How to Add Influencers on LinkedIn

Connecting with influencers on LinkedIn can feel like knocking on a closed door, but it's one of the most powerful moves you can make for your career or brand. This isn't about collecting connections like baseball cards, it's about strategically building relationships with people who can shape your industry, offer invaluable insights, and open doors you didn't even know existed. This guide breaks down exactly how to find, follow, connect with, and build genuine relationships with the right influencers on LinkedIn, moving you from a silent observer to a recognized name.

What "Adding an Influencer" Really Means on LinkedIn

First things first, “adding” an influencer on LinkedIn is a bigger concept than just sending a connection request. It's about strategically bringing their voice and influence into your professional orbit. Think of it less as a single action and more as a multi-stage process with different levels of engagement.

There are three primary ways to bring an influencer into your network, each with its own purpose:

• Following: This is the easiest, no-friction first step. You click "Follow" on their profile, and their content starts appearing in your feed. They don't have to approve anything, and they won't automatically see your content. This is the perfect way to learn from a distance and gather intelligence before making a more direct move.
• Connecting: This is the classic LinkedIn 1st-degree connection. It requires them to accept your request and signifies a mutual professional link. Once connected, you can message them directly, and your content has a higher chance of showing up in their feed. It holds more weight but requires a thoughtful approach.
• Engaging (And Crossover to Collaborating): This is the ultimate goal. Moving beyond a simple connection to build a real professional relationship where they know who you are, value your input, interact with your content, and maybe even work with you down the road. This is built on consistent, valuable interaction over time.

The goal isn't just to increase your connection count. It's to build a vibrant, strategic network that fosters learning, growth, and opportunity. Each level serves a purpose in achieving that.

Step 1: Finding the Right Influencers for Your Goals

Before you even think about hitting the "Connect" button, you have to find the right people. Chasing the biggest names in business might feel ambitious, but connecting with a relevant micro-influencer in your specific niche can be far more powerful. Your goal dictates your search.

Start by Defining Your "Why"

Ask yourself: what do you hope to achieve by connecting with influencers?

• Are you looking for mentorship and insights to grow in your career?
• Are you hoping to build brand awareness for your business by getting in front of their audience?
• Are you searching for potential collaborators for a webinar, podcast, or project?
• Are you trying to position yourself as an expert by engaging with other experts?

Knowing your objective will narrow your focus and make your outreach far more effective. If you’re a startup founder in the AI space, connecting with a leading AI ethicist is more strategic than connecting with a general-purpose marketing guru.

How to Systematically Find Them on LinkedIn

Once you know your "why," it’s time to find your "who." LinkedIn's search tools are incredibly powerful if you know how to use them.

Use the Search Bar Like a Pro

Don't just type a name. Use keywords related to your industry, skills, or interests. For example:

• Search by job title + keyword: "VP of Marketing" + "SaaS"
• Search by industry hashtag: #FinTech, #FutureOfWork, #ContentMarketing
• Use Boolean searches for precision: "Project Management" AND "Agile" NOT "Recruiter" to filter your results.

Leverage LinkedIn's Official Lists

LinkedIn does some of the work for you with its "Top Voices" lists. These are official rankings of the most influential and engaging creators on the platform across various industries. Search for "LinkedIn Top Voices [Your Industry]" to find a pre-vetted list of proven thought leaders.

Follow the Threads in Relevant Hashtags

Find hashtags relevant to your field (e.g., #productledgrowth, #brandstrategy) and follow them. Pay attention to who consistently posts high-value content under those tags. The people driving the conversation are the influencers you want to know.

Look Inside Active Industry Groups

Join LinkedIn Groups dedicated to your specific area of interest. The most valuable people in these groups aren't always the ones who started them, they're the people consistently answering questions and sharing deep insights. Group moderators and top contributors are often highly-respected micro-influencers.

Step 2: The Art of the Follow: Listen Before You Leap

Once you've identified a list of target influencers, your first move shouldn't be to connect. It should be to follow - silently and studiously. This is the reconnaissance phase of your mission, and it's essential.

Following first is a sign of respect. It shows you're interested in their insights, not just in leveraging their name. It allows you to study their content, understand their point of view, and see how they interact with their community. This information is your ammunition for crafting a connection request that can’t be ignored.

