The modern world is a place that works with communication. That is exactly what LinkedIn provides. There are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree connections on LinkedIn, and you can use them to grow a vast network of connections.
But are these connections all effective? What does 1st mean on LinkedIn? Is it fine to connect with our 3rd degree connections? Should you just add any random LinkedIn members to your network? ⁉️
LinkedIn is a social network just like Facebook and Instagram, but there is a difference between these social networks.
LinkedIn tries to connect professional people all around the world to elevate the level of creativity and give its members the most suitable job opportunities through the connections they make.
1st on LinkedIn mean people you're directly connected to because you've accepted their invitation to connect, or they've accepted your invitation.
LinkedIn 1st meaning, what are the icons next to each member’s name?
There are three types of connections: 1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree. How are they different? Which one can help you to progress faster?
1st degree connection on LinkedIn
1st degree meaning is so simple to understand on LinkedIn. It’s just like real-world connections. Your family and friends are your 1st degrees in the real world.
LinkedIn is a professional platform, so your 1st degree connections are the ones you sent invitations to or accepted their invitation.
What Does 1st Mean on LinkedIn? 1st means people are usually the most related ones to the field of your activities.
And the way to identify them is the “1st” icon next to their names. When you search them in the search box or just simply look at their profile, you can see that icon next to their names.
They are the most influential people for your progress on LinkedIn and in your real life.
2nd degree connection on LinkedIn
What Does 1st Mean on LinkedIn? They are the ones who are connected to your 1st degree connections.
You can also connect them by mail or an invitation. Although the common professional things between you and them are much less than the 1st degrees.
Yet they are the best choice to expand your LinkedIn network after the people LinkedIn suggests.
You might find good chances and opportunities between them, especially if you choose the best one of them for your new 1st degree connection.
3rd degree connection on LinkedIn
These people are like acquaintances in real life. You might have seen them once at a party or anywhere else. But you are not attached to them.
They are the 1st connections of your 2nd degree, and most of the time, there are zero standard fields between you and them.
Does this mean you better not connect with the 2nd and 3rd degrees? Is it helpful to connect them?
How do the connections on LinkedIn help you?
As we mentioned, we live in a time when connections are necessary for us. We need these connections in social life or our professional path.
To be honest, there is no better way to build a strong network of professional connections than LinkedIn these days. To do that, you need solid and valuable connections.
A vast and robust LinkedIn network makes you likelier to appear in other users’ search results.
Besides, your profile will appear on your every 1st connection homepage whenever you post a thing. People will notice you much more in this way.
Yes, connections don’t just appear out of thin air. You need to work on them.
Just like the way you build a friendship from scratch.
If you have some help on LinkedIn, it automatically finds the most suitable and related connections for you.
What will happen when you appear in other people’s searches?👀 People notice you, which will definitely increase your lead generation and/or sales.
Trying to make more and more 1st degree connections, publishing posts, and doing things like this will help you in this process.
Try to be more active on LinkedIn and have more and more 1st degree connections to attract more prospects and eventually elevate your sales.
It’s not that hard to get results from your marketing efforts, right?
Be cautious! Don’t add any random members to your network. We will talk about the best strategy to expand your network on LinkedIn.
But you need to remember that your LinkedIn connections are limited. So you really need to choose wisely to have a strong and beneficial LinkedIn network.
We talked about 1st degree connections and their benefits, but can the 3rd degrees make excellent and beneficial connections as well ⁉️
As you’ve noticed by now 3rd degree connections are out of your professional field circle. But sometimes they can get you some opportunities.
There are two types of 3rd degrees on LinkedIn. The ones who are connected to you through your 2nd degree connections and the ones who are totally out of your network.
The first category consists of the ones you can connect them by sending them invitations and the other type can only be reached by sending InMails.
The best strategy to vast your 1st degree network connections
First of all, we must mention that although it’s fine to try and make new friends, it is not the best way to grow your LinkedIn network.
First, you need to try and know your 1st connections. Then, if you insist on expanding your LinkedIn connections network, try inviting your 2nd degrees!
Yes, there are much more potential opportunities between them than between total strangers and 3rd-degree connections.
Guess what? The 3rd degrees are now your 2nd degree connections through your new 1st degree friends on LinkedIn.
