
You send out 20 connection requests this week. Five get accepted, but none of them respond to your personalized message. The other 15 sit in pending status indefinitely.

This is the reality of cold outreach on LinkedIn in 2025. The platform has trained users to ignore connection requests from strangers, and for good reason. Most of them lead nowhere or turn into immediate sales pitches.

But there's a smarter approach that builds warm relationships before you ever send that connection request. Strategic commenting lets you demonstrate expertise, build familiarity, and create genuine reasons for people to want to connect with you. Here's exactly how to do it.

## Why Commenting Beats Cold Connection Requests

When you send a connection request to someone you've never interacted with, you're asking them to make a decision about you based on a 15-second profile scan and a 300-character message.

When you've already commented thoughtfully on their content 3-5 times over the past few weeks, you're no longer a stranger. Your name is familiar. They've seen you add value in public. They already have a sense of your expertise and perspective.

The conversion rate difference is substantial. In my work with thousands of professionals building their LinkedIn presence, I've tracked these patterns:

**Cold connection requests**: 15-25% acceptance rate, with most acceptances leading to no further engagement.

**Comment-first approach**: 60-75% acceptance rate, with 40% of those connections leading to actual conversations within the first week.

The reason is simple: LinkedIn's algorithm shows people content from familiar names more frequently. By the time you send a connection request, the recipient has likely seen your name multiple times in their notifications. Your profile view doesn't feel random anymore. It feels like the natural next step in an existing relationship.

Beyond acceptance rates, there's the quality difference. Cold connections rarely turn into real relationships. Comment-based connections start with shared context and demonstrated value. You're not starting from zero. You're continuing a conversation that already began.

## The Strategic Commenting Framework for Networking

Let me walk you through the exact system that turns commenting into network growth.

### Identify Your Target Network

Before you start commenting everywhere, get clear on who you actually want to connect with. Random networking is inefficient. Strategic networking changes your career.

**Decision-makers in your industry**: These are potential clients, partners, or employers. Focus on people 1-2 levels above where you are now. Too far above and your comments get lost in volume. At the right level, you can stand out.

**Peers for collaboration**: Other professionals at your level who serve adjacent markets or complementary skills. These relationships often lead to referrals, collaborations, and mutual support.

**Thought leaders for visibility**: Commenting on posts from people with 10K-100K followers puts your insights in front of hundreds or thousands of your target audience. Even if the thought leader doesn't respond, other readers see your comment and check your profile.

Make a list of 20-30 people across these categories. These become your primary commenting targets.

### Find Where They Engage

Here's what most people miss: Don't just follow these people and wait for their posts. Find where they're already engaging.

Check their activity feed. You'll see what posts they're commenting on, what content they're sharing, and which conversations they're joining. These are goldmines for you.

When you comment on the same posts where your target connections are active, you're guaranteed they'll see your name. You're joining conversations they've already signaled interest in. This creates multiple touchpoints faster than waiting for them to post.

Set aside 15 minutes each morning to check the activity of your top 10 target connections. Find 2-3 posts where they've recently engaged, and add your own thoughtful comments to those threads.

### Add Value Before Asking for Anything

This is where most networking strategies fail. People treat commenting as a transaction: "I'll comment on your stuff so you'll connect with me."

That transactional energy is obvious and off-putting. Instead, shift to genuine value-adding with no immediate expectation of return.

**The 5-3-1 rule**: Before sending a connection request to someone, leave five thoughtful comments on their content or posts where they're active, react to three of their posts, and share one of their posts with your own take added.

This creates multiple positive touchpoints. By the time you send that connection request, they recognize your name and associate it with adding value to conversations they care about.

**What "adding value" actually means**:

-   Sharing a relevant experience that extends their point
-   Asking a thoughtful question that sparks discussion
-   Providing a counterpoint that's respectful and well-reasoned
-   Offering a specific resource or insight they might not know

Notice what's not on this list: agreeing generically, restating their point, or promoting your own content. Those don't add value. They add noise.

