Last week someone reached out to me on LinkedIn. The way they approached it really stood out, and it reminded me of what great connectors tend to do differently. It felt like a great topic to share in this week’s newsletter.
To start with, the LinkedIn connection request came through with a genuine note about why they thought it would be good for us to connect – they made a great digital-first impression!
We exchanged a few messages in LinkedIn Messenger. That led to booking a short (30 minute) Zoom chat. Now we’re meeting for lunch next week.
What stood out to me about the whole interaction was how human it felt. It wasn’t pushy. It didn’t feel transactional. It wasn’t scripted.
It simply felt like two professionals being curious about each other’s work and open to a conversation.
The interaction got me thinking about something I see often when working with professionals on LinkedIn. Great connectors tend to approach the platform a little differently.
Here are five things I notice they do particularly well (and why it works).
1. They personalise the first message
Great connectors rarely send a generic connection request. Instead, they reference something specific. It might be a post, a shared industry, a mutual experience or something they noticed in someone’s profile.
Why this works That small moment of context immediately signals that the connection is intentional rather than random. It shows the person that you have taken the time to understand who they are before reaching out.
2. They keep the first interaction simple
The most effective outreach messages are not essays or scripted. They introduce themselves, explain why they reached out and leave the door open for a response. There’s no pressure attached to the message.
Why this works Simple messages are easier to respond to. They feel conversational rather than formal, which makes it much more likely that the other person will reply and continue the conversation.
3. They focus on the person, not the transaction
People tend to sense quickly when a conversation has a hidden agenda. Great connectors start by understanding the person first. What they’re working on, what interests them, and what’s happening in their world.
In my case, they had clearly taken the time to look at what I’ve been working on recently and brought that into the conversation.
Because of that, the exchange felt genuine. Opportunities tend to emerge later as a natural outcome of the relationship.
Why this works When people feel seen and understood, they are far more open to building a relationship. Trust tends to form more quickly when the focus is on the person rather than the outcome.
4. They don’t rush it
The strongest professional networks aren’t built overnight. Great connectors view every interaction as the start of a potential long-term relationship. They stay curious, stay engaged and remain open to where the conversation might lead over time.
Why this works When there is no pressure to achieve a specific outcome quickly, conversations tend to feel more relaxed and authentic.
5. They move conversations beyond the platform
LinkedIn is often where the conversation begins, not where it ends. At the right moment, great connectors suggest taking the conversation a step further.
It might be a short call. In my example, it was a 30-minute Zoom conversation. Short, simple and very effective.
Why this works Moving a conversation beyond the platform helps turn a digital interaction into a real professional relationship. Even a short call can create a stronger connection than many messages back and forth.
What’s next?
What better way to meet your LinkedIn connections than in person?
That’s part of what Local Link is designed for. It sits at the intersection of connection and professional development, bringing together professionals who want to have great conversations, learn something new and strengthen their networks.
Our next Brisbane event is coming up on 25 March, and it’s always a fantastic room of business owners, leaders and professionals who enjoy thoughtful conversation and meaningful connection. You can get your tickets here.
We’re also excited to be taking Local Link on the road in May with two pop-up events and you can get tickets to those here:
- Local Link Networking | Melbourne Pop Up Event | Tuesday the 19th of May from 5:30 pm
- Local Link Networking | Sydney Pop Up Event | Thursday 21st of May from 5:30 pm
If you’ve ever thought “we should catch up sometime” with someone from LinkedIn, this might be the perfect opportunity to make that conversation happen.