How to Actually Build Successful Relationships on LinkedIn (to Grow Your Business)
Everyone tells you to “build relationships” on LinkedIn to be successful.
But what does that actually look like in practice?
Spoiler: Your LinkedIn content won’t go anywhere without meaningful connections engaging with it.
As someone who’s made close to a million dollars leveraging my personal network both on and off LinkedIn, here’s what works best:
1. Physically show up for your business
Live events, retreats, and conferences work wonders for deepening relationships. Even if you’re in a remote location or on a tight schedule, virtual events can also be powerful. Once you’ve attended an event, adding those fellow attendees as LinkedIn connection can help nurture and deepen the very first interaction.
Even planning just one live or virtual touchpoint each quarter will keep your network fresh, expand your circle, and help nurture key relationships. Especially if you met first on LinkedIn and now will get to meet in real life, that will just help build trust.
2. Bring community activity from other platforms onto LinkedIn
Many entrepreneurs are active in other communities—Slack groups, Circle, WhatsApp chats, private forums, masterminds, etc.
But those platforms only go so far.
Move those connections onto LinkedIn:
Engage thoughtfully on other member’s posts
Tag them in opportunities that are relevant
Slide into their DMs to check in and reconnect
This builds a more public-facing LinkedIn connection and strengthens your professional reputation at the same time.
3. Collaborate through content or joint offers
LinkedIn content is a great way to deepen a relationship with someone you admire and provide value to your audience.
Try:
Co-writing a LinkedIn post, newsletter, or blog
Recording a podcast episode together and sharing on LinkedIn
Hosting a joint workshop or pop-up offering and using LinkedIn to drive RSVPs
It not only strengthens the relationship—it can expand both your audiences and networks.
4. Send something in the mail
Snail mail is not dead.
I met Ben Cooper and Brittany Joy Cooper of Amplify at a conference in September. We realized we serve overlapping audiences and saw a referral opportunity.
Soon after, they mailed me the most thoughtful referral partner package—swag included.
It’s simple but powerful: this level of effort stands out. It deepened our professional relationship, and I can’t wait to return the favor. We mostly now just keep in touch via LinkedIn but it definitely fast tracked my trust in them.
5. Keep track, set reminders, stay in touch
I use Notion to keep track of industry and professional connections. Weekly, I do a LinkedIn content sweep to see what key people are posting about.
I also make a habit of tracking milestones—birthdays, launches, anniversaries—so I can check in meaningfully and consistently.
A little thoughtfulness goes a long way.
TL;DR – LinkedIn Relationship Building That Works:
Take yourself to in-person events (or virtual ones!)
Strengthen community relationships by bringing them onto LinkedIn
Collaborate with your network through LinkedIn content or offers
Send thoughtful snail mail to stand out
Use a tracking system to stay in touch with LinkedIn
Any combination of the above—done with consistency—will support both your business and your network’s growth.
P.S. If you want to build a LinkedIn relationship-building strategy that leads to strategic partners, steady referrals, and amplifies the networking actions you’re already taking—let’s talk. Reach out to schedule a time to connect.
