A connection is mutual: one person invites, the other accepts. A follow is one-way and needs no approval. When you connect with someone, you also follow each other by default, so your follower count usually includes your connections plus anyone who follows you without being connected.
Side by side
| Connection | Follower | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs your approval | Yes | No |
| Direction | Both ways | One way |
| Free messaging | Yes | No |
| Sees your public posts | Yes | Yes |
| You see their posts | Yes, unless you unfollow them | Only if you follow them back |
| Counts as 1st degree | Yes | No |
You can unfollow a connection to hide their posts and still stay connected. They are not notified.
Which to focus on, by goal
| Your goal | Focus on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Finding a job | Connections | Referrals and recruiter conversations happen in messages. |
| Selling or finding clients | Connections | You need to be able to start a conversation. |
| Building an audience for your posts | Followers | Strangers can read you without waiting for approval. |
| Hiring | Both | Followers see your job posts; connections can refer people. |
| Learning about a field | Following others | You can follow experts without asking them to connect. |
A few notes on the rows.
Job seekers get more from a network of relevant connections than from a large following. A connection can introduce you, answer a message and see your updates. Our job seeker page has the tools for that path.
Sellers and founders are in the same spot. Followers may read your posts, but a buying conversation usually starts in a message, which works best between connections.
People who post often benefit from followers, because a follow costs a stranger nothing. LinkedIn lets many members make Follow the main button on their profile, so people who like your posts can follow without sending a request you then have to sort through.
Hiring managers need both: reach for the role announcement, and a network that knows good people.
Turning followers into conversations
Followers who like your work often connect later, when they have a reason. Make that easy. Mention in posts what kind of conversations you welcome, and accept invitations that come with a clear note. When you reach out first, explain why in a sentence; the free Connection Message Generator helps you write it, and connection degrees explains what changes once you connect.
Which number matters?
Neither, on its own. A smaller, relevant network that answers your messages is worth more than a big one that ignores you. For growing an audience, see how to get more followers on LinkedIn and draft posts with the Post Generator. For relationships, how to network on LinkedIn has the longer plan.