The Most Underrated Networking Tool on LinkedIn
Why comments outperform posts when it comes to building a trusted, opportunity-rich network.
Welcome to issue #174 of The Introverted Networker. Every Tuesday, I teach you to be a better networker. My favorite part of the week is hearing from my readers, so leave a comment or ask a question, if you are so inclined.
What If the Fastest Way to Grow Your Network on LinkedIn Isn’t Posting at All?
Most people think growth on LinkedIn starts with posting.
Write more. Post more. Share more.
But here’s the truth most people miss:
Posting isn’t the easiest place to start.
It’s not even the most effective place to start.
If you want to grow your network, build real relationships, and get noticed by the right people, there’s a simpler place to begin.
Commenting.
Yes. Comments.
The part of LinkedIn most people treat like background noise.
But if you use comments the right way, you can build your network faster than you ever could by posting.
Today, I’ll show you how.
This issue takes about 6 minutes to read…
Why Commenting Works So Well
Commenting is the quiet power tool of LinkedIn.
It helps you get visible without creating original content.
It helps you meet people without sending awkward connection requests.
It helps you show how you think without writing long posts.
Here’s what happens when you start commenting consistently.
People start to recognize your name.
When someone sees you show up with thoughtful comments again and again, you stop being a stranger.
Conversations happen naturally.
A good comment turns into a short thread. A thread turns into a message. A message turns into a real relationship.
More people see you.
Most readers skim comments. If yours stands out, they notice you.
They click your profile. They follow you.
It’s networking without events.
Without small talk.
Without pressure.
Just simple conversations you choose to join.
A Deeper Step-by-Step Strategy for Using Comments to Grow Your Network
Most people scroll. They read. They lurk.
But lurking doesn’t build a network.
Commenting does.
When you do it with intention.
Here is a simple, deeper strategy for how to comment in a way that actually builds relationships.
Step 1: Follow people who talk about the topics you care about.
Before you can comment, you need something worth commenting on.
Following is the easiest way to fill your feed with posts that matter to you.
It also allows you to see what they post before you send the a Connection Request.
When you follow someone, you get access to their ideas, their conversations, and their community.
Why this works:
People who set their profile to “Follow” instead of “Connect” are usually active creators.
Active creators are more likely to read, respond to, and appreciate comments.
Their posts attract other active commenters which is your future network.
To make this effective, check their Activity tab.
If they haven’t posted for months, move on.
You want people who are part of the daily conversation.
Step 2: Leave one thoughtful comment a day.
One.
Not ten.
Not twenty.
Just one.
A thoughtful comment is short, clear, and specific.
Why this works:
Your comments show people how you think long before you ever connect with them.
They see your judgment.
Your tone.
Your curiosity.
Your expertise.
You get to demonstrate value without being self-promotional.
Your comment becomes a handshake.
A first impression.
A simple way of saying, “I’m here. I’m paying attention.”
Step 3: Show up early when you can.
If you comment early on a post, more people see your comment.
It rises to the top. It stays visible longer.
It collects replies and likes from readers.
Why this works:
LinkedIn’s algorithm treats early comments as “part of the conversation.”
When a post spreads, those early comments go with it.
This is why people with small followings can still grow fast. Early comments travel far.
You don’t have to catch every post early.
But when you can, it pays off.
Bonus Tip: Many regular content creators post at the same time each day.
Look at their past posts and see if you can figure out when they post (some will even tell you in their posts).
If it’s a time you can be on the platform, show up at that time and find their latest posts to be early into the comments.
Step 4: Make your comment useful.
Most comments add nothing new.
They simply repeat the point:
“Agree.”
“Exactly.”
“Nice post.”
These aren’t comments. They’re wallpaper.
A useful comment does at least one of these:
Adds a small example
Offers a different angle
Asks a real question
Connects the idea to your own experience
Expands the original thought by one small step
Why this works:
People remember useful comments.
They notice you when you help move the conversation forward.
Think about a an in-person industry conference.
When someone asks a good question of the presenter during Q&A, you remember them.
It shows they were listening.
It shows they’re thinking.
LinkedIn works the same way.
A useful comment is how you stand out without performing.
Step 5: Use replies to meet people in the comments.
The best networking on LinkedIn often happens under the posts, not on the posts themselves.
When you reply to someone else’s comment, you’re joining a conversation that’s already happening.
No cold outreach.
No awkward opener.
Why this works:
You meet people who care about the same topics.
The author sees you interacting with their audience.
Others begin to see your name repeatedly.
This is how familiarity builds.
Not in one big moment, but in small, repeated interactions.
These small threads turn into profile views.
Profile views turn into follows.
Follows turn into connections.
Connections turn into conversations.
Step 6: When someone becomes familiar, reach out.
Most people send connection requests too early.
They send them before they have ever engaged with the person on LinkedIn.
They look like they’re going to sell you something.
But once you’ve commented on someone’s posts a few times, you’re no longer anonymous.
You’ve shown up.
You’ve added value.
You’ve been part of their conversations.
Why this works:
Familiarity removes friction.
When someone recognizes your name from the comments, they almost always accept your request.
Sometimes, they even send you one first.
LinkedIn even highlights it now:
“<<Your Name>> follows you and is inviting you to connect.”
This is a signal.
It tells people you’re real, intentional, and engaged.
You’re not a bot or a salesperson.
Once you’re connected, you can start building the real relationship.
But the trust began in the comments.
Why This Process Works So Well
This system works because it mirrors how trust builds in real life.
You don’t walk up to a stranger and ask for a favor.
You don’t start with a big ask.
You start by showing up.
A small comment.
A shared thought.
A question.
A reply.
These tiny moments add up.
You become familiar.
Familiarity becomes trust.
Trust becomes opportunity.
And none of it requires posting.
Just one thoughtful comment a day.
Your Challenge This Week
One comment a day.
That’s it.
Don’t worry about posting.
Don’t worry about going viral.
Just show up in one conversation with one clear thought.
Do it today.
Do it tomorrow.
Do it all week.
Small actions compound.
One thoughtful comment can change who sees you, who trusts you, and who reaches out to you next.
This is how networking begins.
Talk to you next week.
Greg
P.S. - If you want more tips on how to use LinkedIn to grow your network, check out my YouTube channel. for more Introverted Networker strategies and tactics:
Best Things I Found Online This Week:
I always include Hannah Morgan in my Greg’s List section because she always has awesome ideas for job seekers. But this week, she created an AI prompt to help you create your Target Company List. You know how much I push you to use the TCL in your networking, and if you’ve been putting off creating it because you don’t know where to start, Hannah is crushing any excuses you might have had. Check it out!
So true -- and too funny Elizabeth from GIR Pro just wrote about this same thing on LinkedIn today 🙌
Makes sense. Unfortunately I’m so lazy to comment. I feel like I’m maxed out from commenting on Substack and my other social platforms though. It’s endless.