If you’ve ever wondered why LinkedIn uses these numbers — or how they impact who you can message, whose contact info you can see, or how you should approach networking — this guide breaks it all down.

Understanding LinkedIn connection degrees isn’t just trivia. It’s strategic. Because knowing whether someone is a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree connection changes how you reach them, what information you can access, and how likely they are to respond.

Let’s dive in.

What Do the Numbers Mean? Breaking Down LinkedIn Connection Degrees

LinkedIn organizes your professional network into tiers based on how closely you’re connected to someone.

Here’s the breakdown:

1st Degree Connections

These are people directly connected to you. Either you sent them a connection request and they accepted, or they sent you one and you accepted.

Think of them as your immediate network. Your inner circle.

Pro Tip: If you’re crafting an introduction to a new 1st-degree connection, consider using an Introduction Generator to help you personalize and structure your message effectively.

2nd Degree Connections

These are people who aren’t connected to you, but who share at least one mutual connection with you. They’re friends of friends.

Strategy Tip: Before sending a connection request to a 2nd-degree connection, check if you can reference your mutual connection. For a stronger introduction, you could use an AMA Citation Generator to support any claims or share research that’s relevant to the connection.

3rd Degree Connections

These are people who are connected to your 2nd degree connections. They’re one more step removed — friends of friends of friends.

3rd+ Connections

Anyone beyond the 3rd degree is labeled as “3rd+” — meaning there are more than three degrees of separation between you and them. These are the outer edges of LinkedIn’s network.

When reaching out to 3rd+ degree connections, use a well-crafted progress update. An AI Performance Review Generator could assist in framing your update, making your message feel more relevant and engaging.

Each tier comes with different privileges. Let’s break down what you can actually do at each level.

1st Degree Connections: Your Direct Network

First-degree connections are your most valuable LinkedIn relationships.

Here’s why.

What You Can Do with 1st Degree Connections:

• • Send direct messages — No InMail required. You can message them anytime through LinkedIn’s messaging feature.

• • See their contact information — This is the big one. When someone is a 1st degree connection, you get access to their contact details (if they’ve added them to their profile).

How to Access Contact Info:

Click the “Contact info” link on their profile. A window pops up showing:

• • Email address (personal or professional — usually the one they signed up with)

• • Phone number (if they added it)

• • Birth date (if they shared it)

• • Connection date (when you first connected)

This contact info is almost always exclusive to 1st degree connections. You don’t get it for 2nd or 3rd degree contacts.

Why This Matters:

If you’re in sales, recruiting, or any role where you need to reach people directly, 1st degree connections are gold. You’re not begging for an introduction. You’re not hoping they check LinkedIn messages. You can email or call them directly.

That’s why growing your 1st degree network strategically matters.

---

2nd Degree Connections: Friends of Friends

Second-degree connections are one step removed from you.

You’re not directly connected, but someone in your network is. LinkedIn shows you who those mutual connections are when you visit a 2nd degree profile — usually right above the “Connect” button.

What You Can Do with 2nd Degree Connections:

• • Send a connection request — You can invite them to connect. If they accept, they become a 1st degree connection.

• • Message them (with limitations) — You can’t send direct messages unless you pay for LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator and use InMail credits.

• • Request an introduction — If you share a mutual connection, you can ask that person to introduce you.

Why 2nd Degree Connections Matter:

They represent warm networking opportunities. You’re not a total stranger — you have a mutual connection who can vouch for you.

This makes 2nd degree connections much more likely to accept your request or respond to your outreach than someone who’s 3rd degree or beyond.

Pro Tip:

When reaching out to a 2nd degree connection, mention the mutual connection in your request. It adds credibility and context.

Example:

“Hey [Name], I noticed we’re both connected to [Mutual Connection]. I’ve been following your work in [industry] and would love to connect.”

3rd Degree Connections: Extended Network

Third-degree connections are two steps removed from you.

They’re connected to someone who’s connected to someone in your network. LinkedIn still shows you these profiles, but they’re harder to reach.

