You've just come across an interesting profile on LinkedIn that could be valuable to your professional network. Your finger hovers over the options – should you click "Connect" or "Follow"? This seemingly simple choice actually represents two very different relationship dynamics on the platform, and making the right decision can significantly impact your networking effectiveness.

Many LinkedIn users express confusion about this exact scenario. As one user on Reddit put it: "I don't understand the difference. Connect is to follow the person and to ask them to follow you at the same time, so why do I want to just follow?"

This uncertainty is common, but understanding the strategic differences between these options can transform your LinkedIn experience from random connections to purposeful networking.

The Fundamental Difference: Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Relationships

At its core, the distinction between connecting and following on LinkedIn comes down to the nature of the relationship:

Connect: The Mutual Agreement

Connecting on LinkedIn represents a synchronous, two-way relationship – similar to Facebook friendships. When you send a connection invite, you're proposing a mutual agreement where:

• Both parties can view each other's complete profiles

• Direct messaging becomes available through LinkedIn's inbox

• Updates from each other appear in your respective feeds

• You gain visibility into each other's networks (to varying degrees)

Connecting is ideal when you genuinely want to build a professional relationship with someone – colleagues, industry peers, potential mentors, or people you've met at networking events.

Follow: The One-Way Street

Following, meanwhile, is an asynchronous, one-way relationship – similar to following someone on X/Twitter. When you follow someone:

• You see their public content and posts in your feed

• They don't necessarily see your content (unless they separately choose to follow you)

• No direct messaging capabilities are established

• Your activity doesn't appear in their notifications

Following is perfect for consuming content from thought leaders, industry experts, or anyone whose insights you value, without necessarily expecting reciprocal engagement.

When to Connect: Building Your Professional Network

Consider connecting when:

1. You know the person professionally – colleagues, classmates, or people you've worked with directly

2. You've met them at events – conferences, networking functions, or industry gatherings

3. You have meaningful professional overlap – shared industries, mutual contacts, or potential collaboration opportunities

4. You want to establish direct communication – for potential partnerships, job opportunities, or mentorship

As one Reddit user wisely advised: "Use the connect option if you want to have a conversation with someone, or if you find them cool."

Always personalize your connection requests with a brief note explaining why you'd like to connect. Generic requests often get ignored, while a thoughtful message significantly increases acceptance rates.

When to Follow: Consuming Valuable Content

Following is the better option when:

1. The person has a large following – Industry influencers, executives, or thought leaders

2. You value their content but don't need direct engagement – When you're primarily interested in their insights

3. Direct messaging isn't necessary – When you don't need to establish a communication channel

4. You're uncertain about connecting – When you want to first evaluate the quality of someone's content

Another Reddit user shared this practical approach: "I use the follow option if someone has over 20 to 30K followers. Usually, there's an unlikely chance of them actually accepting invite."

Following allows you to consume content asynchronously, giving you the flexibility to engage with it on your own schedule without the pressure of maintaining an active relationship.

Important LinkedIn Relationship Dynamics Most Users Miss

Automatic Following

When you connect with someone, you automatically follow them as well. This is a point of confusion for many users. As one Redditor noted: "When you connect with someone, you automatically follow them."

This means that if you accept a connection request from someone whose content you don't necessarily want in your feed, you'll need to manually unfollow them after accepting (while maintaining the connection).

One-Sided Connections

If someone follows you but you don't follow or connect with them, they'll only see your public posts. Similarly, if you follow someone who hasn't connected with you, you'll only see their public content.

The Creator Mode Difference

When LinkedIn users activate Creator Mode on their profiles, the default "Connect" button on their profile changes to "Follow," encouraging a one-way relationship instead of a two-way connection. This helps content creators build an audience without managing countless connection requests.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Sending Generic Connection Requests

The most common mistake is sending connection requests without personalization. LinkedIn users report ignoring these frequently, especially from people they don't recognize.

Better approach: Include a brief introduction explaining how you know them or why you'd like to connect.

2. Connecting Without Purpose

Many users connect indiscriminately with everyone they come across, diluting their network's value and creating an unmanageable feed.

Better approach: Be strategic about who you connect with, focusing on quality relationships that add value to your professional life.

3. Following Without Engagement

Simply following accounts without ever engaging with the content limits the benefit you receive from the relationship.

