Networking on LinkedIn Without Feeling Pushy

When you're a salesperson or entrepreneur, the goal on LinkedIn isn't to sell. It's to start trusted conversations that can lead to sales. “How do I sell on LinkedIn?” Feels like the right question. After all, you're in sales. LinkedIn is a business networking platform. Selling makes sense… right? As someone who has taught LinkedIn for 11 years now, and has been on since the beginning of the platform, I've seen all kinds of people go through a transition: When they treat LinkedIn like a sales tool, they sound like… a salesperson. The kind people avoid. The kind who connects and immediately pitches (I literally just got one of those today!). The kind that gets ignored, archived, or removed altogether. The people who want to do LinkedIn right discover that approach doesn't work... not only not for them, but not for the people who they're trying to reach. So stop asking, “How do I sell here?” And start asking this of yourself instead: “How do I start more trusted conversations that can lead to sales?” Believe me, that changes everything. I see it all the time in the people we coach and train on how to use LinkedIn to start sales conversations... without being salesy. You start listening more. Commenting more. Asking better questions. Offering value without expecting anything in return. (The last one is a biggie.) And slowly -- sometimes quickly -- real conversations began. Connections deepen. Trust is built. And most important? Sales don’t need to be forced… because they naturally happen. That’s when you'll realize: LinkedIn isn’t about selling. It’s about earning the right to sell *through* trust. Whether you’re looking to grow your business, expand your network, or open doors in your career, this mindset shift is key: The best LinkedIn sellers don’t sound like sellers at all. So start conversations. Build trust. Let the sales follow. Have you made this shift yourself? Or are you still navigating how to do it? Let’s talk... in the comments, of course. No pitch. Just real conversations.

If you're using LinkedIn to build your personal network, make sure you DM people with the right intent. Too many people try to reach out to me (and others) without a willingness to invest in a real relationship. It can be hard trying to find producers, agents, and managers for your screenwriting career. And a lot of advice will tell you that it's a numbers game. If someone reaches out wanting an immediate collaboration right away, that impatience is a red flag. But if someone reaches out with a genuine desire to get to know each other, even if it doesn't result in immediate gratification, well then maybe you have the beginning of real friendship here. But by "real friendship," I don't mean asking strangers if they want to meet you for coffee. This can work as an approach if they're at the same level as you and are also trying to expand their network. But for someone at a different level than you? Someone who fields dozens of these requests every single day? Someone who is already stressed about how few hours they have in the week to move their projects forward and nurture their own relationships? Start even smaller. Demonstrate a willingness to invest in the relationship by: - Reading the information they offer for free, putting it into place in your career, and reporting back with a success story about how it worked for you. - Asking for one specific piece of advice that relates to your career. - Proactively finding something that you can help them with and offering it to them. - Signing up for their class or service, investing in their paid ecosystem. - Offering support for a project or effort that they have. - Spread the word about a service that they offer. - Invite them to an event that will benefit them--beyond just meeting you for coffee one-on-one. Get creative about expanding your network. It will take time, effort, and work. But you'll have way better results, which will actually end up making it way more worth your time.

𝐈 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐃𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝. Traditional networking felt like a full-time job. Attending events, making small talk, collecting cards I’d never follow up on. It was exhausting and rarely meaningful. So I stopped forcing it. And I started using LinkedIn to build real relationships on my own terms. Here’s what changed: ✅ I show up through content that reflects my expertise and values ✅ I leave thoughtful comments that turn into real conversations ✅ I reply to DMs without a pitch, just genuine curiosity ✅ I connect with people I’d actually want to learn from or work with LinkedIn isn’t about growing a list. It’s about growing a network that matters. And you don’t need to be everywhere or talk to everyone to do that well. The best connections are built through value, relevance, and consistency. Not loud events. Not forced follow-ups. If you’ve been avoiding “networking” because it feels like a chore, maybe it’s time to redefine what it looks like. Let your content do the intro. Let your curiosity do the rest. #LinkedInTips #NetworkingStrategy #RelationshipMarketing #ContentThatConnects #LinkedInGrowth

