When you invite someone to connect on LinkedIn, you have the option to choose between first, second, and third connections. This article explains what those are and why they matter.
First connections are people you are directly connected to in your network.
How Do You Connect On LinkedIn?
When you’re connecting with someone on LinkedIn, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
First, do your research before you connect with someone. If they’re a stranger and all you know is their name and current job title, take a few minutes to see if you can find out what makes them who they are. Whether their profile is public, check out the information about their work experience and education. If it’s not public, that’s okay—just be sure to include a personal note when you send your connection request. Ask them any relevant questions you may have.
Next, be sure to send a personalized connection request, especially if you don’t know the person well. You could start by bringing up something from their profile that you have in common (i.e., “I see that we both went to UC Berkeley! I’m currently working as [X], how about you?”).
If it’s someone you’ve met in real life but don’t know well, mention where you met them and ask how they’re doing since then (i.e., “We met at the [X] event last month! How has your work/family/etc. been since then?”).
What Does 1st, 2nd, 3rd Mean on LinkedIn?
If you’re the 1st connection with someone, that means you have a connection with them directly on your profile page.
Whether you’re a 2nd connection with someone, that means that you have a friend or acquaintance who has said person on their network list, which makes them the 1st contact for your friend/acquaintance.
If you’re a 3rd connection with someone, that means that you have a friend or acquaintance who has a friend or acquaintance who has said person on their network list, which makes the said person a 2nd contact for your friend/acquaintance.
LinkedIn facilitates this kind of networking by using the “network” of your friends and contacts to help you find the people you need to connect with to accomplish your professional goals.
LinkedIn Etiquette
The App is a professional networking site that allows you to connect with people in your industry and keep up with current trends in the field. It is a great way to connect with others in your field and maintain your professional network.
When using this space, it is important to remember that everyone viewing your profile looks at you as a potential colleague or business connection. It is important to display yourself professionally on this platform as well.
Should You Try To Reach 3rd-Degree Connections Directly?
Whether you should reach out to 3rd-degree connections on LinkedIn depends on the nature of your request. If your goal is to expand your network, reaching out to 3rd-degree connections through a mutual friend or colleague can be a great way to get introduced to someone you might not otherwise have access to.
However, granted that you’re trying to get your foot in the door for a job, for example, it’s best to stick with 2nd-degree connections or closer. You want the person receiving your inquiry—the hiring manager, for example—to feel as though they can trust that you’re qualified and credible. That’s why it’s important not only that they are connected to you directly, but also that they have a good relationship with the person who’s introduced you.
If you’re considering reaching out to third-degree connections, ask yourself: ‘Why am I doing this? Do I feel like I don’t have any other options? Am I too scared or intimidated to reach out to someone closer to me?’ If the answer is yes, then that’s a sign that you need to work on your networking skills. The justification for reaching out often comes down to how close the connection feels and whether or not the person has time and energy for another request.”
Tips To Get Closer To Your 3rd-Degree Contacts
The best way to get closer to your 3rd-degree contacts is to write a personal note with your request to connect.
Before you send them the request, do some research and see if you can find something in common. That way, when they receive your request, they will be more inclined to accept it because they know that you took the time to look at their profile before sending a request.
So, before you reach out, please spend some time getting to know your 3rd-degree contact by taking a look at their feed. Whether they have blogs or videos, check them out. Whether they share articles they like, read them. Leave comments on their posts—and not just generic ones either! Tell them why their comments inspire you or what you thought about the article they shared.
If the person has a podcast, listen to an episode or two. If they have a book, buy it and write them a review when you’re done reading it.
All of this will get you up-to-speed with what’s going on in their lives and make it easier for you to mention something specific when you finally reach out to ask for help with something.
How To Prospect Efficiently?
Prospecting efficiently takes time, but it’s well worth the effort. By taking the LinkedIn 1st, 2nd, and 3rd criteria into account, you can increase your chances of successfully reaching out to prospects. LinkedIn is a great platform for connecting with other professionals, especially those you might not otherwise have a chance to interact with. We all know that networking is an important part of business success, but finding people relevant to what we’re doing isn’t always easy—especially if our field or industry is niche or specialized.
That’s where LinkedIn comes in. This platform allows us to connect with others worldwide and share information about ourselves professionally. It’s also a great way to find out who’s hiring at any given moment!
There are many different ways to use LinkedIn: you can look up contacts that interest you, message them directly (if they’re not already connected) or search for specific keywords related to your industry so that only profiles showing up with those phrases show up on the screen when scrolling down through search results.
Conclusion
The first connection on LinkedIn is a pretty straightforward functionality that users may not think about too often. It’s a great tool for establishing strong relationships with new contacts or reconnecting with old ones after a long period of inactivity. If you’re unfamiliar with the first connection, you might want to familiarize yourself with the feature so that you can use it to your advantage.
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