### Create Pattern Recognition

Human brains are wired to notice patterns. Use this to your advantage.

When someone sees your name in their notifications 3-5 times over two weeks, a pattern forms. You're no longer random. You're consistent. You're familiar. You're someone who shows up.

But there's a fine line between helpful consistency and creepy stalking. Here are the guardrails:

**Comment frequency per person**: Maximum once per week on any single person's content. If they post daily, comment on one post per week. This shows consistent interest without overwhelming.

**Vary your engagement**: Don't just comment. Mix in reactions, shares with added perspective, and engagement with their comments on other people's posts.

**Focus on quality, not speed**: Don't be the first comment on every post from your target connections. That signals you're monitoring too closely. Instead, show up when you have something genuinely valuable to add.

After 3-5 quality touchpoints, most people will remember your name when they see your connection request.

---

## From Comment to Connection to Conversation

You've been adding value consistently. Now it's time to convert familiarity into formal connections.

### When to Send the Connection Request

Timing matters. Send the request too early, and you're still a stranger. Wait too long, and the momentum fades.

**Ideal timing signals**:

-   They've replied to one of your comments
-   They've reacted to your comments multiple times
-   You've been engaging for 2-3 weeks with 5+ touchpoints
-   You've had a mini-conversation in a comment thread

These signals indicate you're no longer random. You've earned the right to connect.

**Red flags to wait**:

-   You've only commented once or twice
-   They haven't acknowledged your comments at all
-   It's been less than a week of engagement
-   Your comments were generic or self-promotional

When in doubt, wait another week and add more value.

### Crafting the Perfect Connection Message

Your connection message should reference your comment history, but don't make it weird.

**Template structure**:

"Hi [Name], I've really enjoyed your insights on [specific topic you've seen them discuss]. Your post about [specific post] especially resonated because [brief reason]. Would love to connect and continue the conversation."

**Real example**:

"Hi Sarah, I've really enjoyed your insights on B2B content strategy. Your post about LinkedIn algorithm changes especially resonated because I've been testing similar hypotheses with my clients. Would love to connect and continue the conversation."

This message accomplishes three things:

1. Shows you've actually paid attention to their content
2. Establishes shared professional interests
3. Implies future value exchange, not a one-way ask

Keep it under 200 characters. LinkedIn truncates long messages in mobile notifications, and most people check connection requests on mobile.

### Following Up After Connection

Here's where most people drop the ball. They finally get the connection accepted and then... nothing. Or worse, they immediately pitch their services.

The relationship is just starting. Nurture it.

**Within 24 hours of acceptance**: Send a brief thank-you message. "Thanks for connecting, [Name]! Looking forward to staying in touch." That's it. No ask. No pitch.

**Over the next 2-4 weeks**: Continue engaging with their content just like before. Being connected doesn't mean you stop showing up. It means you can now take conversations to DMs when appropriate.

**Moving to deeper conversation**: Watch for natural opportunities:

-   They share a challenge you can help with
-   You come across a resource directly relevant to something they posted about
-   They mention an interest or project that aligns with yours

When these moments arise, DM them with specific value: "Saw your post about [topic]. I recently came across [specific resource] that directly addresses that challenge. Thought you might find it useful."

This approach turns connections into conversations, and conversations into real relationships.

---

## Scaling Relationship Building on LinkedIn

The strategy I've outlined works, but it takes time. How do you scale this approach without it consuming your entire day?

**Time investment reality check**: Building 10 quality relationships per month through this comment-first approach takes 15-30 minutes per day. That's roughly 2 minutes per target connection per day for touchpoints.

