Who can you message for free? LinkedIn connection degrees explained

What Are LinkedIn Connection Degrees?

Reach on the platform is gated by relationship distance, which is what LinkedIn connection degrees explained really amounts to in daily use: a first-degree contact can be messaged at no cost, a second-degree needs an introduction or InMail, and a third-degree may not even show a full surname.

The Three Degrees Explained

1st-Degree Connections

These are people you are directly connected with on LinkedIn. Either you sent them a connection request that they accepted, or they sent one to you. First-degree connections are your core professional network on the platform.

What you can do with 1st-degree connections:

• Send direct messages for free
• See their full profile information
• View their activity and posts in your feed
• Endorse their skills and write recommendations
• See their connections list (if their privacy settings allow it)

2nd-Degree Connections

These are people connected to your 1st-degree connections but not directly connected to you. They are essentially "friends of friends" in professional networking terms.

What you can do with 2nd-degree connections:

• View their profile (with some limitations depending on their settings)
• Send them a connection request
• Send them an InMail (if you have a Premium subscription)
• See mutual connections you share

3rd-Degree Connections

These are people connected to your 2nd-degree connections. They are three steps removed from you in the LinkedIn network chain.

What you can do with 3rd-degree connections:

• View limited profile information
• Send a connection request (sometimes)
• Send an InMail with Premium
• See if you share any mutual connections

Connection Degrees Comparison

Feature	1st Degree	2nd Degree	3rd Degree
Direct messaging	Yes (free)	InMail only	InMail only
Full profile access	Yes	Partial	Limited
Appears in feed	Yes	Occasionally	Rarely
Connection request	Already connected	Yes	Sometimes
Mutual connections visible	N/A	Yes	Sometimes
Endorsements	Yes	No	No

Why Connection Degrees Matter

For Job Seekers

When applying for positions, having a 1st or 2nd-degree connection at the company significantly improves your chances of getting noticed. Recruiters often prioritize candidates who are already in their network.

For Sales Professionals

Understanding connection degrees helps you map out warm introduction paths to prospects. A 2nd-degree connection means someone in your network can introduce you directly.

For Content Creators

Your content primarily reaches 1st-degree connections, then extends to 2nd-degree connections through engagement. Building a strong 1st-degree network amplifies your content reach.

For Recruiters

Connection degrees affect search results and outreach capabilities. Closer connections typically respond at higher rates to messages and requests.

How to Strategically Grow Your Network

Expanding 1st-Degree Connections

• Connect with colleagues, clients, and industry peers
• Follow up real-world meetings with LinkedIn connection requests
• Include a personalized note with every connection request
• Engage with content from people you want to connect with before sending a request

Leveraging 2nd-Degree Connections

• Ask mutual connections for introductions
• Engage with their public content to build familiarity
• Reference mutual connections when sending connection requests
• Join the same LinkedIn Groups to create additional touchpoints

Reaching 3rd-Degree Connections

• Use LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator for InMail access
• Publish content that extends beyond your immediate network
• Participate in Collaborative Articles and group discussions
• Attend LinkedIn Events where distant connections might be present

The "Out of Network" Category

Some LinkedIn users will appear as "LinkedIn Member" without any degree indicator. These people are completely outside your network chain. You have very limited interaction options with them, and their profile information is heavily restricted.

Related Terms

• LinkedIn InMail: Premium messaging feature for reaching beyond your 1st-degree connections
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Advanced tool for finding and connecting with prospects
• LinkedIn Social Selling Index: A score measuring your social selling effectiveness

Frequently Asked Questions

How many 1st-degree connections can you have on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn allows a maximum of 30,000 1st-degree connections per account. Once you reach this limit, people can only follow you rather than connect. Many high-profile users hit this cap and operate in "follow-first" mode.

Does removing a connection notify them?

No. When you remove a 1st-degree connection, LinkedIn does not send them a notification. They would only notice if they visited your profile and saw that the connection was no longer active.

Can you message 2nd-degree connections without Premium?

Generally, no. You need LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator to send InMail messages to 2nd-degree connections. However, if you are in the same LinkedIn Group or have interacted on the same post, messaging options may become available.

Do connection degrees affect LinkedIn search results?

Yes. LinkedIn search results are influenced by connection degree. Closer connections tend to appear higher in search results, and you have access to more information about them.

Should you accept every connection request?

Not necessarily. Quality matters more than quantity. Accept requests from people in your industry, potential collaborators, clients, and professionals whose content you find valuable. A curated network delivers more relevant content in your feed and more meaningful interaction opportunities.

Build a Stronger LinkedIn Network

Growing a strategic LinkedIn network requires consistent effort and thoughtful engagement. AdaptlyPost helps you maintain an active LinkedIn presence by scheduling valuable content that attracts the right connections and keeps your network engaged.