How to Get Open to Network on LinkedIn

Want to signal to the entire LinkedIn world that you're ready to connect? Turning on the Open to Networking feature is one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow your professional circle. This article will show you exactly how to enable this feature, but more importantly, it will walk you through how to use it strategically to build meaningful connections that help you reach your goals.

What is the "Open to Network" Feature, Really?

At its core, LinkedIn’s “Open to Network” feature is a simple toggle that tells other members you’re actively looking to make new connections. When you turn it on, LinkedIn adds a visible #OpenToNetworking photo frame to your profile picture. Think of it as putting a "welcome" mat outside your digital office door. It visually communicates: "Hey, I'm friendly and I'd love to hear from you."

This simple visual cue does a few important things:

• It Removes Hesitation: Many professionals are cautious about sending connection requests to people they don't know, worried it might seem random or spammy. Your "#OpenToNetworking" frame removes that ambiguity and signals you're receptive to their request.
• It Clarifies Your Intent: It sets the stage for what you're on LinkedIn for - building professional relationships. It subtly distinguishes you from users who are solely on the platform to consume content or look for jobs.
• It Increases Inbound Requests: When people see you’re explicitly open to connecting, they are far more likely to send you a personalized request, especially if they see a mutual interest or professional alignment.

It's important to distinguish this from the "Open to Work" feature. While "Open to Work" can be set to be visible only to recruiters, the "Open to Networking" setting is public. Anyone visiting your profile will see your willingness to connect, making it a powerful tool for community building and professional growth.

How to Activate "Open to Network" on Your Profile (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Turning on the feature takes less than a minute. Just follow these simple steps on your desktop or mobile app.

Step 1: Navigate to Your Profile

Log in to LinkedIn and go to your personal profile page by clicking your small profile picture in the top left or the "Me" icon in the top right and selecting "View Profile."

Step 2: Find the "Open to" Button

Look directly below your name, headline, and location. You'll see a prominent light blue button labeled "Open to." Click on it.

Step 3: Select "Networking"

A dropdown menu will appear with several options like "Finding a new job" and "Hiring." Choose the "Networking" option, which is usually accompanied by an icon of two people connecting.

Step 4: Customize Your Networking Preferences

A pop-up window will now guide you through a couple of quick settings. LinkedIn might ask you to specify what you're interested in. This helps the platform connect you with more relevant people. You can choose things like:

• Getting advice or sharing your expertise
• Connecting with people in certain industries
• Finding mentors or offering mentorship
• Simply chatting with people who share your interests

Fill these out to give others a better idea of why you want to connect.

Step 5: Add a Message (Optional but Recommended)

You can add a short note that will be visible to people who find you through this feature. This is a great place to add some more personality. Something as simple as, "Looking to connect with fellow marketing nerds and founders in the tech space. Always happy to chat about brand strategy and content creation!" This makes your invitation to connect feel much more personal.

Step 6: Click "Next" and Confirm

Once you’re happy with a message and a note for your potential connections, a last window will pop up. Click 'post' in this last window allowing this action. Your profile will automatically update, displaying the "#OpenToNetworking" frame around your photo right away. You’re now officially open for business!

It's Not Just a Switch: How to Make Networking Work for You

Flipping the switch is the easy part. The real value comes from building a strategy around it. Just having the frame on your profile isn't enough, you need to create a profile and presence that makes people want to connect.

1. Optimize Your Headline and "About" Section

Your "Open to Network" frame gets people to your profile, but your headline and summary are what convince them to click "connect."

• Headline: Go beyond your job title. Tell people what you do, who you help, and what you’re interested in. For example, instead of "Content Manager," try "Content Manager | Turning Complex Tech Topics into Engaging Stories | Connecting with a community for B2B SaaS Marketers."
• About Section: This is your space to shine. Tell a story. What are you passionate about? Who are you trying to connect with and why? What value can you bring to a new connection? End it with a clear call-to-action, like, "If you're interested in talking about brand building or social media strategy, send me a connection request!"

2. Announce It with a Post

Don't just turn on the feature quietly. Make an announcement! Write a genuine post telling your existing network that you’re focused on meeting new people.

Here’s a simple template:

“I’ve just turned on my #OpenToNetworking feature here on LinkedIn!

My goal this year is to connect with more professionals in the [Your Industry] world to share ideas about [Topic 1] and [Topic 2].

If you're passionate about [Your Interest] or just want to chat, feel free to send me a connection request. Looking forward to meeting some new faces! 👋”

This does two things: it lets your current connections know they can introduce you to people, and it gives the LinkedIn algorithm a fresh piece of content to show to new audiences.

3. Be Proactive… and Personal

Being "open" is a two-way street. Don't wait for all the requests to come to you. Actively seek out interesting people to connect with. When you see someone who also has the "#OpenToNetworking" frame, that’s your official invitation to reach out.

But when you do, always personalize your connection request. Avoid the generic default message. Mention a post they wrote, a mutual connection you have, or something specific on their profile that caught your attention. A message as simple as, "Hi, Jane! I loved your recent post on sustainable packaging. I’m also working in that space and would love to connect and follow your work," is 100x more effective than no message at all.

4. Be an Active Community Member

An optimized profile is static. Your activity is what brings it to life. To really attract new connections, you need to be visible. This means:

• Posting meaningful content: Share your insights, experiences, and work. You don't have to post every day, but aim for consistency. Share what you’re learning, what you're working on, or ask insightful questions.
• Leaving thoughtful comments: Go beyond "great post!" Find interesting content from people in your target network and add real value to the conversation. Ask a follow-up question, share a related resource, or offer a respectful alternative point of view. This puts you directly on their radar.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To keep your networking efforts genuine and effective, be mindful of these common missteps.

Don’t be a passive observer. If you turn on the feature but don't check your messages or accept requests for weeks, you're sending a mixed signal. Being networked requires engagement, so plan to check in consistently.

Don't accept every request blindly. While you want to grow your network, quality beats quantity. Take a few seconds to review the profile of anyone who sends a request. Is this person in a relevant field? Do you have mutual connections? Does their profile look legitimate? Maintaining a relevant and high-quality network is better than having tens of thousands of random connections.

Don't pitch someone in your first message. This is the most crucial rule of networking. The initial connection is about starting a relationship, not closing a sale. Focus on finding common ground and building rapport. The business conversation can happen later, once trust has been established.

Final Thoughts

The "Open to Networking" feature is a powerful tool, but it's only the first step. By turning it on, optimizing your profile to welcome new connections, and actively engaging with the community, you transform a simple toggle into a true engine for professional growth.

Staying active and sharing great content consistently is what turns a passive profile into a networking magnet, but we know it can be a challenge to manage that across LinkedIn and all your other platforms. That's why we built Postbase with a clean, visual calendar, to make it simple to plan and schedule your content everywhere at once. You can organize weeks of content for LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and more, so your online presence takes care of itself, freeing you up to focus on the human conversations that really matter.