Tips for Networking on LinkedIn as a Social Media Manager

I tested 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (During my last job search and as a career coach). These 𝟱 get the highest response rates, especially from hiring managers👇 1. The Profile Viewer Message Check who viewed your LinkedIn profile. They’re already aware of you, don’t let that warm lead go cold. Try this: "Hey [Name], I noticed you stopped by my profile, appreciate you taking a look! Curious, was there something specific that caught your eye, or are you open to conversations around [industry/topic you're exploring]?" 👉 Tip: Warm > Cold. Always start with people who’ve already shown interest. 2. Acknowledge + Ask Find something unique about their background or a recent post, and ask a question. "Hi [Name], I saw your talk on [topic], your insight on [specific point] stuck with me. How did you land your current role at [Company]?" People love talking about themselves, especially when you show genuine interest. 3. Value First Offer a useful insight, article, or trend that aligns with their work. No ask, just value. "Hey [Name], I saw your post about [topic]. Just came across this article, it touches on a similar trend. Thought you might find it interesting." Position yourself as thoughtful, not transactional. 4. Mutual Connection Approach Bridge a real mutual connection or shared experience. "Hi [Name], I noticed we both worked with [Person] / went to [School] / worked in [Company or Industry]. I'd love to learn more about your path, especially how you made the transition to [Role/Company]." Relatability opens doors faster than credentials. 5. Compliment + Curiosity Start with a specific compliment, then open the door. "Hi [Name], really enjoyed your article on [topic], especially your point about [detail]. Are you open to connecting with people exploring similar roles in [industry]?" It’s respectful, direct, and makes it easy for them to respond. Reminder: You don’t need to spam 100 strangers. Start with 10 meaningful messages a week. Track responses. Iterate on what works. Focus on warm leads, shared interests, and genuine curiosity. What template would you like to see next? If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want. ➕Follow Jaret André for more daily data job search tips.

Networking Tips I wish I had when I started out Ever wonder why some DMs get replies while others go ignored? Having been on both sides, here’s what I’ve learned about making your messages count: 1. Skip the Copy-Paste: AI-generated messages or cookie-cutter templates stand out for the wrong reasons. They come off as generic and lack authenticity. I can often tell right away because many people send the exact same message. You can still use AI to refine your message just don’t depend on it entirely. 2. Add a Personal Touch: Think about why you’re reaching out. Is it their recent project, a shared interest, or a specific experience of theirs that resonates with you? Mention it! This goes a long way in showing you genuinely care. 3. Break the Ice with a Real Connection: Networking is about building relationships, not just seeking favors. Start a conversation, not with an “ask.” I often see job seekers asking for referrals in their first message or sending resumes and immediately inquiring about open roles. Instead, try sharing something about yourself, your interests, your journey, or why this person’s story resonates with you. 4. Be Clear and Intentional: Respect the other person’s time. Keep it short and focused. A clear purpose shows that you value their insights, rather than just looking for a “quick win.” 5. Remember, They’ve Been in Your Shoes Too: Most people want to help, especially if they see effort and genuine interest. A well-thought-out message can open doors you didn’t expect. I know the nerves of sending those first few DMs, I’ve been there! But with these tips and a bit of practice, you’ll stand out and build real connections. Happy networking!

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿. 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸. That it was only for extroverts, salespeople, or those who knew the “right” people. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The truth? LinkedIn changed my career more than any job board ever could. From landing internships to publishing research and breaking into power & energy, the biggest opportunities in my career didn’t come from job boards—they came from building the right connections. Yet, so many professionals hesitate to network strategically because they: * Feel awkward reaching out to strangers * Don’t know what to say in a cold DM * Fear getting ignored or rejected I get it—I used to be the same way. But once I started using LinkedIn the right way, I landed mentors, internships, and research opportunities that shaped my entire career. Here’s How You Can Do It Today: ✅ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 * Look for professionals in your target field (engineers, hiring managers, senior leaders). * Use LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” section to find similar profiles. * Join industry groups to see who’s actively sharing insights. ✅ 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 Forget “Hi, can I pick your brain?” That doesn’t work. Instead, try this: 💡 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: “Hi [Name], I came across your profile while learning about [topic]. I admire your work on [specific project]. I’d love to hear your thoughts on [question]. Would you be open to a quick chat?” ✅ 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗠 * Like and comment on their posts genuinely * Share their work and add your insights * Make your name familiar before sending a message ✅ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 People respond better when you bring something to the table: * Share an article or resource relevant to their work * Offer a fresh perspective on one of their posts * Ask a specific, thoughtful question instead of just “Can you help me?” The Outcome: I’ve used this exact strategy to build meaningful relationships that led to: ✔ Internship opportunities before I even applied ✔ Research collaborations that boosted my career ✔ Insights from industry leaders that I couldn’t find anywhere else If you’re not leveraging LinkedIn for strategic networking, you’re leaving opportunities on the table. 💡 Try this today: Pick ONE person you admire, craft a thoughtful DM, and hit send