Here's how to follow effectively:

1. Click the "Follow" button on their profile. For many top-tier influencers, this might be the only option available anyway.
2. Turn on the notification bell. Next to the "Following" button, there's a bell icon. Click it to get notified every time they post. This gives you a timing advantage to be one of the first people to engage thoughtfully.
3. Analyze their content. For a week or two, just observe. What topics do they talk about most? What format do they prefer (e.g., text posts, videos, carousels)? What kind of comments do they personally respond to? This is the intel you'll use to make your first move.

Step 3: Crafting the Perfect "Warm" Connection Request

After you've done your homework, it’s time to go from follower to connection. The golden rule is absolute: never, ever send a blank connection request. That's the digital equivalent of walking up to someone at a conference, handing them a business card, and walking away without a word. It's lazy and will almost always be ignored.

Always add a personal note. Influencers receive dozens, if not hundreds, of requests a week. Yours needs to stand out by being personal, polite, and pointed.

The Anatomy of a Great Connection Request Note

Your note has just 300 characters to make an impression. Make every one count.

• Lead with specific, genuine praise. Don't just say, "I love your work." Mention something specific. Example: "Hi Jane, your recent post about building a personal brand through storytelling really hit home."
• Connect it to your world. Briefly explain why that piece of content resonated with you. Example: "As someone building a marketing team from the ground up, your point about authenticity over volume was a great reminder."
• State your intention clearly. End with a simple request to connect. Example: "Would love to connect and continue learning from your insights."

Notice what's missing? There is no "ask." You are not asking for a job, a review, feedback on your startup, or "a quick coffee chat." You are only asking to connect. The other stuff comes much, much later, if at all.

Example Templates You Can Adapt

Here are a few templates you can tailor to your own voice:

For a Content Appreciator:

"Hi [Name], your article on [Topic] was one of the clearest breakdowns I've seen. Your perspective on [Specific Point] was fantastic. I'm also working in this space and would value being connected."

For a Fellow Group Member:

"Hi [Name], I've seen your thoughtful comments in the [LinkedIn Group Name] group and really appreciate your expertise on [Topic]. Your input is always valuable, and I'd love to connect here as well."

After a Virtual Event or Webinar:

"Hi [Name], I caught your session on [Topic] during the [Event Name] summit. The framework you shared for [Specific Skill] is something I'm already planning to try with my team. Thanks for the great insights!"

Step 4: Nurturing the Relationship After They Accept

Getting your connection request accepted is the starting line, not the finish line. The real work - and the real value - comes from building a genuine professional relationship over time. Your goal is to go from being a name in their connection list to a familiar face they recognize and respect.

Engage Intelligently and Consistently

This is where your earlier observation pays off. You know what kind of content they post, so you can interact with it in a way that adds value.

• Leave thoughtful comments. Go beyond "great post." Add your own perspective, ask a thoughtful follow-up question, or tag someone else who might find it useful. Your comment should add to the conversation, not just acknowledge it.
• Share their work. If they post an article or video that you genuinely find valuable, reshare it with your own network. Write a brief intro explaining why you found it useful and be sure to @mention them. This provides value to them by expanding their reach.

When and How to Follow Up in a Private Message

Direct messages are powerful but should be used sparingly. After you've established a pattern of public engagement, a well-timed DM can deepen the connection. Good reasons to send a DM include:

• To ask a specific follow-up question related to one of their posts that is too detailed for the comments.
• To congratulate them on a recent achievement (e.g., a promotion, a company milestone, a book launch).
• To share a resource you think they would genuinely find interesting and that directly relates to something they've talked about.

Keep your DMs brief, professional, and always, always respectful of their time. Never lead with a sales pitch or an immediate request for a favor.

Final Thoughts

Adding influencers on LinkedIn isn't about collecting trophies, it's a patient, strategic process of building a network that supports your growth. It moves from finding a list of target influencers, to learning from them through following, to making a warm connection, and finally to nurturing that connection with consistent, value-driven engagement. This approach transforms anonymous connections into powerful professional allies.

Once you start engaging and creating your own content to get noticed by influencers, organizing it all is key to staying consistent. We built Postbase because managing a thoughtful content strategy can be a real challenge. Our visual calendar helps you plan posts around topics your target influencers care about, and our scheduling ensures your content goes live when it can make the biggest impact, helping you stay visible and build relationships without the stress.