Crazy underrated networking "hack" that helps other people, makes you feel great, and lets you build connections without the ick. Especially if you hate networking. Be a connector. I recently turned down an opportunity that wasn't right for me. But I mentioned a friend who'd be perfect for it. She got the job! Making that intro felt better than any networking event I've ever attended. Most of us think networking = asking for favors. But the best "networkers" I know are constantly giving. They're the ones who: • Mention your name for a new opportunity • Introduce you to someone in their industry • Refer you to open roles at their company • Share resources without being asked This is like career karma. Once you start connecting others, the same energy comes back to you. It's tough out there, so we have to help each other. How to start being a connector: 1️⃣ Start small You don't need a newsletter or community to be a connector. Share an industry event. Tag someone in a relevant post. Forward that job listing. Small connections compound. You don't have to be an "influencer" to be influential. 2️⃣ Let others connect you Don't be afraid to ask for intros yourself. And pay it forward. 3️⃣ Hang with other connectors Whether online or IRL, being around people who do this makes it feel natural. 4️⃣ Tell people you're open to helping End conversations with: "Is there anyone I can introduce you to?" or "What are you looking for right now - opportunities, partners, clients?" 5️⃣ Stay organized Use Dex, Notion, or a spreadsheet (if you must) to track your network. I actually just used Lovable to build a simple tool myself. Or use your brain if you're better than the rest of us. Real example from this month: • Person A: Hiring for a Chief of Staff with experience in a specific industry • Person B: Looking for a generalist role with experience in that industry • One intro email and a few weeks later: Person A got the job! That took me 5 minutes. Cost me nothing. Made both of them happy. Who's the best connector you know and what do they do better than everyone else?

Don’t be that person. I love connecting with people on LinkedIn, but some of these messages? Yikes. Let’s address a few common networking mistakes I see all too often… ❌ “Hi. Can I pick your brain?” Translation: “Can you give me free consulting without context?” ✅ Instead: Be specific. “I’m exploring optimization and have a question about [specific topic]. Would you be open to a quick chat?” ❌ “Can you help me break into [industry]?” Translation: “Please do my career planning for me.” ✅ Instead: Show effort. “I’ve been studying [skill/tool], and I’m stuck on [problem]. What do you recommend I focus on next?” ❌ “Hey, I’d love to collaborate.” Translation: “I want something, but I won’t tell you what.” ✅ Instead: Pitch with purpose. “I see you’re working on [project]. I have experience with [specific skill]. Here’s how I can help.” Networking is not about throwing a line into the void and hoping someone does the work for you. It’s about showing genuine interest, doing your homework, and respecting the other person’s time. Want to stand out in someone’s inbox? 💡 Be clear. 💡 Be concise. 💡 Show you’ve already taken the first step. The best connections come from effort, not copy-pasting the same vague message. Let’s do better, one DM at a time. #GetHired2025

I made my job search 3x longer. All because I tried "networking." Then one day, my mentor asked me, "Bogdan, why are you reaching out to random people asking for referrals?" I was confused. Isn't that what you're supposed to do?? I was following some bad LinkedIn advice (shocking I know) 🤦 It was only when my mentor explained real networking that things started to click. Here's what he said... "Networking is like a piggy bank. If you haven't made any deposits, it will always stay empty. You don't need to make big deposits either. Even tossing in a few coins goes a long way." Here's what that looks like on LinkedIn: 1️⃣ COMMENTS The simplest way to make a deposit is by commenting on someone's post (you can start with this one ;) 💡 Why this works: LinkedIn automatically shares the post to your network when you comment, so it helps the person get more reach. 2️⃣ ADVICE The next best way is by sending a message asking for advice. 💡 Why it works: Asking someone for their expertise makes the person feel valued. Use this script (it works very well) "Hey <name>, I'm thinking of applying to <Company Name> and I was wondering would you recommend working there? Is it a good culture?" ☝ Keep your ask to a small yes/no question. DO NOT ask for a referral until you've made at least 4 "deposits" to your piggy bank. That means: ↳ 4 comments or... ↳ 4 messages back and forth ↳ With one person. Start making deposits to your piggy bank now. If you do it right, the payoff can be huge 😉 ____________ P.S. To be clear, networking isn't everything. You should have a 5-10% interview rate from cold applications. When you add networking, it can boost it to a 10-15% interview rate. ☝ If you're not hitting those numbers, feel free to reach out and I'm happy to discuss what could be the issue. _ #hiring #jobsearch