**Daily workflow**:

-   **Morning (15 minutes)**: Check activity of top 10 target connections, leave 3-5 thoughtful comments
-   **Midday (5 minutes)**: Respond to any notifications from your comments
-   **Evening (5 minutes)**: Send 1-2 connection requests to people who've reached the 5-touchpoint threshold

If you're finding it difficult to maintain quality while scaling your engagement across multiple platforms, the [LiGo Chrome Extension](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ligo-comments-for-linkedi/dlclgkldbjggemolgmajabobdcofgjof) can help. It analyzes posts and generates authentic, context-aware comment suggestions while you maintain control over what gets posted. This lets you engage thoughtfully across LinkedIn, X, Reddit, and Meta without spending hours crafting each comment. The free version covers most users' needs.

**Tracking system**: You need a simple way to track your engagement with target connections. Options:

-   Spreadsheet with names, last engagement date, touchpoint count, and notes
-   CRM if you're doing this at scale (HubSpot, Pipedrive, etc.)
-   LinkedIn Sales Navigator has built-in note-taking features
-   Simple notes app on your phone

The key is consistency. Ten quality relationships built per month compounds into 120 new meaningful connections per year. That's more valuable than 1,000 random connections.

---

## Building Your Network Through Strategic Comments

The comment-first networking approach flips traditional LinkedIn networking on its head. Instead of asking strangers to trust you, you earn familiarity before you ever ask for a connection.

This strategy works because it aligns with how real relationships form: through repeated positive interactions, demonstrated value, and mutual interest.

Start with your 30-day challenge:

**Week 1**: Identify 20 target connections and begin engaging with their content. Goal: 3-5 quality comments on content from or involving your targets.

**Week 2**: Continue engaging. By now, some targets will start recognizing your name. Goal: 5-7 quality comments, at least one mini-conversation in a comment thread.

**Week 3**: Send your first 2-3 connection requests to people who've hit the 5-touchpoint threshold. Continue engaging with remaining targets. Goal: Send 3 requests, leave 5-7 comments.

**Week 4**: Follow up with new connections, continue the engagement cycle with remaining targets. Goal: Nurture new connections, send 3-5 more requests, maintain comment rhythm.

After 30 days of this approach, you'll have 10-15 new warm connections, ongoing conversations with several, and a system that compounds monthly.

The network you build through strategic commenting is fundamentally different from the one you build through cold outreach. These connections actually respond to your messages, engage with your content, and turn into real opportunities because the relationship started with value, not asks.

If you want to implement this strategy efficiently without sacrificing the authentic engagement that makes it work, [try LiGo](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ligo-comments-for-linkedi/dlclgkldbjggemolgmajabobdcofgjof). It's built specifically for professionals who understand that quality networking takes thoughtful engagement, not just volume.

Your network is your net worth. Build it strategically, one valuable comment at a time.

---

## Related Resources

-   [How to Write LinkedIn Comments That Actually Get Replies (2025 Formula)](https://ligoai.com/blog/how-to-write-linkedin-comments-get-replies-2025)
-   [LinkedIn Comment Generator Tools Compared: Free vs Paid Options](https://ligoai.com/blog/linkedin-comment-generator-tools-compared-free-paid)
-   [How to Generate 10x More Leads from LinkedIn Comments (Proven Strategy)](https://ligoai.com/blog/generate-10x-leads-linkedin-comments-strategy)
-   [15 LinkedIn Engagement Hacks That Actually Work in 2025](https://ligoai.com/blog/15-linkedin-engagement-hacks-work-2025)
-   [From 0 to 10K Followers: LinkedIn Growth Strategy Using Strategic Comments](https://ligoai.com/blog/0-to-10k-followers-linkedin-growth-strategy-comments)


