Getting Connected, Starting Out, or Strengthening Your Network

I thought today I’d just give a real quick overview of how you either get your first connections or how to get a base of solid connections that will help you move forward if you already have a network.

Open Networkers (The big guys)

In order to improve your network quickly and in the case of those just getting started, connecting to those open networkers with very large networks can quickly put lots of folks in your second level.

I know someone is going to say “that’s collecting names” and is useless. I disagree and you can read why in my post on “The Open Networker’s Debate.”

Don’t forget to give them a reason even though most will connect without a second thought.

LinkedIn Experts

There’s nothing like having a hand full of experts to help you when you get stuck. Most LinkedIn experts are very well connected as well and many have newsletters or blogs were you can learn more (Of course, you’ll learn more here than anywhere else, but just in case you want a second opinion.

Here, if you tell them you want to follow them so you can learn I don’t think most will turn you down – but to be safe you could you my Empowering and Invitation method reversed to hook up with them.

Centers of Influence

I have talked about this category in previous posts. These are great people to be connected to. The easiest group of influencers to find is the group leaders. The second group you might consider going after is the “LinkedIn Prolifics” (I know it’s not a word, but it’s descriptive.) – the folks that answer 200 questions a week.

You can find this group by clicking on the ANSWERS link at the top of any page and then chose ANSWER QUESTIONS. Many of these folks with be second and third level connections making it a bit easier to connect – but they represent high visibility if they engage you in the Question and Answer forum and are great first level connections.

As group leaders of a group you’re in inviting is not much of a problem. For the others the same indirect contact method suggested for experts should suffice. And as always groups make connecting easier if you can find people in groups you are a member of.

With very little effort here you could put an extra 100K people in your second level and a ton more in your third.

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