Dear Yogesh,

How should I deal with LinkedIn?

Everyone who wants to "connect" with me ends up trying to sell me something.

Sometimes it seems like someone has done their homework and has something useful to offer—but more often than not, it’s people who clearly know nothing about me.

It feels like LinkedIn’s original purpose has been lost, and now it’s mostly a waste of time. I don’t want to be rude, but I do want to stop being inundated with connection requests.

Sincerely, Rohit

Dear Rohit,

I completely understand where you’re coming from. LinkedIn is the only social media platform I still actively engage with—and even I’ve considered stepping back because of the same frustrations. However, every now and then, I stumble upon something genuinely interesting or useful, which keeps me hanging on.

Like you, I value the ability to stay updated on what my professional network is doing and to participate in certain groups I enjoy. Unfortunately, LinkedIn has increasingly become a playground for sales pitches. I suspect this shift is driven by the rise of email spam filters and the fact that almost no one answers the phone anymore. For many salespeople—and, let’s be honest, probably some bots—LinkedIn is one of the few remaining direct channels to get noticed.

But that doesn’t mean you have to play along. If LinkedIn is becoming more of a hassle than a help, it’s worth asking yourself: What do I want to get out of this platform?

Once you clarify your goals, you can make more intentional decisions about how to interact. Here are a few strategies to help you cut through the noise:

1. Be Selective About Connections

Only accept connection requests from people who are genuinely interesting, engaged in your industry, or relevant to your business. It’s perfectly fine to decline requests without providing an explanation.

2. Set Expectations with a Post

Consider writing a post about the type of connections you welcome. While it might get buried over time, you can always link back to it in the future when declining requests or responding to messages.

3. Adjust Your Privacy Settings

If you’re not using LinkedIn to attract customers or generate leads, you can limit your visibility through privacy settings. Reducing how much of your profile is publicly accessible can help filter out unsolicited sales pitches.

4. Join Relevant Groups

Seek out LinkedIn groups that align with your professional interests. Engaging in these spaces can help narrow your feed and make your experience on the platform more focused and valuable.

5. Filter Your Messages

Did you know you can organize your LinkedIn inbox? Set up separate folders for messages from connections and non-connections. This way, you can prioritize messages from people you want to engage with and ignore the rest.

6. Declutter Your Connections

If you’ve previously accepted connection requests without much thought, consider doing a little pruning. Under “Manage My Network,” you can review your connections and remove those that no longer feel relevant. This may take some time but could significantly improve your LinkedIn experience.

7. Guard Your Time and Attention

Social media platforms, including LinkedIn, are designed to capture and keep your attention. To truly make LinkedIn work for you, you must set boundaries—because no one else will. Decide what is worth your time and attention, and don’t hesitate to assert control.

Your time is a precious and finite resource, and you’re well within your rights to protect it. By implementing some or all of these strategies, you’ll be able to refocus your LinkedIn experience on what truly matters to you.

Best Regards,

Yogesh

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