How to Connect with Industry Leaders on LinkedIn

Connecting with an industry leader on LinkedIn can feel intimidating, but it’s entirely possible with the right approach. It’s less about luck and more about a smart, repeatable strategy that positions you as a peer, not a fan. This guide breaks down the exact steps to build your profile, find the right people, and send a connection request that actually gets a response.

First Impressions Matter: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Before you even think about hitting that "Connect" button, you need to look at your own LinkedIn profile with a critical eye. When a high-profile person gets your request, the very first thing they will do is click on your profile. If it’s incomplete, unprofessional, or confusing, they'll hit ignore without a second thought. Your profile is your digital handshake, make it a firm one.

Your Headshot and Banner

This is non-negotiable. Your headshot needs to be a clear, high-resolution photo of you - and only you. It should be professionally lit (natural light from a window works wonders) and show you looking directly at the camera with a friendly, approachable expression. Ditch the cropped vacation photos, sunglasses, or blurry shots from a wedding. The banner image behind your headshot is valuable real estate. Use a custom graphic that visually represents your brand, company, or professional value proposition. A plain blue gradient says nothing about you.

A Headline That Does the Heavy Lifting

Your headline is arguably the most important piece of text on your profile. The default setting just pulls your current job title and company, which is a missed opportunity. Your headline should communicate your value, your specialty, and who you help. Instead of settling for a generic title, transform it into a compelling statement.

• Instead of: "Marketing Manager at Acme Corp"
• Try: "Marketing Manager Helping B2B SaaS Companies Build Predictable Demand | Content Strategy & SEO"

• Instead of: "Software Engineer"
• Try: "Senior Software Engineer passionate about building scalable FinTech solutions"

The "About" Section is Your Career Story

The "About" section is your chance to expand on your headline and add some personality. Don't just stuff it with keywords or list your skills in a dry, bulleted format. Write in the first person and tell a brief story. Structure it to be scannable and impactful:

• Hook: Start with a one-sentence summary of what you do and the impact you have.
• The "How": Briefly mention the key skills or strategies you use to get results.
• Your "Why": Add a touch of personality. What are you passionate about in your field?
• Call to Action (Optional): What do you want people to do after reading your summary? (e.g., "Always open to connecting with fellow product managers.")

Don't Forget the "Featured" Section

This section is a visual portfolio right on your profile. Use it to pin your best content, showcase project results, link to articles you’ve published, or share presentations you’ve given. It's direct proof of your expertise and gives people a reason to see you as someone who knows their stuff.

Play the Long Game: Engage Before You Connect

The single biggest mistake people make is sending a cold connection request with no prior context. Industry leaders are bombarded with these daily. To stand out, you need to get on their radar before you ask for anything, even a connection. This is the "warm-up" phase, and it's what separates a successful connection from one that gets ignored.

Step 1: Follow Them First

Clicking "Follow" is a no-risk first step. It allows you to see their content in your newsfeed without putting any pressure on them to accept a connection. This is your intelligence-gathering phase. Get a feel for what topics they post about, the tone they use, and what kind of conversations are happening in their comments.

Step 2: Leave Thoughtful Comments (Consistently)

This is where the real work begins. Your goal is to become a familiar name and face in their comments section - for the right reasons. Don't just post generic replies like "Great post!" or "Well said." That adds no value. Instead, focus on comments that either add to the conversation or show you’ve carefully read and considered what they wrote.

Examples of high-value comments:

• Ask an insightful question: "This is a fantastic framework for Q4 planning. I'm curious how you'd adapt the reporting cadence for a team that works across multiple time zones. Have you found a sweet spot for sharing updates?"
• Share a related experience: "Completely agree on the point about customer interviews. We recently implemented a similar process and discovered our users were struggling with a step we thought was intuitive. That single insight changed our entire product roadmap."
• Add a complementary point: "A great angle on this. To build on your idea about async communication, we've also found that standardizing project updates in a tool like Notion has been a game-changer for reducing unnecessary meetings."