Isn’t it so much better than choosing random people with different professions and preferences?⁉️
LinkedIn- the most professional social platform
LinkedIn started its work in May 2003, it is a job-oriented social network that people can use its website and application.
It tries to connect different professions, job seekers to employees (especially if they are hiring), and members of the same fields can find each other on LinkedIn.
This network has a huge income from selling different members’ information to the employees and job agencies. In 2020 LinkedIn members were 830 million people which is so huge and of course a significant marketing opportunity.
https://about.linkedin.com/
Many great companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and Sony are active on LinkedIn. This means you might have a chance to know when they are hiring.
Also, there are so many SMEs on LinkedIn that can be your perfect lead generation!
Yes, there is nowhere better than LinkedIn for modern marketing.
Conclusion
Having a vast network of LinkedIn connections is one of the best ways to know people who work in a common field.
LinkedIn has 3 types of connections: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree.
We talked about what is 1st on LinkedIn, what are other connection levels, and how they can benefit us in this article.
1st degree connections are the people who you directly invited to your LinkedIn or the ones who follow you.
They have some 1st connections who will be your 2nd degree and these people connections will be your 3rd degree.
If you want to expand your network, it’s better to go step by step from 1st to 2nd and then 3rd.
The worst idea is to invite any random member that you see. So let’s have an organized LinkedIn network.
Related questions & answers
what does 2nd-degree connection mean on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn, a 2nd-degree connection refers to someone who is connected to one of your connections on the platform, but not directly connected to you. It is essentially a second level of connection. You can view 2nd-degree connections’ profiles and send them connection requests or messages, but you may need an introduction from one of your 1st-degree connections to do so.
What does 3rd mean on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn, a “3rd” degree connection refers to a user who is not connected with you, but is connected to one of your “2nd” degree connections. In other words, they are one degree of separation further away from you than your 2nd degree connections. This means that they are not in your immediate network, but you may still be able to reach out to them through a mutual connection or by sending an InMail message.
How to see 2nd connections on LinkedIn?
To see your 2nd-degree connections on LinkedIn, first, log in to your account and click on the “My Network” icon in the top menu bar. Then, select “Connections” from the drop-down menu. On the next page, you’ll see all of your 1st-degree connections. To view your 2nd-degree connections, click on the filter icon at the top of the page and select “2nd” under the “Connections” tab. This will filter the list to show only your 2nd-degree connections.
FAQ
What does the 1st 2nd and 3rd mean on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree connections represent different levels of connection with other users. A 1st-degree connection is someone you’re directly connected with, either because you’ve accepted their invitation or they’ve accepted yours. 2nd-degree connections are people who are connected to your 1st-degree connections. You can connect with them through a mutual connection or by sending an invitation with a personalized message. 3rd-degree connections are one step further removed and are connected to your 2nd-degree connections. You can connect with them in a similar way to 2nd-degree connections. Understanding these degrees helps you gauge your network’s reach and tailor your outreach and networking efforts accordingly.
Why does LinkedIn say 1st or 2nd?
LinkedIn uses the terms “1st” or “2nd” to indicate the degree of connection between users. “1st” means you are directly connected with that person, either because you’ve accepted their invitation or they’ve accepted yours. “2nd” signifies that you are not directly connected but share a mutual connection, someone in your network is also connected to that person. Understanding these degrees helps you know how closely you’re connected to others on the platform and can guide your networking and outreach strategies accordingly.
Why can’t I connect with 3rd on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn, you cannot connect directly with 3rd-degree connections because they are more distant in your network. To connect with a 3rd-degree connection, you typically need to first establish a connection with a 2nd-degree connection who is connected to the person you want to connect with. Once that 2nd-degree connection accepts your invitation or if you already have a mutual connection with them, you can then reach out and connect with the 3rd-degree connection through the intermediary 2nd-degree connection. This is LinkedIn’s way of encouraging connections through mutual contacts and maintaining a level of trust and professionalism in networking on the platform.
Can you see how someone is a 3rd connection on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn, you can see that someone is a 3rd-degree connection by viewing their profile. When you visit their profile, it will display that they are a 3rd-degree connection to you. Additionally, LinkedIn often provides information about shared connections or mutual connections who link you to that 3rd-degree connection. This helps you understand how you are connected to them through your network and gives you an idea of who could potentially introduce you or facilitate a connection with that person if you want to connect with them.
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