LinkedIn sorts your connections in a few different ways depending on where you are viewing them. The main connection views that order connections differently are the “My Network” page, search results, and profile views.
Order in “My Network” Page
When you view your full list of connections on the “My Network” page, they are sorted chronologically based on when you connected with them. The most recent connections are at the top of the list, while the oldest connections are at the bottom.
So if you just connected with John Smith yesterday, he would be at the top of your connection list on this page. And if you connected with Jane Doe five years ago, she would be farther down the list.
This ordering makes sense as a default since your newest connections are likely more active and relevant to you currently. But it can make it difficult to find connections you made long ago since they get “pushed” down with each new addition.
Search Result Order
When you search for connections either in the main search bar or on the “My Network” page, the results are ordered differently. Here LinkedIn prioritizes the connections that are most relevant to your search term.
For example, if you search for “John”, it will prioritize showing connections named John at the top. After that, it will show connections who have John in their title or company name. And lastly, it may show connections who simply have John mentioned somewhere in their profile.
The main factors that determine search ranking are:
- Keyword matches in name
- Keyword matches in current position
- Keyword mentions in profile
- Your interactions with the connection
So in most cases, search results will show your closest connections to the search query first. This helps you quickly find the contacts most likely to be who you are looking for.
Profile View Order
When viewing someone’s profile, their connections are ordered based on how closely connected they are to the profile owner. For example, if you are viewing John Smith’s profile, his connections would be ordered:
- 1st degree connections (John is directly connected to)
- 2nd degree connections (John’s connections who you are also connected to)
- 3rd degree connections (Connections of John’s connections)
Within each degree, John’s closest connections are ordered first – coworkers, classmates, etc. This ordering makes it easy to identify the strongest relationships when viewing a profile.
Other Ordering Factors
In addition to the main ordering approaches explained above, there are a few other factors that can influence the order of your LinkedIn connections:
- Interaction recency – Connections you have interacted with more recently (liking, commenting, messaging) may be ranked higher.
- Profile completeness – Connections with more complete profiles may rank slightly higher.
- Shared connections/experiences – More shared connections and shared schools/jobs can increase ranking.
Customizing Your Connection Order
While LinkedIn orders connections automatically based on relevance, you can also customize and filter your connections:
- Search filters – Filter by company, title, location, and more.
- Groups – View only connections in specific groups you create.
- A-Z sorting – Sort alphabetically by first or last name.
- Custom lists – Manually create lists of key connections.
Why Connection Order Matters
The order of your LinkedIn connections isn’t purely random. It’s optimized to show you the contacts that are most relevant and valuable given the context and intent of your search. Knowing how LinkedIn ranks connections can help you:
- Quickly find the right people when searching.
- Identify key connections when viewing profiles.
- Customize your views with filters and groups.
- Keep “top” connections active with regular interaction.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s connection order is optimized for relevance based on how and where you are viewing your network. Recency, search keywords, profile strength, and interaction frequency also impact order. While you can’t completely control the ranking, you can use search filters, custom lists, and groups to customize it for your needs.
Keeping your closest and most valuable connections active with regular interaction can help boost their ranking across LinkedIn. But the most relevant connections will always bubble up to the top in search results and profile views.
So next time you are browsing connections on LinkedIn, keep the ranking and relevance factors in mind. And leverage custom lists and filters if you want to change up the standard order.
Connection View | Primary Ordering Factor |
---|---|
My Network page | Connection recency |
Search results | Relevance to keywords |
Profile views | Degree of connection |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the order of my LinkedIn connections?
You can’t completely reorder your main connections list, since LinkedIn dynamically ranks connections based on relevance factors. But you can use search filters, custom lists, and groups to create customized views of your network in different orders.
What if I’m not connected to someone but need to message them?
Even if you’re not directly connected on LinkedIn, you can send one-off messages to anyone who is not in your 1st degree network. Just find them through search or on a profile, and use the “Message” button. The message will indicate you are not connected.
Why aren’t my closest connections at the top of my network list?
On the main “My Network” list view, LinkedIn sorts chronologically by when you connected with people. So your oldest connections get “pushed” down as you make new connections. Try using search or custom lists to re-surface close contacts that have fallen down the list.
What’s the maximum number of LinkedIn connections?
LinkedIn allows up to 30,000 connections on a free account. Paid Sales Navigator accounts can connect with up to 40,000 people. Once you hit the limit, you will not be able to send new connection requests.
Is there a tool to clean up my LinkedIn connections?
LinkedIn does not have a native tool to bulk remove connections. But you can use the LinkedIn Connections Cleaner third-party tool to analyze and prune your network. Be thoughtful about removing connections though, as people will receive a notification if you disconnect.
5 Tips for Organizing Your LinkedIn Network
Here are 5 tips to better organize your LinkedIn network for optimal searchability and usability:
- Create customizable lists of your top connections, like “Mentors” or “Recruiters”.
- Use private notes on connections for keywords to remember them by.
- Assign connections to relevant Groups to categorize them.
- Filter searches by company, title, location, and interests.
- Interact regularly with your VIP connections to keep them top of mind.
The Evolution of LinkedIn’s Ranking Algorithm
LinkedIn’s algorithm for ranking connections has evolved over the platform’s 18+ year history. Here is a look back at how it has changed:
2003-2005: Strictly Chronological
In LinkedIn’s earliest days, connection lists were ordered strictly by when the connection was made, with no weighting for relevance.
2006: Introduction of Search
LinkedIn added search functionality in 2006, allowing users to find connections relevant to keyword queries. But main connection lists remained chronological.
2009: People You May Know
The launch of “People You May Know” recommendations in 2009 added relevance signals like shared connections and experiences.
2012: Influenced by Interactions
LinkedIn began factoring interaction signals like profile views and likes into connection ranking around 2012.
2015: Degree of Connection
Viewing 2nd and 3rd degree connections on profiles launched in 2015, introducing a new relevance factor.
2017: Feed Interactions
The Feed added another rich signal for determining relevance based on content interactions after launching in 2017.
2020: Skills and Interests
Skills and interests data on profiles provide additional semantic signals for fine-tuning ranking accuracy.
Best Practices for Your LinkedIn Network
Follow these best practices to get the most out of your LinkedIn network:
- Keep your profile updated, especially positions and skills.
- Personalize connection requests with a note.
- Congratulate connections on work anniversaries and new jobs.
- Share relevant content with your network regularly.
- Respond thoughtfully to messages and comments.
- Monitor your network’s career changes and life events.
- Prune inactive connections if your list gets too big.
- Use search filters and lists to organize connections.
LinkedIn Connections: Next Steps
To continue making the most of your LinkedIn network, here are some recommended next steps:
- Review your network sorting options under “Manage my network”.
- Create a customized list of your top connections.
- Join Groups relevant to your professional interests.
- Complete your profile with current position, skills, etc.
- Regularly engage your network by liking and commenting.
- Give back by answering questions and providing advice.
Leveraging LinkedIn’s connection ordering and cultivating an engaged network can significantly enhance your career opportunities. Be strategic and proactive, and your network will become one of your most valuable professional assets.