The LinkedIn Edge

20Optimizing and Refining Your Existing LinkedIn Network

When it comes to building a winning LinkedIn network, most people aren't starting from scratch. You've already built a network of connections. The question is, are you getting the maximum return on your existing network?

Over time, our LinkedIn networks tend to drift away from the center of our target. We end up connected to people who no longer align with our sales objectives. When this happens, your network becomes more noise than value.

To fix this problem, you'll need to take a step back to analyze your connections to ensure your network is optimized for where you're going—not where you've been. You'll do this by systematically removing unnecessary and low‐value connections while closing the gaps in your network with new connections that are better aligned with your sales and account expansion objectives.

Get a List of Your Current Connections

The first step is to analyze who is already in your network. Not every connection is helping you—some are distractions, irrelevant to your goals, or cluttering your feed with low‐value content.

Go to linkedin.com/mynetwork/ to review a list of your connections. To download your connections in a CSV file:

1. Go to LinkedIn home.
2. Click on “Me” in the top menu.
3. Select “Settings & Privacy.”
4. In the left sidebar, click “Data Privacy.”
5. Scroll down and select “Get a copy of your data.”
6. Select “Download larger data …” options.
7. Click “Download archive.” (It may take up to 48 hours to ...