You send out 20 connection requests this week. Five get accepted, but none of them respond to your personalized message. The other 15 sit in pending status indefinitely.
This is the reality of cold outreach on LinkedIn in 2025. The platform has trained users to ignore connection requests from strangers, and for good reason. Most of them lead nowhere or turn into immediate sales pitches.
But there’s a smarter approach that builds warm relationships before you ever send that connection request. Strategic commenting lets you demonstrate expertise, build familiarity, and create genuine reasons for people to want to connect with you. Here’s exactly how to do it.
<h2>Why Commenting Beats Cold Connection Requests</h2>
When you send a connection request to someone you’ve never interacted with, you’re asking them to make a decision about you based on a 15-second profile scan and a 300-character message.
When you’ve already commented thoughtfully on their content 3-5 times over the past few weeks, you’re no longer a stranger. Your name is familiar. They’ve seen you add value in public. They already have a sense of your expertise and perspective.
The conversion rate difference is substantial. In my work with thousands of professionals building their LinkedIn presence, I’ve tracked these patterns:
Cold connection requests: 15-25% acceptance rate, with most acceptances leading to no further engagement.
Comment-first approach: 60-75% acceptance rate, with 40% of those connections leading to actual conversations within the first week.
The reason is simple: LinkedIn’s algorithm shows people content from familiar names more frequently. By the time you send a connection request, the recipient has likely seen your name multiple times in their notifications. Your profile view doesn’t feel random anymore. It feels like the natural next step in an existing relationship.
Beyond acceptance rates, there’s the quality difference. Cold connections rarely turn into real relationships. Comment-based connections start with shared context and demonstrated value. You’re not starting from zero. You’re continuing a conversation that already began.
<h2>The Strategic Commenting Framework for Networking</h2>
Let me walk you through the exact system that turns commenting into network growth.
<h3>Identify Your Target Network</h3>
Before you start commenting everywhere, get clear on who you actually want to connect with. Random networking is inefficient. Strategic networking changes your career.
Decision-makers in your industry: These are potential clients, partners, or employers. Focus on people 1-2 levels above where you are now. Too far above and your comments get lost in volume. At the right level, you can stand out.
Peers for collaboration: Other professionals at your level who serve adjacent markets or complementary skills. These relationships often lead to referrals, collaborations, and mutual support.
Thought leaders for visibility: Commenting on posts from people with 10K-100K followers puts your insights in front of hundreds or thousands of your target audience. Even if the thought leader doesn’t respond, other readers see your comment and check your profile.
Make a list of 20-30 people across these categories. These become your primary commenting targets.
<h3>Find Where They Engage</h3>
Here’s what most people miss: Don’t just follow these people and wait for their posts. Find where they’re already engaging.
Check their activity feed. You’ll see what posts they’re commenting on, what content they’re sharing, and which conversations they’re joining. These are goldmines for you.
When you comment on the same posts where your target connections are active, you’re guaranteed they’ll see your name. You’re joining conversations they’ve already signaled interest in. This creates multiple touchpoints faster than waiting for them to post.
Set aside 15 minutes each morning to check the activity of your top 10 target connections. Find 2-3 posts where they’ve recently engaged, and add your own thoughtful comments to those threads.
<h3>Add Value Before Asking for Anything</h3>
This is where most networking strategies fail. People treat commenting as a transaction: “I’ll comment on your stuff so you’ll connect with me.”
That transactional energy is obvious and off-putting. Instead, shift to genuine value-adding with no immediate expectation of return.
The 5-3-1 rule: Before sending a connection request to someone, leave five thoughtful comments on their content or posts where they’re active, react to three of their posts, and share one of their posts with your own take added.
This creates multiple positive touchpoints. By the time you send that connection request, they recognize your name and associate it with adding value to conversations they care about.
What “adding value” actually means:
