Title: "LinkedIn or Somewhere Else? Where Should You Connect?"

Description: "Should you connect on LinkedIn, email, or another channel? Learn how to choose the right place based on context, intent, privacy, and follow-up goals."

Should I Connect on LinkedIn or Somewhere Else? A Practical Guide

Should I Connect on LinkedIn or Somewhere Else? The best channel depends on where you met, what you want to happen next, how established the relationship is, and what contact method the other person expects. LinkedIn is a useful professional default, but email, a community platform, messaging app, or event networking tool can be a better fit in the right context.

Meeting someone worth knowing creates a surprisingly practical question: where should the relationship continue? A LinkedIn request may make perfect sense after a conference conversation, while email is often more useful when you have already agreed to exchange information or arrange a meeting. If you met through a Slack community, ongoing conversation there may feel more natural. And when someone explicitly says, “Message me on WhatsApp,” that invitation is a stronger signal than any general networking rule.

The useful principle is channel fit: how well a communication platform matches the relationship, the context in which you met, and the next action you intend to take. Instead of asking which platform is universally best, consider five things: context, intent, relationship strength, permission, and what needs to happen next.

Should You Connect on LinkedIn? The Short Answer

Yes, connecting on LinkedIn is usually a sensible choice when you have met someone professionally and want to stay on each other's radar without immediately starting a detailed conversation. It works especially well when there is no other established channel and the relationship is still relatively new.

But LinkedIn is a default, not a rule. If someone has asked you to send a proposal by email, continuing only through LinkedIn creates unnecessary friction. If the relationship began inside a private professional community, moving away from that community immediately may strip away useful context. And if someone has explicitly told you how they prefer to be contacted, their preference should normally carry more weight than generic networking etiquette.

When LinkedIn Is the Best Place to Connect

LinkedIn fits particularly well after brief professional encounters. You may have spoken to someone after a conference session, met a founder at a startup programme, exchanged ideas during a workshop, or been introduced by a mutual contact. In those cases, a connection request creates a durable professional link without implying that either person owes the other an immediate response or meeting.

It is also useful when the main objective is simply to maintain professional visibility. Both people can retain some context about each other's work, career, and interests while deciding organically whether there is a reason to speak again later. A short personalised request mentioning where you met is generally more meaningful than an unexplained invitation.

For example:

Good speaking with you after the product-led growth session. I enjoyed our conversation about community onboarding and would be glad to stay in touch.

The message works because it restores context. It does not exaggerate the relationship, manufacture urgency, or immediately ask for a favour.

When LinkedIn May Not Be the Best Choice

LinkedIn becomes less useful when the relationship already has a clearer next step. If you agreed to send research, arrange a call, introduce a colleague, review a document, or continue a detailed business conversation, email will often support that action better. You can still connect on LinkedIn, but the connection request should not replace the follow-up you actually promised.

The same principle applies to established communication environments. If you regularly speak with someone in Slack or Discord because you belong to the same professional community, that channel may remain the most relevant place for the conversation. Direct messaging applications can also be appropriate when the other person has voluntarily offered that method of contact.

The important distinction is between staying connected and doing something next. LinkedIn is strong at the first. Other channels may be stronger at the second.

LinkedIn vs Email vs Messaging Apps: Which Channel Fits the Relationship?

There is no universal hierarchy in which LinkedIn is more professional than email or email is automatically more appropriate than messaging. The right choice depends on what each channel is being asked to do.

LinkedIn for Long-Term Professional Relationships

LinkedIn is particularly useful when the relationship matters professionally but does not yet require regular communication. Someone you met for ten minutes at a conference may become relevant months later, and a professional connection makes it easier for both sides to retain a lightweight link.

That makes LinkedIn a strong choice for networking follow-up when your immediate goal is simply: “We had a useful conversation, and it makes sense to remain professionally connected.”

Best for

LinkedIn works well for people you want to keep in your professional network without forcing an immediate next step. That might include someone you met briefly at a conference, a speaker whose work overlaps with yours, a founder you exchanged ideas with, or a professional contact introduced through a mutual connection.

It is also useful when both people benefit from seeing each other's evolving professional context. Roles change, companies change, projects develop, and interests shift. A LinkedIn connection can preserve a lightweight relationship even when there is no reason to communicate regularly.

Less Useful When

LinkedIn is less effective when the next action needs detail, structure, or reliable reference. If you need to send a proposal, arrange logistics, introduce two people, share documents, or confirm a meeting, another channel will usually be more practical.

It can also be a poor choice when the person has already established a preferred communication method. If they say, “Send me an email,” sending only a LinkedIn request misses the signal they have given you.

Email for Specific Follow-Ups and Next Steps

Email becomes particularly valuable once a networking conversation produces a concrete action. It gives both people room to provide context, include links or documents, organise information, and return to the conversation later.

