One of the safeguards that LinkedIn imposes on its platform is the inability of users to connect with people they do not know. If your connection is not part of one of your groups, and if you do not have a valid email address for them, and if you do not have a mutual connection who is willing to introduce you, LinkedIn will prevent you from connecting. Clearly, this precaution exists to prevent individuals from spamming the platform with connection requests. However, you can get around this precaution using a targeted strategy that enables you to connect with the right people. Read on to learn how you can expand your first-degree connections to include people you do not know.

1. A Sneaky Way to Connect
with Second-Degree Targets
on LinkedIn
Amy L. Adler
CEO

2. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
How to Connect with People
You Don’t Know on LinkedIn
• Use a targeted
strategy that enables
you to connect with
the right people.
• Follow these 6 steps
to expand your first-
degree connections to
include people you do
not know.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net."
Read the Full Article Here

3. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
Step 1: Identify Characteristics
of Your Desired Connections
• Think about the type of
person with whom you
wish to connect.
• Criteria might include:
– Industry
– Position level
– Company name
• This list might have
several elements; in
fact the more you use,
the more refined your
search results will be.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net."

4. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
Step 2: Set Up an Advanced
Search to Create the Right Results
• Locate the search bar
at the top of your
LinkedIn screen.
• Click on a link called
“Advanced Search.”

5. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
Step 3: Input Your Search
Criteria from Step 1
• Write a search query in
the text box.
• Focus on including all of
the search terms that you
believe are relevant.
• Uncheck all relationship
statuses except “2nd
connections.”
• Click the “Search” button
at the bottom left of your
screen.

6. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
Step 4: Evaluate Your Results
• Is this the right list?
• If not, refine your
search criteria and try
again.
• If this list does look
right,
– Start looking at the
blurbs or profiles of the
people in your results
list.
– Verify whether they are
the right ones with whom
you might connect.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net."

7. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
Step 5: Choose a Few Profiles
You Wish to Connect
• Choose several people with
whom you would like to
connect.
• Do not choose too many, or
your connection requests will
appear to be spam to the
LinkedIn interface.
• Write them down in a list for
your records (this is important).
• Look on the right of the screen
to where the “Connect” buttons
are located, and click to make
the appropriate connections.
Image courtesy of pakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

8. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
Importance of Your List
• You will notice that
these send out
automated connection
requests that you
cannot modify or
customize.
• You will not have a
record in your profile of
your request to
connect, which makes
having a list of those to
whom you reached out
very important.
Image courtesy of Rawich / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

9. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
Step 6: Wait for Your Requests
to Be Accepted
• In some cases, you might risk
being flagged as attempting to
spam or given the dreaded “I
do not know” response.
• Try this strategy with only a
few targeted people only every
few days to weeks.
• It can result in your being able
to connect with specific targets
that you need to advance your
executive job search.
• Using this strategy wrong
could potentially harm your
LinkedIn presence if used
inappropriately.
Image courtesy of mrpuen / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

10. http://www.fivestrengths.comhttp://www.fivestrengths.com
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