May 5, 2021
Have you seen some LinkedIn accounts with follow instead of connect on their Introductory card?
What does this mean and which should you have on your profile?
The default setting on LinkedIn profiles is to show the ‘Connect’ button. It appears to the right of your profile photo.
When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, you are automatically following their content.
When you ‘follow’ someone on LinkedIn, you will see posts from that person in your newsfeed, but they will not see yours. When you follow someone but don’t connect, they are not following your activity on LinkedIn.
According to LinkedIn, your network should consist of people you already know. The follow option is to follow posts and articles from someone you want to hear from, but you don’t know.
For example, the above profile is the News Editor for LinkedIn News. So you may want to follow her articles on LinkedIn news.
Having a smaller network of people you want to engage with on LinkedIn usually provides a better experience than connecting with lots of people you don’t know.
How to build a powerful network on LinkedIn
One reason to choose to follow someone rather than connect, is if they are a thought leader within your industry and you want to keep on top of what is happening in the industry.
Examples of people you may want to follow – speakers, podcasters, authors, politicians.
*With LinkedIn Premium, you can send up to 15 ‘InMails’ per month to people who are not your connections.
If you wish to build a network of people to engage with on LinkedIn, then it is probably a good idea to keep your profile as ‘connect’ first.
If you wish to build a following of people who want to learn from you and read your content, then set your profile to Follow first.