What You Can Do with 3rd Degree Connections:

• • Send a connection request — The “Connect” button is still there, but it’s often harder to find (LinkedIn sometimes buries it depending on the profile).

• • Use InMail — If you have LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator, you can message them without connecting first.

• • Join the same LinkedIn Group — If you’re both members of the same group, you can message them directly without a premium subscription. (This is a sneaky workaround most people don’t know about.)

Why 3rd Degree Connections Are Trickier:

You’re a stranger to them. They don’t know you. They don’t share a direct mutual connection with you. So your connection request needs to be really good — or you need to provide context that makes them want to accept.

How to Improve Your Chances:

• • Engage with their content before sending a request (like, comment, share)

• • Personalize your connection request (don’t use the default “I’d like to add you to my professional network”)

• • Reference something specific about their work or interests

Cold outreach to 3rd degree connections works — but it requires more effort and strategy than reaching out to 1st or 2nd degree contacts.

3rd+ Connections: The Outer Edges

Anyone beyond the 3rd degree is labeled as “3rd+” on LinkedIn.

These are people so far removed from your network that LinkedIn can’t trace a clear path between you. You’re essentially strangers.

What You Can Do:

• • Send a connection request — You can still try, but your chances of acceptance are lower.

• • Use InMail — Premium feature, same as 3rd degree connections.

• • Leverage LinkedIn Groups or events — If you’re both active in the same community, you can build rapport before reaching out.

Why This Matters:

3rd+ connections are the hardest to reach. But sometimes they’re worth it — especially if they’re a decision-maker at a target account or a high-value prospect.

Just know you’ll need a strong hook to get their attention.

How to Expand Your LinkedIn Network (Without Looking Like a Spammer)

Now that you understand connection degrees, let’s talk strategy.

Because sending connection requests blindly doesn’t work. You’ll get ignored. Or worse — flagged as spam.

Best Practices for Higher Acceptance Rates:

1. Don’t send a generic note

Here’s the counterintuitive advice: if you’re not going to personalize your connection request, don’t add a note at all.

Generic messages like “I’d like to connect” or “Let’s network” perform worse than no message. They scream low effort. They look like spam. And they make you look like a fool.

So either craft a personalized message — or hit “Connect” without a note.

2. Target the right people

Don’t just connect with anyone. Be strategic.

Focus on:

• • People in your industry or related fields

• • Decision-makers at companies you’re targeting

• • Peers with similar roles or interests

• • Thought leaders whose content you engage with

3. Engage before you connect

Want to dramatically improve your acceptance rate? Engage with their content first.

Like their posts. Leave thoughtful comments. Share their articles. Do this for a week or two before sending a connection request.

When they see your request, they’ll recognize your name. You’re not a stranger anymore — you’re someone who’s engaged with their work.

4. Reference mutual connections or shared experiences

If you have a mutual connection, mention them. If you attended the same event or are part of the same LinkedIn Group, say so.

Shared context makes people more likely to accept.

5. Provide value, not asks

Don’t lead with “Can I pick your brain?” or “I’d love to learn from you.”

Lead with value. Share a relevant resource. Compliment their recent work. Offer something useful.

Save the asks for later — after you’ve built rapport.

LinkedIn’s Connection Request Limits (And How to Work Around Them)

LinkedIn caps how many connection requests you can send per week.

Currently, the limit is around 100 requests per week.

This helps LinkedIn maintain platform quality and prevents spam. But it also means you need to be strategic about who you’re reaching out to.

What Happens If You Hit the Limit?

LinkedIn won’t let you send more requests until the week resets. And if too many of your requests go ignored or get declined, LinkedIn might flag your account as spammy.

How to Manage Your Requests:

1. 1. Focus on quality over quantity — Send fewer, more targeted requests with higher acceptance rates.

1. 1. Withdraw old requests — If someone hasn’t accepted your request in 3-4 weeks, withdraw it. This keeps your account in good standing with LinkedIn’s algorithm.

