Clean up your LinkedIn network: A step-by-step guide to removing connections
Be honest. Do you know how many LinkedIn connections you currently have? And, more importantly, do you care about the number? We understand if you do.
After all, LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network, with over 700 million users, and having an extensive network on this platform can provide numerous benefits.
One of the primary advantages is increased visibility. More connections mean more people can see your profile, posts, and updates, which can help you establish a more substantial online presence and attract more job opportunities. Additionally, a larger network allows you to expand your reach and connect with more professionals in your industry or related fields. This can be particularly beneficial if you seek mentorship or advice or want to grow your business and be seen as a thought leader. With access to more resources and information, an extensive LinkedIn network can help you stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments, giving you a competitive edge in your career.
But we all know that not all connections are equal, and sometimes removing a contact from your LinkedIn account is necessary. This article will explain when to say goodbye to one of your connections, how to remove a contact quickly, and what etiquette to remember.
When is it time to say goodbye on LinkedIn?
When contemplating removing a contact, there are a few things to consider, and they all boil down to your goals on LinkedIn. Do you desire to be a thought leader in your field? Are you looking to utilize your contacts to get a job? Or are you looking for customers to help grow your business? Those are things to consider when deciding which connections to hold on to and which to let go of.
Once you have determined your priorities, you want connections conducive to those goals. Are you connected with people in related industries who could offer you jobs you would be interested in or who could benefit from the products or services you provide?
1. Quality over quantity.
People who fit into your overall goals will likely interact with your content. There is no point in having hundreds of connections if they don't contribute to the conversations you are facilitating online. Or if they are not someone you'd like to connect with offline.
Accepting a connection request could be the beginning of a relationship, or the acceptance could be the extent of the interaction. Sometimes when we connect with people, they don't comment on our posts, we don't find what they post interesting, and we have no desire to meet them in person. Those are not quality connections. On the other hand, if you find that person interesting, are making an effort to build a rapport with them, and the relationship is mutually beneficial, then it is a valuable contact.
Networking is not a transaction. It is a two-way street, so mutual beneficialness is vital. If you have contacts that only inbox you to promote events that aren't relevant, then those aren't genuine connections. Those people are spamming you. There are theories out there that networking is a numbers game, while there is some truth in that if the people messaging you aren't taking the time to get to know you or considering what matters to you, those are not the type of numbers you need.
2. Streamline your feed.
Consider the content you want to consume and adjust your connections accordingly. Snip away if you feel like strangers are cluttering your feed with overly personal life updates or memes that would be better suited for less professional platforms. Those are valid reasons for removing connections.
However, having people with different voices and perspectives on your feed is often helpful in broadening your exposure. Following people with varied viewpoints will open you to content you might not otherwise consume. It's beneficial to observe the interesting content of people who differ from you, and as a bonus, sharing their high-quality posts can also widen your audience's perspective.
3. Strong ties and weak ties.
When going through our LinkedIn connections, we could separate them into two main categories: strong ties and weak ties.
Strong ties are people we know well. We have either worked with them, have been in groups with them, are friends with them, or are related to them. Our strong ties create our community, but they are typically groups of people with many similarities and are less likely to contribute new information or perspectives.
Networks of strong ties tend to be self-limiting and often act as a filtered bubble. The homogenous nature of our groups can stem from confirmation bias, which is the natural tendency for humans to seek out information that supports our beliefs. When we widen our social network to include weak ties, we are more likely to have our worldviews challenged, leading to more critical thinking.
In 1973 Nick Granovetter wrote an article entitled "The Strength of Weak Ties." In it, he categorized interpersonal ties as strong, weak, or absent and presented his theory about weak ties. The weak tie theory presumes that acquaintances are likely to be more influential than close friends regarding our exposure to new beneficial opportunities because they have access to people and resources outside our circle of influence.
Conversely, a study by Rajiv Garg and Rahul Telang showed that weak ties could negatively affect job search efforts. A prime example is when LinkedIn users spent more time searching on their social networks chasing leads that didn't result in jobs and less time on other job boards where they could apply directly for positions.
The third category of absent ties - connections that might be expected to exist but don't - is also a possibility. You can compare absent ties with people you "nod" to, such as others living on your street or your Starbucks baristas, but otherwise don't interact with.
Consider all your options for crafting your LinkedIn network.
There is no clear science regarding the right kind of people to connect with on LinkedIn. But having a combination of ties is your best bet for streamlining your feed and having quality connections. As you contemplate who to stay connected with, know that weak and absent ties can easily transform into strong ties through interaction.
1. Block a contact.
When tidying up your feed and going through your connections, you have a few options to consider: Block, unfollow, or remove the connection. Blocking is typically reserved for when someone is spamming you or if you want to cut off all communication with that person. When you block someone, they can no longer see your profile or contact you.
2. Unfollow a contact.
The unfollow button is helpful if you want to spend your time on LinkedIn more effectively and aim to be selective in your feed. Unfollowing will hide the selected person's posts but allows you to contact them. When you remove a connection, the other person can still see your profile and contact you, but you will no longer see their content in your feed.
3. Remove a contact.
When you remove a connection on LinkedIn, they will no longer be able to see your updates or activity on the platform, and you will no longer be able to see theirs. They will also no longer appear in your connections list, and you will no longer appear in theirs.
It's worth noting that if you have any pending messages or invitations from the connection you remove, those will also be deleted. Additionally, if you have endorsed or recommended the connection, those endorsements and recommendations will be removed from their profile.
How to remove LinkedIn connections
Removing a connection on LinkedIn is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few clicks. Here's how:
Step 1: Log in to your LinkedIn account and go to your "My Network" tab.
Step 2: Find the connection you want to remove and click on the three dots on the right side of their profile picture.
Step 3: Click on "Remove connection" from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: A confirmation message will pop up. Click "Remove" to confirm that you want to remove this connection.
And that's it!
What's the proper LinkedIn etiquette regarding removing connections?
Are you worried about what former contacts will think of you after you remove the connection? Don't worry!
We all imagined the person might get a direct message, followed by a loud siren from their computer, and concluded with a handwritten note delivered by a carrier pigeon. But that's not going to happen, so relax! If and when you choose to remove a contact, the person will never know.
While LinkedIn will not notify your former connections about the fact that you have removed them, they may notice that you are no longer connected to them if they try to message or connect with you in the future. The chances of this happening are small since you followed a strategic approach of who you want to stay connected to and how not.
Let's clean up your LinkedIn connections!
So remember always to take a strategic approach when making decisions related to your connections. Consider your goals and options and make choices that best benefit you.
What has been your experience with removing LinkedIn connections? What things do you consider when tidying up your feed? We can't wait to hear your insights!
Photos by krakenimages on Unsplash; Cytonn Photography on Unsplash; and Diva Plavalaguna on Pexels.