Quick Answer: Build LinkedIn from scratch: foundation phase (0-50, connect with existing network), growth phase (50-500, engage with target audience + strategic requests). Comment on 5-10 posts daily before posting. Add 5-10 quality connections weekly. First 90 days establish presence—momentum compounds after.
Building LinkedIn network from scratch feels overwhelming—empty profile, zero connections, no credibility. The temptation: mass connection requests and aggressive self-promotion. The reality: sustainable growth requires patient, systematic approach. Foundation phase (0-50 connections) starts with existing relationships—colleagues, classmates, friends who provide social proof. Growth phase (50-500) emphasizes engagement over broadcasting—commenting on 5-10 target audience posts daily builds more visibility than posting to empty audience. Connection velocity stays measured: 5-10 quality additions weekly with personalized requests beats mass connection sprees triggering spam filters. First 90 days establish consistent presence (10-15 minutes daily) before expecting results—relationship building and algorithmic momentum compound over time. This disciplined approach creates sustainable network rather than hollow connection count.
Alex created his LinkedIn profile in 2023. Two years later, he had 12 connections—all family members. His profile might as well have been invisible. When he finally decided to take LinkedIn seriously, he felt paralyzed. Where do you even start when you have no network?
If you need to build linkedin network from scratch, you're not alone. Every successful networker started at zero. Here's the proven 90-day plan to go from no connections to a thriving network—even as a complete beginner.
Why Starting from Zero is Actually an Advantage
You might feel behind, but starting fresh has hidden benefits:
- No bad habits: You'll build your network the right way from day one
- Intentional connections: Every connection will be strategic, not random
- Fresh slate: No old profile content or connections that don't serve your current goals
- Clear trajectory: People can see your growth and engagement momentum
The key is being systematic. Follow this 90-day plan exactly, and you'll build a network of 100-200 quality connections—enough to start generating real opportunities.
Week 1-2: Foundation Setup
Don't start reaching out to people until your profile is ready. First impressions matter.
Profile Optimization (Week 1)
Must-have elements:
- Professional profile photo: Clear headshot, professional attire, neutral background
- No selfies, group photos, or casual vacation shots
- Compelling headline (220 characters): What you do + who you help + unique angle
- Bad: "Marketing Manager"
- Good: "Marketing Manager helping B2B SaaS companies grow through content-led SEO strategies"
- About section (300-500 words): Your story, expertise, and what you're looking for
- Start with a hook (interesting fact or question)
- Explain what you do and why it matters
- Share your background and key skills
- End with a call-to-action (connect, reach out, collaborate)
- Experience section: Add at least your current role and 1-2 previous roles
- Include bullet points highlighting achievements
- Use metrics and specifics ("Increased leads by 40%")
- Skills: Add 10-15 relevant skills to your field
- Education: Include your degree(s) and school(s)
Use professional LinkedIn profiles in your field as templates. Model what works.
Initial Content (Week 2)
Before connecting with people, post 2-3 pieces of content. This shows you're active and engaged, not just a profile-squatter.
Easy first posts:
- Introduction post: "I'm excited to finally take LinkedIn seriously. I'm a [role] focused on [area]. Looking forward to connecting with professionals in [industry]."
- Industry insight: Share a recent article or trend and add 2-3 sentences of your take
- Learning/development: Post about a skill you're building or course you're taking
Don't overthink these—they just need to exist so your profile doesn't look dormant.
Week 3-4: First Connections (Goal: 30-50 Connections)
Start with the easiest, highest-acceptance-rate connections. These build momentum and confidence.
Tier 1: People You Already Know (Week 3)
Who to connect with:
- Current colleagues and coworkers
- Former colleagues from previous jobs
- College classmates and friends
- High school friends who are now professionals
- Former managers and mentors
- Family members with professional profiles
- People you've met at past events or through friends
Connection request approach: No note needed for people you know well. For people you haven't spoken to in a while, add a brief personalized note:
"Hi [Name], finally getting active on LinkedIn and wanted to reconnect! Hope you're doing well."
Target: Send 5-10 connection requests per day. Aim for 30-40 connections by end of Week 4.
Track all your connections in ANDI with tags like "personal" or "former-colleague" so you can segment your network later.
Tier 2: Alumni Connections (Week 4)
Who to connect with:
- People who went to your university (any graduation year)
- People in your current company or industry who went to your school
- Alumni working at companies you're interested in
Connection request template:
"Hi [Name], fellow [University] alum here! I see you're now in [their field/company]. Would love to connect and follow your work."
Why this works: Alumni networks have extremely high acceptance rates (often 80-90%). Shared school experience creates instant connection.
Week 5-8: Strategic Expansion (Goal: 80-120 Connections)
Now expand to people you don't know personally but have strategic reasons to connect with.
Tier 3: Industry Peers (Week 5-6)
Who to connect with:
- People with your same job title or similar roles
- Professionals working in your industry but at different companies
- People who post content about topics relevant to your work
- Members of LinkedIn groups related to your field
Connection request template:
"Hi [Name], I'm also in [industry/role] and have been following your posts on [topic]. Would love to connect with fellow professionals tackling similar challenges."
Target: 5-7 new connections per week from your industry. Focus on people who are active (posting regularly).
Tier 4: Target Company Connections (Week 7-8)
Who to connect with:
- People working at companies you're interested in (for future opportunities)
- Recruiters and hiring managers in your field
- Employees in your target role at target companies
Connection request template:
"Hi [Name], I've been following [Company's] work in [specific area] and would love to connect. Your background in [their expertise] is really impressive."