If you do this 2-3 times a week for a couple of weeks, they will start to recognize your name. You're no longer a stranger, you're part of their online community.

Step 3: Share Their Content with Your Own Insight

Sharing their content to your own network is another powerful way to get noticed. But don't just click the "Reshare" button. Add your own commentary and tag them in your post. Tell your audience why you think their article or post is valuable. This frames you as a curator of good information and signals to the leader that you see them as a trusted voice.

Example: "This article by @[Leader's Name] on the death of the sales playbook is a must-read. The point about adapting to buyer signals in real-time vs. following a rigid script is something I've seen directly impact deals. Highly recommend this for any revenue leaders out there."

How to Write a Connection Request That Doesn't Get Ignored

After you’ve engaged with their content for a week or two, you’re finally ready to send the connection request. And now that you're a familiar name, your request has a much higher chance of being accepted. The most important rule is simple: Always, always, always add a personalized note.

The generic connection request is the fast lane to being ignored. Your note should be concise, professional, and directly tied to your earlier engagement.

The Anatomy of a Perfect Connection Request

Keep your note to just two or three friendly sentences. Remember, this shows up as a tiny preview on mobile.

1. Reference Your Previous Interaction

Start by creating context. Remind them where their name has appeared alongside yours. This proves you haven’t just picked their name out of a hat.

• "Hi [Name], I've been really enjoying your content on scalable marketing systems."
• "Hi [Name], I appreciated your perspective in the comments of [Mutual Connection's] post about AI."

2. State a Point of Commonality or Value

Briefly mention why you're connecting. What's the common ground? This shows them you've done your homework.

• "As someone also working in the B2B tech space, your insights on product-led growth have been incredibly useful."
• "I share your passion for building strong remote company cultures."

3. The Simple "Ask"

Finish with a simple, low-pressure closing line.

• "I'd love to connect and follow your work."

Putting It All Together: Examples That Work

Example 1 (Referencing Content):

"Hi Jane, I’ve been following your posts on the creator economy and found your recent article on audience building super insightful. As someone working to build a community in a similar space, I'd love to connect and keep learning from your content."

Example 2 (Referencing a Comment):

"Hi David, really appreciated your thoughts on that post about data privacy yesterday - it's a topic I'm focused on as well. I'm looking to connect with more industry experts like yourself to stay sharp. Hope to connect."

What Not To Do in a Connection Request

• Don't pitch your product or service. This is the fastest way to get rejected and permanently burn a bridge.
• Don't ask for a job. The connection request is not the place for this.
• Don't ask to "pick their brain." This is a vague, high-commitment ask from a stranger.
• Don't use overly formal or generic language. Write like a human being.

You’re Connected. Now What?

Getting your connection request accepted isn't the finish line, it's the starting line. Your goal is to build a professional, mutually beneficial relationship over time. Don't immediately slide into their DMs with a massive ask.

First, send a simple thank you message. Something like, "Thanks so much for connecting, [Name]. Looking forward to following your work more closely." is perfect. After that, just continue to be a good digital citizen. Keep engaging with their content thoughtfully. Over time, you’ll build the rapport needed to potentially open a bigger conversation if and when the time is right.

Final Thoughts

Connecting with industry leaders on LinkedIn isn't about secret handshakes or finding cheap shortcuts. It comes down to a clear, respectful process: polish your profile, provide value through authentic engagement first, and then make a simple, personalized ask. Building a powerful network is a marathon, not a sprint, and these steps lay the foundation for turning cold contacts into meaningful professional relationships.

Building these relationships takes consistent effort, especially when you're also trying to manage your own brand on LinkedIn. We know what it’s like to juggle content creation, scheduling, and community management all at once. That's why we built Postbase - to help you plan and schedule your own thought leadership content across all your platforms from one visual calendar. By automating your posting schedule, you free up more time for the high-value work: genuinely engaging and building those game-changing connections.