Suppose you meet someone at an industry event and agree to send them a case study. A personalised LinkedIn request may still make sense, but the promised case study belongs in the email if that is the contact method you exchanged. The important principle is to follow through in the channel that best supports the commitment.

Best for

Email is often the stronger option when you need to:

• schedule a meeting or call;
• send a resource discussed in person;
• make a professional introduction;
• share a proposal or document;
• continue a detailed business conversation;
• follow up on a specific opportunity.

A useful email should make the context immediately clear. Mention where you met, remind the person what you discussed, and complete the next step you agreed on instead of turning the message into a generic networking pitch.

Less Useful When

Email becomes questionable when you obtained someone's address without a reasonable expectation that you would use it. Finding a private address elsewhere and contacting someone merely because you briefly occupied the same event space can cross a boundary, even if the message itself is professional.

Context and permission matter. If someone provides an email address, lists it specifically for professional enquiries, or asks you to email them, the expectation is clearer than when you have sourced contact information independently.

WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, or Other Direct Messaging

Direct messaging is faster and often more personal than either email or LinkedIn. That convenience is exactly why it should be used thoughtfully. A mobile messaging channel can imply greater access to someone's attention, so the fact that you can message a person does not automatically mean that you should.

The strongest signal is an explicit invitation. If someone says, “Send me the details on WhatsApp,” or voluntarily shares a number for follow-up, using that channel is natural. If no such preference has been established, a professional network or email may be a safer starting point.

Best for

Direct messaging tends to fit established relationships, ongoing coordination, small professional groups, or situations where the other person has expressly invited contact. It can be especially practical when both parties already use that channel for the project, programme, or community where the relationship developed.

Privacy and Boundary Considerations

Professional networking does not remove ordinary expectations around privacy. Use contact details for the purpose and context in which they were shared, and avoid assuming that access to a phone number is permission for unrelated outreach.

The same principle applies across platforms: pay attention to what the person has made available, what they have invited you to do, and what a reasonable next step looks like within that relationship.

Slack, Discord, or a Community Platform

Sometimes the most natural place to continue a relationship is exactly where it started. If you met through a founder Slack group, an industry Discord server, or another professional community, keeping the first follow-up there preserves shared context.

This can make conversations easier because neither person has to reconstruct why they know each other. You may already share channels, discussions, resources, or community events that explain the relationship.

Best for

Community platforms are particularly useful when the relationship is tied to an ongoing group. A conversation about a community project, workshop, interest group, or shared programme can remain more relevant there than it would in an isolated LinkedIn inbox.

What Happens When You Leave the Community?

Community access is not always permanent. A programme may end, a workspace may close, or one member may become inactive. When a relationship has become independently useful, it can make sense to establish a more durable professional connection on LinkedIn, email, or another mutually appropriate channel.

That does not mean moving every community contact elsewhere. The better question is whether there is a genuine reason for the relationship to continue beyond the shared space.

Event Networking Platforms

An event networking platform addresses a slightly different problem. LinkedIn, email, and messaging apps are mainly useful once you already know who you want to stay in touch with. At conferences, workshops, startup programmes, and professional events, the earlier problem is often deciding who is actually relevant to meet.

That is where a platform such as MeetWho fits. MeetWho combines event participation with networking context so opted-in attendees can receive relevant recommendations based on the professional information they provide, what they are working on, what they are looking for, who they want to meet, how they can help others, shared interests, and the context of the event.

Where MeetWho Fits

MeetWho is not designed to replace LinkedIn or email. Its role is to help participants move from a crowded event to more intentional, meaningful professional connections. Instead of presenting networking as a race to collect as many contacts as possible, it can explain why two participants may be relevant to each other, how they might provide mutual value, and how a conversation could begin.

Organiser settings and participant consent remain central. Networking recommendations involve users who have permitted participation in that experience; paid access does not unlock hidden profiles or private contact information.

Before the Conversation

For an attendee, the first networking question is often not “Where should I add this person?” but “Who here is worth talking to, and why?” Relevant recommendations and match explanations can reduce the guesswork involved in walking into a room—or an online event—with hundreds of possible conversations.

Key Principle

Know who to meet before deciding where the relationship should live afterward.

After the Conversation

Once two people have connected, the challenge changes. The question is no longer just who is relevant; it becomes how to preserve enough context to make the relationship useful later.

MeetWho allows mutually connected participants to message, add private notes, set follow-up reminders, and maintain a history of their event connections. Those tools can be useful when several conversations happen in a short period and details would otherwise blur together. A note such as “Interested in partnership opportunities; follow up after product launch” is far more useful than remembering only a name weeks later.

