Forward from Andrew Edwards, co-founder of designACE 

At one point, our LinkedIn connections felt like just numbers—another name on a list, another profile in a sea of many. But we soon learned the secret to transforming those connections into meaningful, long-lasting relationships that have truly made a difference in our business. Here’s how we made that shift, and how you can too.

We’ve all been there—scrolling through LinkedIn, adding connection after connection, but still feeling disconnected. That’s how we felt until we shifted our focus from growing our network to nurturing it. And that’s when we developed designACE’s 4C’s Strategy: Connect, Comment, Chat, and Coffee. It’s a simple yet effective approach that helped us turn LinkedIn from a numbers game into a real community, where every interaction holds value.

Dive in and discover how you can build valuable connections on LinkedIn using our 4C’s strategy.

-ACE

Co-founder, designACE

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When it comes to LinkedIn, many professionals fall into the trap of trying to grow their connections list as fast as possible. However, research suggests that it’s not the size of your network that matters—it’s the depth of the relationships within it. A Harvard Business Review study found that the most successful professionals focus on cultivating meaningful relationships, which in turn lead to greater career success. Building authentic connections on LinkedIn is about making sure your network consists of people who align with your business goals, share your values, and have the potential to become leads or collaborators.

🔹Connect with Purpose

While it’s easy to send out connection requests in bulk, the most valuable relationships come from meaningful interactions. This is where the first C—Connect—becomes crucial. Instead of trying to connect with everyone, focus on those who align with your industry, interests, and long-term goals. According to StartupNation, networking with industry peers and thought leaders can significantly increase your chances of forming valuable partnerships and generating quality leads.

A study by LinkedIn Sales Navigator revealed that 78%of social sellers outperform their peers who don’t use LinkedIn for targeted networking. By using LinkedIn’s features to identify and connect with decision-makers and professionals who align with your business goals, you can build a network that’s not just larger but more engaged and strategic. These connections are more likely to engage with your content, provide referrals, and collaborate on projects—turning simple connections into opportunities for growth.

What’s In:

🌟 Being intentional with every connection request.
🎯 Aligning connections with your goals and growth.
🤝 Building connections that engage, refer, and collaborate—unlocking growth opportunities.

What’s Out:

❌ Adding names to your list without any strategy.
🚫 Sending bulk, generic connection requests with no personalization.
🔕 Focusing on numbers over meaningful engagement.

🔹Comment with Intention

Once you've established those connections, the next C—Comment—is all about engaging with purpose. Instead of just scrolling and liking posts, take the time to leave thoughtful comments that add value to the conversation. An article from Beep2B emphasizes the importance of intentional engagement, where meaningful, two-way interactions are key to forming strong relationships.

What’s In:

💡 Thoughtfully sharing your perspective, asking questions, or offering insights.
✨ Demonstrating genuine investment in the community to build credibility and trust.
🤝 Positioning yourself as a thought leader while staying visible and engaged in your network.

What’s Out:

❌ Leaving generic comments like “Nice post!” that add no value.
🚫 Engaging passively by only liking posts or remaining silent.
🔕 Missing opportunities to showcase expertise or spark meaningful conversations.

🔹Chat to Deepen Relationships

The third C—Chat—is about moving beyond public comments to direct conversations. A quick message can turn a surface-level connection into a deeper relationship. Use chat to follow up on a post, share a resource, or simply check in with someone about a recent milestone or update.

We’ve found that initiating a Chat can transform a casual connection into a real conversation. This is where true collaboration begins. It’s about taking the time to understand your connections beyond their profiles and creating a dialogue that goes beyond likes and comments. These chats often lead to new projects, partnerships, or simply a stronger sense of community.

What’s In:

🌟 Personalized, direct messages to deepen connections.

🗨️ Using chat to follow up or check in on milestones.

🤝 Building dialogue that leads to collaboration and trust.

What’s Out:

❌ Sending generic or overly pushy messages.

📛 Ignoring the opportunity to take connections deeper.

🔕 Relying solely on public interactions without private follow-ups.

🔹Coffee: Take It Beyond Digital

The final C—Coffee—is about taking relationships beyond the screen, even if it's virtual. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that face-to-face interactions, even through a screen, are much more effective in building trust and deepening relationships than text-based communications alone.

We like to invite connections for a virtual coffee chat—a casual 15-minute video call where we can learn more about each other’s work, share ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration. These virtual coffees have turned many online acquaintances into trusted partners and clients. It’s not just about talking business—it’s about building a relationship that feels personal and authentic.

By moving your conversations beyond LinkedIn, you create opportunities to discuss potential collaborations or projects in a more personal and meaningful way. This approach fosters stronger, more genuine connections that can benefit your business long-term.

What’s In:

☕ Scheduling virtual or in-person coffee chats to build trust.

🎯 Using these meetings to explore shared goals and collaborations.

💡 Deepening relationships with personal, face-to-face conversations.

What’s Out:

❌ Keeping all interactions online without personal connections.

📛 Missing opportunities to strengthen bonds.

🔄 Treating coffee chats as unnecessary or overly formal.

How the 4C’s Worked for Us

When we embraced the 4C’s—Connect, Comment, Chat, and Coffee—our approach to LinkedIn changed dramatically. Instead of just building a list of names, we focused on creating genuine relationships, and the impact was immediate.

By connecting with purpose, we curated a network of like-minded professionals who aligned with our goals and values, resulting in more meaningful collaborations. Through commenting with intention, we positioned ourselves as trusted voices, building credibility and staying visible to our network. Chatting helped us deepen these relationships, turning casual connections into genuine partnerships, while coffee chats—both virtual and in-person—solidified these bonds, often leading to exciting new opportunities.

The 4C’s didn’t just help us grow our network; they helped us create a thriving community of professionals who support and collaborate with one another, transforming LinkedIn into one of our most powerful business tools.

Conclusion

Building genuine connections on LinkedIn requires time, effort, and intention. It’s not about collecting as many contacts as possible but about creating meaningful relationships that will benefit your professional journey. By focusing on quality over quantity, targeting leads and collaborators, and nurturing relationships with consistency and care, you can build a network that supports your business goals.

Ready to build meaningful connections that matter? Let’s connect and explore how you can grow your network with purpose.
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