Building a relationship > Blindly networking Quality is always better than quantity while networking. And how do you focus on quality? ✨ - Carefully pick the people you reach out to. - When they add you to your network, follow up with them. - Introduce yourself. Share how they can add value to your career. - Be very specific on what topic you need help on. - When you ask, think of the things you can give to them. - If you’re scheduling a call, set a clear agenda for the call. - After the call, make sure you send a thank you message. - Follow up every 3-6 months with updates. And, do you know how you can stand out? Give before you ask! 💡 When I was meeting a Senior PM who also happened to be content creator, I offered to design her LinkedIn banner. She did not expect this and I bet she still remembers me. 💡 One of the Group PMs I was meeting was starting out with content on Youtube so when we met we talked about product management but when he asked about content creation - I shared my content creation experience with him. Most of the times we think we won’t be able to add value to someone senior to us. But all of us have unique capabilities that can add value to others. So focus on adding 10 people to you network who will vouch for you uncountable times instead of 100 people who will not add any value. Hope this helps! In the next post, let’s talk about things to do on a networking call. #career #students #networking #linkedin

I spent 6 months studying how to network on LinkedIn Here’s what I learned in < 60s (without the "love to be in your network" templates) I went from: Clicking 'connect' → sending hyper-personalized requests Being scared of networking calls → now hopping on 3-4 monthly (still scared :P) Being clueless on seeking opportunities → now a weekly 'shoot your shot' hour To build an effective network, I focused on 4 things: 1. Profile stalking 2. Connection Requests 3. Networking calls 4. ‘Shoot your shot’ hours. 1. Profile stalking ↳ Study the profile like an exam sheet ↳ Identify commonalities such as ethnicity, hobbies, and career shifts ↳ If they actively post, find the 'secret sauce'—personal details, jokes ↳ Enagage with their posts. Use the 'secret sauce' to add value P.S - I reached out to someone with over 50K followers via email. When I sent my LinkedIn profile, he remembered me because I was consistently engaging on his posts. Not bad, huh? 2. Connection Requests ↳ Use templates for cold piches, doubts, meetings, etc. Do not abuse it ↳ Start with how you came across their profile ↳ Go onto to tell them what you liked about their profile. Be brutually honest ↳ Get to the point. What action do you want them to take? 3. Networking calls ↳ Get used to asking for a call in the DMs + Take adv of the free calls provided ↳ The more you explain your ‘what’, ‘why’, and ’how’, the more you understand it as well ↳ If those you seek something from charge for calls, consider taking it up. Knowledge is money ↳ Always research your questions thoroughly + follow-up with a thank you note 4. ‘Shoot Your Shot' Hour ↳ For one hour, ask for opportunities you might/might not have a chance at ↳ Do steps 1, 2, 3, and then aim high. Can you work with them, get a referral, get help? ↳ Be unhinged. Be shameless. Don't care about rejection. ↳ I've sent so many requests (so many!) and got 4 'yes's. Not much, but better than 0. P.S - Generic templates. Big no, yes? #linkedin #networking #learning #career

The right network doesn’t just open doors. It changes your life. Here’s how to grow a powerful LinkedIn network that creates real opportunities. Most people struggle to grow on LinkedIn because they connect randomly. Or worse, they don’t connect at all. Yikes, right? I used to think posting alone would bring opportunities. But the real unlock? Strategic networking. Here’s the exact process that helped me build a network that works for me: 1. Most people connect randomly and get ignored. Instead, find the right people who can accelerate your success: ➜ Those who already attract the audience you want to reach ➜ Consistent LinkedIn creators who show up daily ➜ People 1-2 steps ahead in your niche 2. If you connect with inactive people, nothing happens. Instead, engage with those who are already active. ➜ Find People 1-2 steps ahead in your niche ➜ Look at their comment section. if they engage with similar content, they’re likely to engage with yours too. 3. A big network means nothing if no one cares. ➜ Build relationships with people who can actually unlock new doors. ➜ Send targeted connection requests to second-degree connections (mutuals help). ➜ Who have 500-15K followers. Not too small, but not too big to get lost in their inbox. 4. Most connection requests lead nowhere. ➜ When you start genuine conversations, real opportunities follow. ➜ Don’t just send a request: Comment on their posts and follow up with a DM. 5. If you only show up once in a while, you’ll be forgotten, but if you stay consistent, you become impossible to ignore. ➜ The best networkers don’t stop once they hit “connect.” ➜ They show up, contribute, and build influence over time. ➜ Stay consistent with your daily connection habits and your daily interaction habits. This is how I turned connections into real opportunities. And with a few tweaks, I’m starting to grow other platforms too. PS: What’s your go-to strategy for building a strong network?