If you’ve ever opened LinkedIn, seen a pile of connection requests from people you don’t know, and thought:

“Should I accept all of these, or only the ones I recognise?”

…you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions I get in workshops and 1:1 consultations.

A lot of people treat LinkedIn the same way they treat Facebook friends or Instagram followers:

• “Only people I personally know.”

• “Only people from real life.”

• “Only people I trust.”

But LinkedIn is not Facebook. And it was never meant to be.

If Facebook is for your social circle and Instagram is for your personal life, then LinkedIn is for:

• your career,

• your reputation,

• your opportunities,

• and your professional visibility.

And that means something important:

More relevant connections = more exposure = more opportunities.

Let’s break down how to decide who to accept, and why the “stranger danger” mindset is hurting your growth.

Why your LinkedIn connections matter more than you think

Here’s a little-known fact:

Even if you don’t connect with someone, they can still:

✔ See your posts
✔ Like them
✔ Comment
✔ Share
✔ DM you

LinkedIn is a public platform, not a private social feed. So if your content is already visible to strangers,
why limit who gets to see it consistently?

Every connection widens your reach:

• More eyes on your content

• More engagement

• More profile visits

• More opportunities (clients, recruiters, collaborators, employers)

This is why the “I only connect with people I know” mindset is outdated. LinkedIn is a professional visibility tool. Use it as one.

My 6-step filter: When you should accept a LinkedIn connection request

I don’t accept every request blindly, and I don’t recommend you do either. But I do recommend saying “yes” far more often than “no.”

Here’s the simple filter I use:

1️⃣ Are they from your industry?

Even if they’re not someone you’ve spoken to before, connecting with people in your field helps you:

• stay updated,

• broaden your network,

• be discovered more easily,

• and learn from peers or leaders.

This alone is a strong “yes.”

2️⃣ Could you help them in some way?

Maybe they’re a junior starting out. Maybe they’re changing careers. Maybe they’re looking for guidance.

You don’t have to mentor them, but you never know who becomes a future:

• client,

• collaborator,

• or referral source.

A helping mindset pays long-term dividends.

3️⃣ Do they share interesting insights or content?

If they look like someone who:

• posts regularly,

• shares useful knowledge,

• or writes things you enjoy reading…

…that’s a connection worth having.

Your feed becomes more valuable when you follow people who inspire you.

4️⃣ Could they become a potential client, collaborator, or employer?

LinkedIn is built on unexpected collisions.

One stranger today could become:

• a hiring manager tomorrow,

• someone who invites you to speak at an event,

• a partner for your next project,

• or even your best-paying client.

Professional luck is created through visibility. This alone is a reason to click “Accept.”

5️⃣ Are they active on LinkedIn?

If someone posts consistently, comments frequently, or shares good content, they increase your visibility too.

Why? Because when active people engage with you, LinkedIn pushes your content to their network as well. That’s how reach multiplies.

So an active stranger is often more valuable than an inactive acquaintance.

6️⃣ Are they from your country (especially if it’s small)?

If you live in a smaller market (like Estonia, where I'm from), connections are often only 1–2 people away from:

• CEOs

• founders

• journalists

• HR partners

• potential clients

• hiring managers

• decision-makers

Geography matters. Local connections can hold surprising influence.

When you should click “Ignore”

There are situations where saying “no” makes sense.

Reject requests from:

❌ obvious bots
❌ fake profiles
❌ spam accounts
❌ profiles that feel unsafe or suspicious
❌ people selling crypto / forex / “investment schemes”
❌ connection requests that immediately DM-pitch you something
❌ accounts that seem to have no current or future benefit for you

But if at least 1 of the 6 filters above gives you a “yes,” you’re not risking anything by accepting. You’re opening a door.

Why saying “Yes” leads to more opportunities

This is the part many people underestimate:

Your biggest opportunities will come from people you don’t yet know. That will never change.

Your next:

• client

• referral

• job offer

• collaboration

• keynote invitation

• business partner

• media interview

…might currently be a stranger. And if you ignore them because you “don’t know them,” you’re closing doors before they even open. You never know which connection becomes something bigger.

Visibility compounds. Connections compound. Opportunities compound. Say yes.

"But what if I want my feed to stay “clean”?"

You don’t need to follow everyone you accept.

Most people never realize this:

👉 You can connect with someone but unfollow them.

That means:

• they stay in your network (you get reach),

• they see your content (visibility for you),

• but you don’t see their posts (peace for your brain).

Win-win. Plus, you can always click on 3 dots at the top right corner of their post and select "Not interested" and you won't see their (or these types of posts) anymore.

The psychology behind larger networks

LinkedIn prioritizes content from:

1. You

2. Your followers

3. Your connections

4. People who engage with your content

5. People connected to those who engage with your content

So the more relevant connections you have, the more “first-degree reach” you unlock.

This has two major benefits:

Benefit 1: Higher engagement potential

More people seeing your content means more likes, comments, shares, and saves.

Benefit 2: Higher algorithmic distribution

The algorithm pushes posts that perform well early and your LinkedIn network size supports that early lift.

In plain English: More relevant connections = stronger personal brand = more opportunities.

Final takeaway: Don’t overthink it – Opportunity is built through people

Your network shouldn’t be a gated community. It should be an open ecosystem.

If someone seems:

✔ active
✔ relevant
✔ interesting
✔ aligned with your field
✔ beneficial for your visibility
✔ or simply like someone you’d enjoy learning from

…accept the request. Your future self will thank you for the opportunities that come from people you haven’t met – yet.

Want to build a stronger LinkedIn profile and presence?

If you want clarity on:

• what to post,

• how to grow your network,

• how to build a personal brand,

• and how to turn visibility into real results…

I can help.

💬 1:1 LinkedIn consultations

Personalized guidance to help you show up consistently and confidently.

👉 Send me a message

👥 LinkedIn workshops for Teams

For companies that want their employees to become visible, trusted, and active online.

👉 Book a LinkedIn and content creation workshop – let’s make LinkedIn your competitive edge.