#LinkedInTips : Frustrated On LinkedIn? Use These Tips To Build Fruitful Connections. Networking is Not Only LinkedIn. Go Out & Meet Real People.
I’m old enough to remember a time when Facebook was just for college students, X was just another letter in the alphabet, and LinkedIn was the nerdy social media platform you might update if you got a new job or promotion, but even then, probably not.
Today, I’m one of more than 134 million users who log on to LinkedIn every day, not only because much of my work is in the career development space, but as a freelancer, I’m also continuously looking for new work myself. Plus, as a former member of the “I only network when I really need a job” club, I now know that making and maintaining professional relationships is something I should do no matter my job status.
Sure, LinkedIn isn’t perfect, and no social media platform is. But if you’re one of the frustrated LinkedIn users who haven’t seen any professional benefits, have a think about how you’re actually using it. According to Simone Anzböck, a transformational international career coach, making LinkedIn work for you is about far more than just updating your profile or broadcasting a job search.
“LinkedIn is not a passive platform,” Anzböck tells me. “It’s relationship-driven, and relationships need to be nurtured with intention.” Turning a connection into a job lead also doesn’t happen overnight. “This is a long-term strategy,” Anzböck points out. “You sometimes need to go beyond the LinkedIn platform and turn these connections into real conversations, even if it’s just a virtual coffee.”
Ultimately, it’s about showing up with consistency, curiosity, and a clear purpose. “You don’t need to be a LinkedIn influencer,” Anzböck says. “You just need to be strategic and intentional. The rest will follow.” Here are three actionable tips she shares for using LinkedIn more strategically and authentically to get some real value out of the platform.
Before diving into posting, commenting, or sending out dozens of connection requests, Anzböck advises taking a step back to get crystal clear on what you hope to accomplish.
“What is your objective?” and “How will LinkedIn help you with that?” are questions you should be asking yourself before moving forward, Anzböck says. “Your strategy should align with your goal. Someone looking to become a thought leader will use the platform differently than someone searching for a new job.”
Once you know what you’re trying to accomplish, think of how this can be reflected in your LinkedIn profile. After all, a comprehensive LinkedIn profile gives you a 71% higher chance of landing a job interview, according to one study.
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Consider approaching your updated profile like it’s a “shop window” that aligns with your goal. A smart shop owner shows the most relevant products in their window, the ones that speak to the right customer. They also won’t crowd the window with every item they sell in their shop. It’s similar on LinkedIn.
“It’s not about showing everything you’ve done. It’s about showing what’s relevant,” she says. That means updating your headline with strategic keywords, crafting a focused “About” section, and highlighting the most pertinent parts of your experience.
Focus On Building And Nurturing “Weak Ties”
When it comes to growing your professional network, Anzböck highlighted the common misconception that more is always better. “Nobody really needs 10,000 followers,” she says. “LinkedIn should be about meaningful connections, not mass accumulation.”
To illustrate this point, Anzböck mentioned the British anthropologist Robin Dunbar’s research that most people can only properly maintain around 150 relationships and connections at once. While she acknowledged that this theory has been questioned in the age of social media, the main point of Dunbar’s research is still valid.
“Whether the number is 150, 200, or 250, most social scientists agree that there is a limited number of people that you can really maintain ties with,” she says.
This ties into another theory on the power of “weak ties” that originated with Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter’s 1973 study and was proven to be as relevant for LinkedIn users by researchers in 2022. Their study involved 20,000 users over a five-year period and found that a person’s weakest ties were the most helpful for career advancement, especially for those in sectors with a digital focus.
“If you have 500 contacts on LinkedIn, think about who those 150 are that might be weak ties worth focusing on,” Anzböck says. These may be acquaintances who do not know you deeply, but they are close enough to potentially recommend you or make introductions.
“Weak ties are bridges to new social circles,” she says. “They’re often more useful for job leads than your closest friends, who probably know the same people you do.”
Aim To Engage Consistently And Thoughtfully
“Don’t just post and ghost,” Anzböck says, referring to users who publish content but don’t engage with others on the platform. Instead, she recommends five principles for effective engagement: Be visible, be helpful, actively connect, train the algorithm, and (optionally) post original content.
Visibility, she explains, starts with commenting, not just liking. “Commenting is a great way to be visible because your profile shows up on another person’s feed for everyone to see,” Anzböck says. “But go beyond just saying, ‘Love this!’ Add your perspective, ask a question, contribute to the discourse.”
Being helpful is also key. That could mean sharing a relevant article, tagging someone in a job post, or making a warm introduction. “Think of it as social karma,” Anzböck says. “If you’re helpful to others, the help will come back to you.”
When sending connection requests, she advises always including a personalized note. “Say why you want to connect. Mention something specific from their profile or content. Ask a question. Be interested,” she recommends.
While posting your own content can help with visibility, it’s not a must. To be visible with content, you have to be consistent over a long period of time to see the payoff. “You can’t be consistent with something you don’t enjoy. So, if you don’t enjoy creating content, don’t do it just because you think you should,” she says, quoting a content strategist: “If you don’t see content creation as an artful, soulful activity, don’t do it.”
Instead, focus on training your algorithm by engaging with the topics and people most aligned with your goals. LinkedIn will show you more of what you interact with, so be deliberate. “Unfollow what’s not relevant. Like and comment on what is.”
By applying these principles, job seekers and professionals alike can use LinkedIn not just as a digital resume but as a dynamic tool for meaningful career development. But Anzböck also advises against falling into the trap that all networking can and should take place on LinkedIn.
According to Anzböck, “Networking is not only LinkedIn. Go out in the real world and meet real people. Everything might seem to happen on LinkedIn, but that is far from true. Especially since the pandemic, more and more people crave real spaces. So find your offline spaces too. You might just enjoy it that little bit more.”
Forbes.com | June 25, 2025 | Justin Sablich
