How to network on LinkedIn, effectively

Business Tips

Hub Australia

10th January 2023

While you won’t see many posts of your friends at the beach, 280-character tweets about the latest political blunder, or a post from a distant relative wishing you happy birthday, LinkedIn is fast becoming one of the most popular social media platforms out there – and for good reason.

There are over 875 million users worldwide, 58 million active companies, and eight people hired every minute on the platform. This means the opportunities for professional growth, learning skills, and meeting people in your industry are endless.

The ability to network on LinkedIn is a key element of the platform, but it can sometimes be hard to know how to network on LinkedIn effectively, and stay authentic. Whether you’ve just created a profile or you’re a seasoned user in need of a refresh, here are our top LinkedIn networking tips to help you connect with the right people the right way.

1. Optimise your LinkedIn profile and keep it updated

You need to make sure you’ve got all the basics covered before you start networking on LinkedIn. LinkedIn has a great feature that tells you what you’ve got left to add to your profile to complete it.

Include a professional profile picture, a headline that describes your role or expertise, and all relevant experience, qualifications, and education.

When it comes to your about section, don’t be afraid to add a bit of personality, and don’t just use it to repeat your experience.

If you move into a new role, learn a new skill, or achieve a new qualification, don’t forget to update your profile to reflect these changes.

2. Use the ‘People You May Know’ and ‘People Also Viewed’ features to connect with the right people on LinkedIn

Networking on LinkedIn is made easier by the ‘people you may know’ and ‘people also viewed’ features.

Once you’ve connected with your current coworkers and people in your professional and social circles that you see regularly, head to your own profile to check out suggestions for people you may know. There, you can easily connect with other people in your company or people in the same industry as you.

The ‘people also viewed’ feature is just above, and shows you people that your connections have connections with.

Often, standout profiles in your professional circle and industry are listed here, which makes it an easy way to add people to your network who are experts in a certain topic, work for a leading company in your industry, or hold other important connections.

3. Like, comment on, and share posts from your connections

After you start to build your LinkedIn network and connect with people, it’s important to engage with their content. This doesn’t mean liking and commenting on every post or update.

Instead, engage with content that resonates with you on both a personal and professional level. Ask questions, pose problems, and share your thoughts in a respectful way. This shows both them and the people in their network that you’re interested in what they have to say, and you’re keen to learn more.

4. Post content in an authentic and meaningful way

Despite the sheer amount of users on LinkedIn, only around three million people share new content on a weekly basis. To make your profile really stand out and form stronger connections with your LinkedIn network, consider posting content that you’re passionate about, and that relates to your role and profession.

Keep your connections updated about exciting things you’re working on, interesting articles you’ve read, or thoughts you’ve had. Make sure your content is relevant to your profile and isn’t just posted for the sake of it.

5. Don’t spam or send generic, impersonal messages

The LinkedIn messaging feature is a great way to form deeper connections with people, as long as it’s done right.

Maybe someone has posted about a topic that you’re interested in learning more about, or you’d like to congratulate them on a new role or achievement. Maybe they’re hiring and you’re interested in knowing more about the position, or you noticed they’re going to be attending an event you’ll also be at.

No matter the reason, it’s important to ensure your messages are tailored to the receiver, have a personal touch, and aren’t edging towards spam.