Key Principle

A professional relationship can later continue on LinkedIn, email, or another mutually appropriate channel. MeetWho does not need to replace those channels; it can preserve the networking context around why the connection began.

How to Decide Where to Connect After Meeting Someone

When several channels seem reasonable, use a simple framework: context → intent → relationship → permission → channel. Start with how you met, identify what should happen next, consider how established the relationship is, look for explicit contact preferences, and only then choose the platform.

This approach prevents a common networking mistake: choosing a channel simply because it is convenient for you.

1. Start With Where You Met

The setting creates expectations. Someone you meet after a conference session may reasonably expect a LinkedIn request. Someone introduced during a client project may expect email. A person you know through an ongoing Slack group may prefer to keep the first conversation there.

The same applies to online events. If an event provides a dedicated networking environment, using that context first can make the introduction easier because both participants know why they are there. Moving to another platform can happen later when the relationship develops.

2. Ask What You Want to Happen Next

Your next action is often the clearest guide to channel choice.

If the goal is simply to stay loosely connected, LinkedIn may be enough. If you need to arrange a meeting, send a document, make an introduction, or discuss a project in detail, email may be more practical. If you are already collaborating in a shared workspace, moving the conversation elsewhere may only create unnecessary fragmentation.

Do not send a connection request as a substitute for a promised action. If you said you would send an article, introduction, deck, or calendar invitation, complete that commitment through the appropriate channel.

3. Match the Channel to the Strength of the Relationship

A new professional acquaintance and a long-term collaborator do not usually require the same level of access. LinkedIn works well for many weak or emerging professional ties because it keeps the relationship visible without demanding frequent communication.

More direct channels tend to make greater sense as the relationship becomes established. A colleague you have worked with for months may comfortably message you directly, while the same message from someone you spoke to for two minutes at a conference could feel unexpectedly personal.

The goal is not to create rigid rules. It is to match the level of access to the relationship that actually exists.

4. Follow the Other Person’s Signals

Explicit preferences simplify the decision. If someone says “Connect with me on LinkedIn,” use LinkedIn. If they say “Email me the details,” email them. If they invite you to continue the conversation in Slack or share a messaging contact specifically for follow-up, that signal should guide you.

A voluntarily shared QR code, profile link, email address, or contact method can also provide useful context, but consider what it was shared for. A business contact offered for a specific discussion is not automatically permission for unrelated outreach.

5. Respect Privacy and Context

Good networking depends on relevance as much as reach. Having access to someone's contact details does not mean every communication method is equally appropriate.

Use information within the context in which it was provided, respect platform and event privacy settings, and avoid trying to bypass a person's stated preferences. Where marketing, data protection, or electronic communication laws apply, organisations should also consult the relevant official guidance for their jurisdiction rather than relying on informal networking conventions.

What Should You Do After a Networking Event?

Choosing a channel is only one part of effective follow-up. The more important objective is preserving the reason the conversation mattered.

Connect While the Context Is Still Clear

Follow up while both people can still recognise the conversation without needing a lengthy explanation. There is no universal rule that every connection request must be sent within 24 or 48 hours; timing should reflect the situation.

What matters more is recognisability. Mention the event, session, introduction, or topic that connects you. A message such as “Good speaking with you after the sustainability panel about supplier data” gives the recipient a reason to remember the interaction.

Mention Why You Are Connecting

Generic requests place all the work on the recipient. A contextual message explains why continuing the relationship makes sense.

You do not need to write an elaborate pitch. A useful follow-up can simply identify where you met, refer to the conversation, and state the relevant next step. That is usually enough to turn an anonymous connection request into a recognisable professional interaction.

Record the Context You Will Otherwise Forget

After a busy event, names are often easier to save than reasons. Record what you discussed, any promised next step, relevant interests, and when a follow-up would make sense.

Private notes and reminders can be particularly useful when networking happens across multiple events. In MeetWho, connected participants can keep private notes, create follow-up reminders, and retain connection history so the relationship is not reduced to another unexplained contact in a list.

Follow Up With Value, Not Just Visibility

A useful networking follow-up does more than remind someone that you exist. If you promised a resource, send it. If you offered an introduction, make it. If a conversation revealed a shared problem, continue from that point instead of restarting with a generic “Great to connect” message.

This is also where intentional networking differs from contact collecting. The strongest follow-ups usually have a reason behind them: information to share, a question to continue, an introduction to make, or a mutually relevant opportunity to explore.

Should You Connect With Everyone You Meet?

No. Meeting someone at the same event does not automatically create a useful professional relationship. Connecting selectively can make it easier to remember why each relationship exists and what, if anything, should happen next.

This does not mean every connection needs an immediate commercial purpose. A person may simply be interesting, work in an adjacent field, share a professional interest, or be someone you would genuinely like to learn from. The important point is that there should be some recognisable reason for staying connected.