Note: Don't ask for jobs in connection requests. Just connect and build rapport first.
Week 9-12: Engagement and Momentum (Goal: 150-200 Connections)
You now have a base network. Time to accelerate growth through engagement and content.
Content Strategy (Ongoing)
Post 2-3x per week consistently. Content attracts connections—people will start finding and connecting with you.
Content ideas for beginners:
- Industry observations: "I've noticed [trend] in [industry]—here's what I think..."
- Lessons learned: "3 things I learned this week about [skill/topic]..."
- Questions: "What's the best advice you've received about [topic]?"
- Resource shares: "This article on [topic] changed how I think about [subject]..."
- Behind-the-scenes: "Here's what I'm working on this week..."
Don't overthink it. Consistency beats perfection. Even simple posts build visibility.
Engagement Strategy (Daily, 15-20 minutes)
Engaging with others' content is the fastest way to grow your network.
Daily engagement routine:
- Find 5-7 posts in your feed from people in your industry or target network
- Leave thoughtful comments (3-4 sentences, add perspective or ask a question)
- Connect with people whose posts you've commented on 2-3 times
- Reference your comments in your connection request
- Respond to all comments on your own posts within 24 hours
Connection request template after engagement:
"Hi [Name], I've really enjoyed your posts on [topic]—especially your take on [specific point]. Would love to connect and continue learning from your insights."
This "engagement-first" approach has much higher acceptance rates than cold connection requests.
LinkedIn Groups and Communities (Week 10-12)
Strategy:
- Join 3-5 LinkedIn groups related to your industry or interests
- Engage in group discussions weekly (ask questions, share insights)
- Connect with active group members who share valuable perspectives
Connection request template for group members:
"Hi [Name], I've seen your contributions in [Group Name] and really appreciate your insights on [topic]. Would love to connect here!"
Success Metrics by Week
Track these metrics to ensure you're on pace:
Week 4:
- 30-50 connections (mostly people you know)
- Profile 100% complete
- 2-3 posts published
Week 8:
- 80-120 connections (mix of known and industry peers)
- 8-12 posts published
- Comments on 30-40 others' posts
- 5-10 DM conversations started
Week 12:
- 150-200 connections (strategic mix)
- 20-25 posts published
- Consistent engagement (50+ comments on others' posts)
- 2-3 inbound connection requests per week
- People starting to engage with your content regularly
Use ANDI to track all these metrics and set weekly reminders to review progress. Adjust if you're falling behind.
How to Maintain Momentum After 90 Days
After 90 days, you'll have a solid foundation. Don't stop now—this is when the network becomes truly valuable.
Ongoing maintenance (post-90 days):
- Add 5-10 connections per week: Keep growing strategically
- Post 2-3x per week: Stay visible and top-of-mind
- Engage daily (15-20 min): Comment on others' content consistently
- Follow up with connections: Send messages, share resources, maintain relationships
- Join conversations: Participate in group discussions and comment threads
Set all these as recurring reminders in ANDI so networking becomes a habit, not a project.
Common Mistakes When Starting from Zero
Avoid these pitfalls that slow network growth:
- Incomplete profile: Don't start connecting until your profile is 100% complete
- Generic connection requests: Always personalize, even slightly
- No engagement strategy: Connecting without engaging leads to weak ties
- Asking for too much too soon: Build rapport before making asks
- Inconsistent activity: Posting once then disappearing kills momentum
- Only connecting, never nurturing: Follow up with connections—don't just collect them
- Comparing yourself to others: Everyone started at zero. Focus on your progress.
How to Speed Up Network Growth
Want to grow faster? These tactics accelerate connection rates:
- Attend virtual events: Webinars and online conferences give you warm leads
- Engage with popular posts: Leave thoughtful comments on posts with 50+ comments—you'll get noticed
- Create valuable content: Posts that provide real value attract inbound connection requests
- Ask for introductions: Have existing connections introduce you to people in their network
- Join active communities: Participate in Slack, Discord, or other communities, then connect on LinkedIn
- Be consistent: Daily 20-minute sessions beat weekly 2-hour binges
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 200 connections after 90 days realistic for a complete beginner?
Yes, if you follow the plan consistently. You're adding about 15 connections per week on average, which is very achievable with 30 minutes of daily LinkedIn activity. Many people reach 250-300 connections in 90 days using this system.
What if people don't accept my connection requests?
Expect a 50-70% acceptance rate when starting from zero. That's normal. Focus on improving your connection request personalization and targeting people with mutual connections or shared backgrounds (alumni, same industry, etc.). Track acceptance rates by connection type to see what works best.
Should I focus on quantity or quality when building from zero?
Both, but prioritize quality. Every connection should have a reason—shared background, industry relevance, or potential value exchange. Avoid accepting random spam requests or connecting with people just to inflate your numbers. 200 quality connections are infinitely more valuable than 1,000 random ones.
Your next step: Set up your 90-day plan in ANDI with weekly goals and daily reminders. Week 1-2: Complete your profile and post 2-3 times. Week 3-4: Connect with 30-50 people you know. Week 5-8: Add 40-50 industry peers and target company connections. Week 9-12: Focus on engagement, content, and reaching 150-200 total connections. Review progress weekly and adjust your strategy based on what's working.
Starting from zero feels daunting, but with a system, it's just a 90-day project. Three months from now, you'll have a thriving network that opens doors you can't even see yet. The only question is: Will you start today?
