How I grew my LinkedIn network with the right people and unlocked new opportunities

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Takeaways

Why growing your LinkedIn network is essential for executives and founders.

How I use LinkedIn’s advanced filters to find relevant, active professionals.

The steps I take to leverage tools like SparkToro to uncover untapped connections.

How Twitter advanced search helps me discover new LinkedIn contacts.

A simple way to engage with peers and competitors to grow your reach.

Reading time: 8 minutes

Why I realized my LinkedIn network was holding me back

As a founder, I know the pressure of trying to scale your influence. Whether it’s building a brand, recruiting top talent, or landing new clients, your network can either be your greatest asset, or your biggest bottleneck.

For me, it was the latter. My LinkedIn feed had grown stale. It was the same people, the same ideas, and honestly, it felt like my content wasn’t reaching far enough. If I’m being real, I knew my network wasn’t working as hard for me as it could be.

Here’s what I learned:

If your connections aren’t engaging with your content, they’re not helping you grow.

If you’re not adding new, active people to your network, you’re limiting your reach and opportunities.

I decided to take control. Instead of passively hoping for better engagement, I started using four simple methods to connect with the right people, and it changed everything.

How LinkedIn’s advanced filters became my best tool

The first place I started was LinkedIn itself. It’s easy to think you already know everyone worth knowing in your space, but LinkedIn’s search tools showed me otherwise.

Here’s how I use them:

Start with a keyword. I type something specific to my industry into LinkedIn’s search bar. For example, if I’m focused on marketing, I might use “email marketing” or “demand generation.”

Filter for people. Under the search results, I select “People” to cut out irrelevant results like services or groups.

Use advanced filters. The real magic happens when I click “All filters.” I scroll down to the “Service Categories” section and check boxes that align with what I’m looking for, like “marketing strategy” or “email marketing.”

Once I hit “Show results,” LinkedIn brings back a focused list of people who meet my criteria. At this point, I look for two things:

A strong following. I don’t need influencers, but I aim for people with at least 3,000-5,000 connections.

Activity. If they’re not regularly posting or engaging on LinkedIn, they’re not going to help amplify my message.

By adding just three to five people like this to my network each week, I’ve seen a huge boost in engagement. More importantly, I’ve opened up conversations that have led to meaningful opportunities.

SparkToro: My secret weapon for finding hidden connections

SparkToro has been a total game-changer for me. If you’re not familiar, it’s an audience intelligence tool that helps you discover people and accounts that your target audience already follows.

Here’s how I use it:

Start with an industry leader. I think of someone in my space who has a sizable following. For example, in marketing, Dave Gerhardt is a great example.

Grab their LinkedIn URL. I copy the URL from their profile and head over to SparkToro.com.

Search their audience. I paste the URL into SparkToro’s search bar and choose “Follows the social account” from the dropdown menu.

SparkToro analyzes their audience and gives me insights into related professionals I might not know yet. The real gold is in the “Social” tab, where I find people like Webb Smith or Lenny Ruchitsky, professionals with large followings who are directly connected to my niche.

I add these individuals to my LinkedIn network, and because they’re already active and influential, engaging with them brings more visibility to my own content.

Why Twitter advanced search isn’t just for tweeting

Here’s something unexpected: Twitter has become one of my favorite ways to find new LinkedIn connections.

Here’s how I make it work:

Search for a keyword. I use Twitter’s advanced search to look for something like “email marketing” or “growth hacking.”

Filter for quality. I uncheck the “Replies” box to filter out clutter and focus only on original tweets. Then, I set a minimum likes threshold, usually 250 or more, to find tweets with high engagement.

Cross-reference on LinkedIn. Once I identify someone interesting on Twitter, I check if they’re also active on LinkedIn. If they are, I send them a personalized connection request.

For example, I found Chase Diamond, a well-known email marketer, through Twitter. He has 32,000 followers on Twitter and is just as active on LinkedIn. Adding him to my network immediately brought more visibility and opened doors for potential collaboration.

How I engage with competitors and peers to expand my reach

One of the most overlooked opportunities on LinkedIn is the network your competitors or peers already have. I know this might sound odd, but hear me out: their audience often includes the exact kind of people you want to connect with.

Here’s what I do:

Find competitors or thought leaders in your space. I search for them on LinkedIn and look at their recent posts.

Scan the comments. I pay attention to who’s leaving thoughtful, insightful comments. These people are active and engaged, and they’re often worth connecting with.

Engage. I start by commenting on their replies or liking their posts. Then, I send a connection request with a short, personalized message.

This approach has helped me build a network of engaged, like-minded professionals who are genuinely interested in similar topics.

Building a network that works for you

As a founder or executive, your network isn’t just about numbers, it’s about building relationships with people who can help you grow your influence, sharpen your ideas, and unlock opportunities.

By using these four methods, LinkedIn advanced filters, SparkToro, Twitter advanced search, and engaging with peers, I’ve turned my LinkedIn network into a dynamic tool that works for me, not against me.

Here’s my advice: Start small. Add three to five new, high-value connections each week. Over time, you’ll see your network expand in ways that feel authentic and meaningful.

What’s the first method you’re going to try? Let me know, I’d love to hear how it works for you. Let’s grow together.

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