? Head over to mindirosser.com/linkedinreboot for my exclusive guide on how to create an optimized LinkedIn profile, so you can get your profile ready to start connecting with your people on LinkedIn! 💪