<ul>
<li>Sharing a relevant experience that extends their point</li>
<li>Asking a thoughtful question that sparks discussion</li>
<li>Providing a counterpoint that’s respectful and well-reasoned</li>
<li>Offering a specific resource or insight they might not know</li>
</ul>
Notice what’s not on this list: agreeing generically, restating their point, or promoting your own content. Those don’t add value. They add noise.
<h3>Create Pattern Recognition</h3>
Human brains are wired to notice patterns. Use this to your advantage.
When someone sees your name in their notifications 3-5 times over two weeks, a pattern forms. You’re no longer random. You’re consistent. You’re familiar. You’re someone who shows up.
But there’s a fine line between helpful consistency and creepy stalking. Here are the guardrails:
Comment frequency per person: Maximum once per week on any single person’s content. If they post daily, comment on one post per week. This shows consistent interest without overwhelming.
Vary your engagement: Don’t just comment. Mix in reactions, shares with added perspective, and engagement with their comments on other people’s posts.
Focus on quality, not speed: Don’t be the first comment on every post from your target connections. That signals you’re monitoring too closely. Instead, show up when you have something genuinely valuable to add.
After 3-5 quality touchpoints, most people will remember your name when they see your connection request.
<hr>
<h2>From Comment to Connection to Conversation</h2>
You’ve been adding value consistently. Now it’s time to convert familiarity into formal connections.
<h3>When to Send the Connection Request</h3>
Timing matters. Send the request too early, and you’re still a stranger. Wait too long, and the momentum fades.
Ideal timing signals:
<ul>
<li>They’ve replied to one of your comments</li>
<li>They’ve reacted to your comments multiple times</li>
<li>You’ve been engaging for 2-3 weeks with 5+ touchpoints</li>
<li>You’ve had a mini-conversation in a comment thread</li>
</ul>
These signals indicate you’re no longer random. You’ve earned the right to connect.
Red flags to wait:
<ul>
<li>You’ve only commented once or twice</li>
<li>They haven’t acknowledged your comments at all</li>
<li>It’s been less than a week of engagement</li>
<li>Your comments were generic or self-promotional</li>
</ul>
When in doubt, wait another week and add more value.
<h3>Crafting the Perfect Connection Message</h3>
Your connection message should reference your comment history, but don’t make it weird.
Template structure:
“Hi [Name], I’ve really enjoyed your insights on [specific topic you’ve seen them discuss]. Your post about [specific post] especially resonated because [brief reason]. Would love to connect and continue the conversation.”
Real example:
“Hi Sarah, I’ve really enjoyed your insights on B2B content strategy. Your post about LinkedIn algorithm changes especially resonated because I’ve been testing similar hypotheses with my clients. Would love to connect and continue the conversation.”
This message accomplishes three things:
<ol>
<li>Shows you’ve actually paid attention to their content</li>
<li>Establishes shared professional interests</li>
<li>Implies future value exchange, not a one-way ask</li>
</ol>
Keep it under 200 characters. LinkedIn truncates long messages in mobile notifications, and most people check connection requests on mobile.
<h3>Following Up After Connection</h3>
Here’s where most people drop the ball. They finally get the connection accepted and then… nothing. Or worse, they immediately pitch their services.
The relationship is just starting. Nurture it.
Within 24 hours of acceptance: Send a brief thank-you message. “Thanks for connecting, [Name]! Looking forward to staying in touch.” That’s it. No ask. No pitch.
Over the next 2-4 weeks: Continue engaging with their content just like before. Being connected doesn’t mean you stop showing up. It means you can now take conversations to DMs when appropriate.
Moving to deeper conversation: Watch for natural opportunities:
<ul>
<li>They share a challenge you can help with</li>
<li>You come across a resource directly relevant to something they posted about</li>
<li>They mention an interest or project that aligns with yours</li>
</ul>
When these moments arise, DM them with specific value: “Saw your post about [topic]. I recently came across [specific resource] that directly addresses that challenge. Thought you might find it useful.”
This approach turns connections into conversations, and conversations into real relationships.
<hr>
<h2>Scaling Relationship Building on LinkedIn</h2>
The strategy I’ve outlined works, but it takes time. How do you scale this approach without it consuming your entire day?
