How To Make Your First 500 Connections on LinkedIn
Learn how to confidently grow your LinkedIn connections to build your professional personal brand online.
Firstly, the number of connections you have on LinkedIn really doesn’t matter. It’s simply a vanity metric. That said, for many, LinkedIn is a strange place. With over 1 billion users, Gen Z are the fastest-growing market on the platform. The perfectly polished profiles among professionals with seemingly much more experience and connections can be intimidating for some who are new to the platform. This sentiment can also extend outside of Gen Z to others who are less active on the platform than they’d like to be.
Increasing your connections on LinkedIn might be the confidence boost you need to leverage the platform further and an opportunity to grow your professional network. Once you reach 500 subscribers on LinkedIn, your profile connections tick over to display ‘500+’. While numbers aren’t important, for LinkedIn users, it’s a small win for social proof and credibility. It shows others already trust you.
So, if you want to increase your connections on LinkedIn, here’s a simple strategy:
1. Optimise your LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is the shop front window of your professional personal brand. Instead of looking like it’s lights out, make sure you look like you’re open for business and ready to welcome new connections:
Optimise your profile for your location
Highlight a call to action to connect
If you want to expand your connections beyond your existing relationships, pay special attention to search engine optimisation. This helps LinkedIn learn more about your field of expertise, skills and industry. The more LinkedIn understands you, the more it can suggest the right connections to you.
For more, see my previous blog on How to SEO Your LinkedIn Profile.
2. Leverage your existing networks
Once your LinkedIn profile looks alive, connect with your existing contacts, such as:
Your current colleagues
Former colleagues
Third-party contacts, past and present
Current or former peers, e.g. from high school, college, special interests or friendship groups.
3. Join private groups
Whether it’s your alumni or special interest groups, join private groups. Share content in the forum and connect with other participants. Being part of a mutual group establishes mutual ground and showcases shared interests or history. This increases the likelihood that others will accept your invitation.
4. Target your niche
Like other social media platforms, once LinkedIn knows more about you, it will suggest other connections to you. For example, do you work in the education industry? Beyond just your existing colleagues, it will likely connect more dots for you, suggesting others in your or related industries. Have the confidence to connect with others, even if you don’t know them personally, but are interested in their work. You never know where it might lead. These connections might one day be your next boss or future colleagues.
5. Share content
To stand out in your industry or for your thought leadership, share content consistently - especially content most linked to your preferred field of expertise. This is another boost for your LinkedIn SEO too. Like most on social media, the majority of LinkedIn users are lurkers. Commit to being a leader instead. Don’t take a set-and-forget approach to your profile and stalk in the shadows. Demonstrate a passion for your industry and profession.
In 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene highlights “Enter Action with Boldness”. Don’t let imposter syndrome or feeling like you aren’t an expert stop you from being active on LinkedIn. Learn out loud. Share your journey. Be a leader online, and the invitations will flow freely toward you.
From 0 to 500
Growing your LinkedIn connections isn’t about chasing numbers; it’s about building relationships and showcasing your professional brand with confidence. The more you show up meaningfully, the more your network will naturally grow.
