BETA
THIS IS A BETA EXPERIENCE. OPT-OUT HERE

More From Forbes

Edit Story

5 Ways To Re-Engage Your LinkedIn Connections

Following

Growing your LinkedIn connections means nothing if no one reads your posts. Hundreds of followers scroll past your content, too busy or too confused to pause. Or maybe they just don't care anymore. But the clients you want are in there somewhere. You just need to get them interested again.

LinkedIn gives your account 30,000 possible connections, and that’s important. Those connections are shown your posts first. But getting seen takes more than random posting and hoping.

Turn your followers into superfans so they actually want to read what you write.

Win with LinkedIn connections: turn followers into fans

Clean out your network

You have thousands of connections but no one sees your posts. Dead connections congest your network. Look for accounts who haven't logged in for years. People who accepted your connection request and forgot you exist. People who requested to connect with you that you wish you hadn't accepted.

Go on a deletion spree and let go of everyone who doesn't fit your future. Remove people you used to know, that you never really liked. Remove everyone who left their last job five years ago and hasn't updated their profile since. Make space for people who could become ideal clients and referrers.

Message your first circle

Your first-degree connections see your posts most often, but they need to know you care about them. Once a day, message a handful of people you want to keep in touch with. Ask about their work, mention something specific from their profile, build a bond based on what you have in common.

Keep the conversation flowing. Reply to their response, share a relevant resource, tell them what you're up to. Encourage them to opt in to your email list or newsletter. Turn a cold connection into someone who looks out for your content. Bond over common ground and become part of their life.

Break the ice with new leads

Your ideal clients are on LinkedIn right now. They might even be in your existing network. Send them short messages that focus on learning more about them. Skip the sales pitch and aim to chat. Get them familiar with your name before you share what you do.

"Thanks for connecting! I'd love to hear more about [specific part of their work]. What's your biggest focus right now?" Simple, direct, friendly. Break the ice, build rapport, start conversations that could lead somewhere good. Not everyone will respond. That’s okay. But some will, and that’s when the magic begins.

Make the most of social proof

Your followers need social proof to understand what you do. Use your posts to show them who you help and what changes. Break down client wins with screenshots of what worked. Tag happy customers and ask them to add their experience. Let them read reviews from people just like them.

Make your dream clients picture working with you. Add pictures of you with people you've helped or screenshots of testimonials sent privately. Turn connections and customers into brand ambassadors who sell your work for you.

Create a weekly routine

Your LinkedIn presence needs consistency. Growth happens over time. Block time in your calendar and stick to it. Pick one hour each week to plan your content, clean your connections and check your messages. Keep showing up so your audience knows what to expect. Your connections will get used to seeing your content and start recognizing your name as someone worth paying attention to.

Every Monday, write two posts and schedule them for the week. Every Wednesday, message five people who viewed your profile. Every Friday, clean out ten irrelevant connections and add ten potential customers. Simple actions repeated weekly build momentum that brings results.

Re-engage your LinkedIn connections: get them caring again

Stop letting your LinkedIn posts tank. Clean your network and message your first circle. Break the ice with new leads and use social proof to show you're legit. Create a weekly routine that keeps you consistent.

Your LinkedIn audience wants to hear from you, so give them a reason to care. Re-engage your connections before building your LinkedIn to whole new levels. Your next best customer is in your existing network. Wake them up today.

Follow me on LinkedInCheck out my website

Join The Conversation

Comments 

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Read our community guidelines .

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service.  We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

  • False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
  • Spam
  • Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
  • Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
  • Content that otherwise violates our site's terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

  • Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
  • Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
  • Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
  • Actions that otherwise violate our site's terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

  • Stay on topic and share your insights
  • Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
  • ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
  • Protect your community.
  • Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's Terms of Service.