1. 1. Use LinkedIn Groups — If you’re both in the same group, you can message them without connecting (and without burning a connection request).

How to Withdraw Old Connection Requests:

1. 1. Go to My Network

1. 1. Click Manage

1. 1. Select Sent

1. 1. Click Withdraw next to any old requests

Withdrawing old requests improves your overall acceptance rate metrics and keeps LinkedIn’s algorithm happy.

How to Accept, Decline, or Ignore Connection Requests

You’re not just sending requests. You’re receiving them too.

Here’s how to manage incoming requests without being rude (or getting spammed).

To Accept a Request:

Go to your LinkedIn inbox and click Accept on any request that looks relevant.

To Decline a Request:

Click Ignore. The sender won’t be notified. They’ll just see that the request is no longer pending.

To Manage Privacy Settings:

Go to Settings > Visibility > Who can send you invitations and adjust who can reach you.

Pro Tip:

If you’re getting too many irrelevant requests, tighten your privacy settings. You can limit connection requests to people who know your email address or who share mutual connections.

LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator: Are They Worth It?

If you’re serious about networking or sales, LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator might be worth the investment.

LinkedIn Premium Features:

• • InMail credits — Message 2nd and 3rd degree connections without connecting first

• • Advanced search filters — Find exactly who you’re looking for

• • See who’s viewed your profile — Potential connection opportunities

• • Priority support — Get help faster

Sales Navigator Features (for sales pros):

• • Advanced lead search — Find decision-makers at target accounts

• • TeamLink — Leverage your organization’s network

• • Enhanced messaging — Track who’s engaging with your outreach

• • Detailed analytics — See which connection strategies work best

Is It Worth It?

If you’re in sales, recruiting, or business development, yes. The ability to message anyone and access advanced search filters pays for itself fast.

For casual networking? Probably not. The free version works fine.

Leveraging LinkedIn Connection Degrees for Business Growth

Here’s how to use connection degrees strategically depending on your goals.

For Business Professionals:

• • Use 1st degree connections for direct outreach and referrals

• • Leverage 2nd degree connections for warm introductions

• • Build your personal brand to attract inbound connection requests

• • Monitor your network for business opportunities and partnerships

For Job Seekers:

• • Connect with recruiters and hiring managers in your industry

• • Use your network to learn about job opportunities before they’re posted

• • Request introductions to companies you’re targeting

• • Share professional updates to stay visible to your network

For Sales Professionals:

• • Use 1st degree connections to access contact information

• • Target 2nd degree connections for warm outreach

• • Engage with 3rd degree prospects before sending connection requests

• • Track connection acceptance rates to refine your strategy

Final Thoughts

LinkedIn connection degrees aren’t just numbers. They’re strategic indicators that tell you how to approach someone, what information you can access, and how likely they are to respond.

1st degree connections give you direct access. 2nd degree connections offer warm networking opportunities. 3rd degree connections require more effort and strategy.

Understanding these tiers lets you network smarter — not harder.

Focus on building quality 1st degree connections. Leverage 2nd degree connections for warm introductions. And when you reach out to 3rd degree contacts, make it personal, make it relevant, and make it worth their time.

Do that, and you’ll build a LinkedIn network that actually delivers results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I expand my network on LinkedIn effectively?

Focus on sending personalized connection requests, engage with content before connecting, participate in LinkedIn Groups, attend virtual events, and maintain an active presence that attracts inbound connections.

Do connection requests on LinkedIn expire?

Yes. After six months, they automatically expire.

If I decline a connection request, will the sender know?

No. LinkedIn doesn’t notify people when you decline their request. They’ll just see it’s no longer pending.

How many connection requests can I send per week?

LinkedIn currently allows around 100 connection requests per week. This limit helps prevent spam and encourages meaningful networking.

Can I message 2nd and 3rd degree connections without connecting?

Yes, if you have LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator, you can use InMail to message them without sending a connection request. You can also message them if you’re both members of the same LinkedIn Group.