12 Ways To Grow Your LinkedIn Connections Database – Part 2

Posted by Ben Kniffen in Uncategorized

In Part 1 of this series we took a look at four useful tactics to utilize when building and increasing your database of connections on LinkedIn.

Now that you've had some time to digest those tactics, let's look at four more that can yield big results.

Let’s jump right into numbers 5-8.

5. Comment On Group Posts From Other LinkedIn Members

Tactic #3 talked about posting content to groups to increase your connections. Commenting on other group members' posts takes this one step further.

Getting involved in group conversations should be one of your top priorities on LinkedIn.

Commenting on group posts is a great way to let your communities on LinkedIn know who you are and what you’re about. It also lets them know you care about the content they post.

The more you comment the more people will see that you are a trusted member of the community. This in turn will yield connection requests from those who see you as a valuable resource in their group.linkedin marketing services, linkedin marketing strategy, linkedin marketing solutions, linkedin marketing campaign, linkedin case studies, outsource linkedin, outsourced linkedin, Free LinkedIn Training, LinkedIn Training

Make sure the comments you post in the group discussions hold some weight. It would be unwise to randomly post meaningless comments throughout.

Few will connect with you unless you provide value to the group.

Find the threads and discussions that pertain to your business and interests.  Then look to engage those who are commenting on the discussion threads that are a fit with your business.

When you do, your connections will certainly increase.

6. Start Your Own Group and Invite Others to Joinlinkedin marketing services, linkedin marketing strategy, linkedin marketing solutions, linkedin marketing campaign, linkedin case studies, outsource linkedin, outsourced linkedin, Free LinkedIn Training, LinkedIn Training

Once you get your feet wet by posting content and comments in other LinkedIn groups it’s time to move on to starting your own LinkedIn group.

When you own a group you have more of a connection to the group membership than a regular member.

Managing content, constant posting, and group announcements keep your name in front of everybody on a daily basis.

When members of your group see your name on a repeated basis many of them will send you connection requests.

Starting a group is a big-time, long term commitment but the benefits of doing so are tremendous.

As your group grows so will your connection database.

7. Answering Questions In LinkedIn Answers

Utilizing LinkedIn Answers is another great tactic that can yield you some big time results.

By answering questions that pertain to your field of expertise you further demonstrate your value to the LinkedIn community.

Members will appreciate the value you provide and many will send you connection requests.

The great thing about LinkedIn answers, unlike group posts and discussion threads, is that members will read answers to questions that were posted months, sometimes even years ago. Thus, if you post a great answer to a question, it will always be there for new people to discover.

The more questions you answer, the greater chance you have to be listed as a “Top Expert.” Being branded as a “Top Expert” will make those members who see your name on an ongoing basis feel all the more comfortable connecting with you.

But more importantly, it will highlight your profile very prominently, providing you with increased exposure.

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It will take some time to achieve the “Top Expert” status but once you do it will make your connection database grow all the more.

8. CardMunchlinkedin marketing services, linkedin marketing strategy, linkedin marketing solutions, linkedin marketing campaign, linkedin case studies, outsource linkedin, outsourced linkedin, Free LinkedIn Training, LinkedIn Training

No one can spend all day networking on LinkedIn. Eventually you are going to have to go to some meetings, seminars, and local work functions and start shaking hands.

In most cases these events are going to create some new contacts and relationships for you…and a large number of newly acquired business cards.

What can you do to easily add those business cards to your group of connections on LinkedIn? Use CardMunch.

CardMunch is a mobile app that allows you to take a picture of a contact's business card and upload it to LinkedIn. LinkedIn then finds the contact's profile and allows you to connect with them.

Whether you only meet a few new connections a week or hundreds of new connections each month, CardMunch will do the heavy lifting to help you increase your database of of 1st degree connections.

The CardMunch app is simple to use and a great way to sync your offline efforts with your LinkedIn marketing strategy.

Currently the app is only available for iPhone but it’s only a matter of time until it is released for Blackberry and Android smartphones.

Keep At It!

If increasing your database of 1st degree connections is a top priority for you, then make sure you add these four tactics to your arsenal.

Over time you will see your number of 1st degree connections move from “hundreds” to “thousands” and continually climb from there.

Check back later for Part 3 of this series and the final four methods to increase your connections database on LinkedIn.

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