How to Build your LinkedIn Network from Scratch

It can be challenging to know where to begin if you have a few connections or are just getting started on LinkedIn. 

Here are strategies you can use to build your network to start creating meaningful connections and growing your business. 

1. Building Your Profile

The first step to building your LinkedIn network is ensuring your profile looks great. This means including a professional headshot, a well-written summary, and showcasing your skills and experience. 
Besides your profile image, the most important part of your LinkedIn profile is your headline. Make it interesting, punchy, and super clear, so that the right people want to connect with you. 

2. Connecting With Contacts

The next step to building your network is inviting people you know and are connected with in the real world to connect on LinkedIn. 

You can do this by giving LinkedIn access to your email contacts. First, go to "My Network" on LinkedIn and then to "Contacts" to sync your email account. This will show you all the people in your contacts with LinkedIn profiles, and you can choose which of them you want to connect with. LinkedIn will send invitations on LinkedIn and via email to the contacts you choose.

This is a great way to quickly connect with people you're already in good contact with, and most of them will accept your connection request. 

3. Focus on Connections, Not Followers

When you're just starting out on LinkedIn, we believe you should focus on building connections, not followers. This means you shouldn’t choose “creator mode” when setting up your profile so that the default action for your profile visitors is to "Connect" with you rather than "Follow" you. You can change that later on. 

4. Engage and Post  

Write some content, perhaps 2-3 posts a week at first (or one a day, not more than that). Nowadays, great content will get noticed on LinkedIn even if you have a very low follower count. You can start by introducing yourself and telling your story. 

Another way to get attention and traction is by commenting on other people's posts. Find posts with a lot of engagement, and make thoughtful comments that add value to the conversation. Then, send a connection request to the authors of the post and whoever you exchanged ideas with. 

5. Send Connection Requests Every Business Day

The most straightforward and obvious way to build your network is by sending connection requests to people who are likely to accept them. You can send up to 20 connection requests per business day on LinkedIn, and you should start by reaching out to highly active people on the platform and with a large network. These are the people who are more likely to accept your connection request.