What Do I Do After I Connect on LinkedIn?
The simple system for building real business relationships online
So you’ve done the work—your LinkedIn profile looks sharp, your calendar is aligned, and you’ve started sending connection requests. Someone accepts your invite. Yay!
And then… nothing.
Crickets.
What do you actually do after someone connects with you?
If your answer is “wait and hope,” it’s time to shift that approach.
Why Connecting Isn’t Enough
Connections are just that—an initial spark. The real magic happens when you follow up with clarity, kindness, and curiosity. This is where your business can blossom, if (and only if) you take intentional action.
And that’s why I built this follow-up system over five years. It’s simple, effective, and feels good on both sides of the screen.
Here’s My Message Template
Once someone connects with me, here’s what I send—customized with their name, of course:
“Hi [Name],
Thank you for reaching out to me here on LinkedIn. Since you wished to connect, I’ve made the assumption that you saw something in my profile that you thought would be helpful to your business. What did you have in mind—collaboration, being a guest on one of my podcast shows, or writing your business story?
I look forward to hearing from you.
– Janine”
It’s direct.
It’s warm.
And it honors their initiative while gently asking for the why.
I paste that message in, make sure I use their name (not “Name”), and send it off.
Then?
I wait.
The Gentle Follow-Up Flow
I don’t pounce.
I don’t hover.
I trust the system:
After 2 weeks: “Hi [Name], just circling back. How’s business going?”
After 4 weeks: Another light, conversational message.
Then monthly check-ins—until they respond or let the relationship fade.
Sometimes people take two years to reply—and when they do, they often say: “I’m so sorry I didn’t respond earlier. Thank you for your patience!”
That’s the beauty of this approach. It’s not pushy. It’s powerful. And most importantly—it’s human.
Why This Works
People are busy. But when someone connects with you, they’ve opened a door.
Your job is to gently knock every so often, until the timing is right.
This is the heart of relationship marketing: respectful persistence and genuine curiosity.
If they connected with you, it means they saw something in your work.
Your job now is to find out what and see where it leads.
Want to Learn My Full System?
This blog post is just one lesson from my 5-Day LinkedIn Connection Course where I show you:
How to write a profile that invites opportunity
What to say when you connect
How to follow up like a pro (without being a robot)
And how to move people from connect to conversation—with kindness and clarity
👉 Learn more about the Course
And if you want to dive deeper into sales, creative connection, and community support, come hang out with me at:
☕ OPEN Friday Coffee – A weekly Zoom circle for entrepreneurs, authors, and creatives-in-the-making.
We laugh.
We strategize.
We launch things at 70%.
And we drink coffee.
See you soon?
