What is a LinkedIn Connection?
A connection is someone who agrees to share their network with you. Think of Spock’s Vulcan Mind Meld applied to LinkedIn. So for example, I have 900+ LinkedIn contacts. (Don’t be impressed. It’s not a numbers game.) If you propose connecting to me and I accept, them you have access to my contacts and I to yours. You can see who they are. If you search, they show as reachable. A direct connection is in the 1st degree of your network and you are in the 1st degree of my network. This enables you to view and browse each others’ profiles and networks, communicate directly via email and forward each other Introductions from users who aren’t directly connected to the intended recipient.