Time investment reality check: Building 10 quality relationships per month through this comment-first approach takes 15-30 minutes per day. That’s roughly 2 minutes per target connection per day for touchpoints.
Daily workflow:
<ul>
<li>Morning (15 minutes): Check activity of top 10 target connections, leave 3-5 thoughtful comments</li>
<li>Midday (5 minutes): Respond to any notifications from your comments</li>
<li>Evening (5 minutes): Send 1-2 connection requests to people who’ve reached the 5-touchpoint threshold</li>
</ul>
If you’re finding it difficult to maintain quality while scaling your engagement across multiple platforms, the <a href="https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ligo-comments-for-linkedi/dlclgkldbjggemolgmajabobdcofgjof">LiGo Chrome Extension</a> can help. It analyzes posts and generates authentic, context-aware comment suggestions while you maintain control over what gets posted. This lets you engage thoughtfully across LinkedIn, X, Reddit, and Meta without spending hours crafting each comment. The free version covers most users’ needs.
Tracking system: You need a simple way to track your engagement with target connections. Options:
<ul>
<li>Spreadsheet with names, last engagement date, touchpoint count, and notes</li>
<li>CRM if you’re doing this at scale (HubSpot, Pipedrive, etc.)</li>
<li>LinkedIn Sales Navigator has built-in note-taking features</li>
<li>Simple notes app on your phone</li>
</ul>
The key is consistency. Ten quality relationships built per month compounds into 120 new meaningful connections per year. That’s more valuable than 1,000 random connections.
<hr>
<h2>Building Your Network Through Strategic Comments</h2>
The comment-first networking approach flips traditional LinkedIn networking on its head. Instead of asking strangers to trust you, you earn familiarity before you ever ask for a connection.
This strategy works because it aligns with how real relationships form: through repeated positive interactions, demonstrated value, and mutual interest.
Start with your 30-day challenge:
Week 1: Identify 20 target connections and begin engaging with their content. Goal: 3-5 quality comments on content from or involving your targets.
Week 2: Continue engaging. By now, some targets will start recognizing your name. Goal: 5-7 quality comments, at least one mini-conversation in a comment thread.
Week 3: Send your first 2-3 connection requests to people who’ve hit the 5-touchpoint threshold. Continue engaging with remaining targets. Goal: Send 3 requests, leave 5-7 comments.
Week 4: Follow up with new connections, continue the engagement cycle with remaining targets. Goal: Nurture new connections, send 3-5 more requests, maintain comment rhythm.
After 30 days of this approach, you’ll have 10-15 new warm connections, ongoing conversations with several, and a system that compounds monthly.
The network you build through strategic commenting is fundamentally different from the one you build through cold outreach. These connections actually respond to your messages, engage with your content, and turn into real opportunities because the relationship started with value, not asks.
If you want to implement this strategy efficiently without sacrificing the authentic engagement that makes it work, <a href="https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ligo-comments-for-linkedi/dlclgkldbjggemolgmajabobdcofgjof">try LiGo</a>. It’s built specifically for professionals who understand that quality networking takes thoughtful engagement, not just volume.
Your network is your net worth. Build it strategically, one valuable comment at a time.
<hr>
<h2>Related Resources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ligoai.com/blog/how-to-write-linkedin-comments-get-replies-2025">How to Write LinkedIn Comments That Actually Get Replies (2025 Formula)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ligoai.com/blog/linkedin-comment-generator-tools-compared-free-paid">LinkedIn Comment Generator Tools Compared: Free vs Paid Options</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ligoai.com/blog/generate-10x-leads-linkedin-comments-strategy">How to Generate 10x More Leads from LinkedIn Comments (Proven Strategy)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ligoai.com/blog/15-linkedin-engagement-hacks-work-2025">15 LinkedIn Engagement Hacks That Actually Work in 2025</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ligoai.com/blog/0-to-10k-followers-linkedin-growth-strategy-comments">From 0 to 10K Followers: LinkedIn Growth Strategy Using Strategic Comments</a></li>
</ul>

Build meaningful LinkedIn connections through strategic commenting. Learn relationship-building tactics that turn comments into conversations and opportunities.

Posts tagged: LinkedIn Networking

How to Comment on LinkedIn Posts to Build Your Network