A Better Question: Is There a Reason to Stay Connected?

Before sending a request, ask whether you can answer at least one of these questions: What did we discuss? What do we have in common? Is there something useful we could share with each other? Is there a realistic reason we may speak again?

If you cannot identify any context beyond “we attended the same event,” adding another contact may not create much value for either person.

Quality of Context vs Quantity of Contacts

A large contact list can be useful in some professional settings, but size alone does not make a network meaningful. Context matters because it tells you who someone is, why you met, and why reconnecting might make sense.

That idea is central to MeetWho’s “Know who to meet” approach. Instead of treating networking as a competition to meet as many attendees as possible, the goal is to help people identify relevant, mutually useful conversations.

A Simple Channel Decision Matrix

Use this matrix when you are unsure where the relationship should continue.

These are starting points, not rigid rules. The other person's stated preference should generally override a generic recommendation.

Networking Follow-Up Checklist

Before sending a request or message, check the following:

• Did the person suggest a preferred communication channel?
• Can I clearly remember where we met?
• Do I know what we discussed?
• Is there a meaningful reason to stay connected?
• Is there a specific next step?
• Which channel best supports that next step?
• Was their contact information shared in a context that makes this outreach appropriate?
• Can I make the message specific rather than generic?
• Did I promise to send, introduce, or do anything?
• Should I save a private note or follow-up reminder?
• Am I building a useful relationship rather than simply collecting another contact?

Frequently Asked Questions About LinkedIn and Networking Follow-Ups

Is it better to connect on LinkedIn or ask for an email?

LinkedIn is usually better for maintaining a lightweight professional relationship. Email is often better when you need to complete a specific action, such as sending information, arranging a meeting, making an introduction, or discussing a project in detail.

You can also use both when there is a reason. For example, send the promised material by email and connect on LinkedIn to maintain the longer-term professional relationship.

Should I connect with someone on LinkedIn right after meeting them?

Yes, if the interaction was professional and the person is likely to recognise you. There is no universal requirement to send the request immediately, but following up while the conversation is still easy to remember can make the context clearer.

Mention where you met or what you discussed rather than relying on a blank connection request.

Should I send a LinkedIn connection request to everyone I meet at a conference?

Not necessarily. Connect when there is a meaningful reason to maintain the relationship, even if that reason is simply a shared professional interest.

Sending requests indiscriminately can leave you with a network full of people whose relevance you no longer remember.

Is it okay to message someone on WhatsApp after a networking event?

It can be appropriate when the person has explicitly offered their number or invited you to use WhatsApp. Without that signal, a less personal professional channel may be a better starting point.

Respect the purpose for which contact information was shared.

What should I write in a LinkedIn connection request after an event?

Keep it short and contextual. Mention the event or conversation and give the recipient an immediate reason to recognise you.

For example: “Good speaking with you after the fintech panel about partnerships. I enjoyed the conversation and would be glad to stay in touch.”

Should I connect on more than one platform?

Sometimes. Multiple channels make sense when they serve different purposes—for example, LinkedIn for long-term professional continuity and email for an active project.

Avoid adding someone everywhere simply because you can.

What if I forgot where I met the person?

Look for legitimate contextual clues such as your event schedule, calendar, private notes, email history, or existing networking records. Avoid inventing familiarity in your message.

If you genuinely cannot place the person, it is better to be cautious than to pretend you remember a conversation that you do not.

How can I keep track of people I meet at events?

Record the context that will matter later: where you met, what you discussed, relevant interests, promised actions, and appropriate follow-up timing.

For events using MeetWho, mutually connected participants can keep private notes, set follow-up reminders, and maintain connection history, helping preserve the reason behind a professional relationship.

Is an event networking platform a replacement for LinkedIn?

No. They solve different problems. LinkedIn can provide a durable professional connection, while an event networking platform such as MeetWho can help attendees identify relevant people, understand why meeting could be useful, connect within the event context, and manage follow-up information.

The relationship can later continue on LinkedIn, email, or another mutually appropriate channel.

The Bottom Line: Choose the Channel That Matches the Relationship

So, should you connect on LinkedIn or somewhere else? LinkedIn is often the strongest default when you have made a new professional connection and simply want to stay in touch. Email is usually more useful for concrete next steps, community platforms work well when the relationship already lives there, and direct messaging makes the most sense when that level of contact has been invited or established.

The broader principle is simple: do not choose a networking channel because it is the most popular. Choose it because it fits the context, the relationship, and what should happen next.

And at an event, there is an earlier question worth solving first: who should you meet at all? MeetWho helps organisers create events for free, manage registrations and attendees, and enable privacy-aware networking designed to help opted-in participants identify relevant people and understand why a conversation may be worthwhile.

Create an event for free with MeetWho and help attendees know who to meet.