Better approach: Like, comment, and share posts from people you follow to build visibility and potentially establish a foundation for connecting later.

4. Neglecting Profile Optimization

Many users focus solely on their connection strategy while overlooking the importance of optimizing their own profile, which affects how others perceive connection requests from you.

Better approach: As one LinkedIn user recommends: "Fill out all sections, even ones like volunteering and education. Many people just put their degree and dates but it helps to add a brief description about courses, majors, projects/accomplishments, etc." Additionally, use relevant keywords throughout your profile to improve visibility in LinkedIn searches.

Streamlining Your LinkedIn Communication Strategy

Managing LinkedIn connections effectively isn't just about who you connect with—it's also about how you manage those relationships once established. Many professionals struggle with LinkedIn's native messaging interface, which can quickly become overwhelming as your network grows.

This is where tools like Kondo can be particularly valuable for professionals who rely heavily on LinkedIn messaging. Kondo transforms LinkedIn's messaging system into a more organized communication hub with features like labels, reminders, and keyboard shortcuts.

For instance, once you've established meaningful connections through your strategic approach to connecting vs. following, you might use labels to categorize conversations (e.g., "Hot Lead," "Candidate," "Client") and set reminders to follow up at appropriate intervals. This ensures you don't miss important messages from those valuable connections you've worked hard to establish.

The Strategic Approach: A Decision Framework

To simplify your decision-making process, consider this framework:

1. For content consumption only → Follow

2. For direct communication and relationship building → Connect

3. For famous influencers or thought leaders → Follow

4. For colleagues and professional acquaintances → Connect

Remember that LinkedIn relationships, like real-world professional relationships, require nurturing. As one Redditor insightfully noted: "Relationships take time, so if you're not willing to commit then of course you won't make sincere connections."

Final Thoughts: Quality Over Quantity

The most successful LinkedIn users focus on building a quality network rather than accumulating connections. By being strategic about when to connect versus when to follow, you can create a more valuable LinkedIn experience that serves your professional goals.

When you connect, do so with purpose and personalization. When you follow, engage meaningfully with content. Either way, approach LinkedIn as a platform for building genuine professional relationships rather than collecting digital business cards.

Remember that LinkedIn networking is an ongoing process, not a one-time activity. By understanding the nuances between connecting and following, you'll be better equipped to navigate the platform effectively and build a network that truly advances your professional journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the fundamental difference between connecting and following on LinkedIn?

The fundamental difference is that connecting creates a mutual, two-way relationship, while following establishes a one-way relationship. Connecting means both users agree to see each other's full profiles, can message directly, and will see each other's updates. Following allows you to see someone's public content in your feed without them necessarily seeing yours or establishing direct messaging.

When should I choose to connect with someone on LinkedIn?

You should choose to connect with someone on LinkedIn when you want to establish a mutual professional relationship and enable direct communication. This is ideal for colleagues, people you've met at events, individuals with significant professional overlap, or when you wish to explore potential collaborations, job opportunities, or mentorship.

When is it better to just follow someone on LinkedIn?

It's better to just follow someone on LinkedIn when you primarily want to consume their content without necessarily seeking direct interaction or a mutual relationship. This is suitable for industry influencers, thought leaders with large followings, or anyone whose insights you value but don't need to message directly.

If I connect with someone on LinkedIn, do I automatically follow them too?

Yes, when you connect with someone on LinkedIn, you automatically follow them as well. This means their public posts and articles will appear in your feed. If you wish to remain connected but not see their content, you can manually unfollow them after the connection is established.

Why would I choose to only follow someone on LinkedIn instead of connecting?

You would choose to only follow someone if your primary goal is to see their updates and content in your feed without initiating a two-way relationship or expecting them to see your content. This is particularly useful for staying informed by thought leaders or public figures where a mutual connection might not be practical or necessary.

How does LinkedIn's Creator Mode affect the connect and follow options?

LinkedIn's Creator Mode changes the primary call-to-action button on a user's profile from "Connect" to "Follow." This encourages users to follow the creator's content, helping them build an audience, rather than sending a connection request which implies a more direct, mutual relationship. Users can still connect with someone in Creator Mode, but the "Follow" option is emphasized.

Do you find managing LinkedIn messages overwhelming? Kondo helps professionals organize their LinkedIn inbox with labels, reminders, and keyboard shortcuts so you never miss important messages from your strategic connections.