LinkedIn is the social network that is dedicated to professionals, and a great way to boost your career is to use LinkedIn and make the right connections. But instead of simply connecting to the people you already know, you need to use the following tips to make those connections that are best for your career.

Look for industry experts.

Do you read articles or blogs by certain professionals in your industry? If so, then get on LinkedIn, do a search for these individuals, and connect with them. Chances are these people write more than what is posted on their blog, and by connecting with them on LinkedIn, you can see the other groups, forums and blogs that they’re a part of. This will help you learn more information from someone you truly admire, and you may even build a relationship with this person that can be beneficial to your future.

Join groups.

There are a ton of LinkedIn groups that are open to the public, and it’s a very smart idea to join those that are relevant to your job and your interests. Through these groups, you will become connected to other individuals who share your same interests and passions, and you can access their articles, blog posts, podcasts or however they share their expertise. Plus, you’ll even be able to learn about upcoming events that the group is hosting, which can further expand your connections and your knowledge.

Check out LinkedIn Today.

LinkedIn has a little known feature known as LinkedIn Today, and it can be a great resource for you to find the best connections. You can follow certain topic categories, and you’ll see a news feed of information posted by other LinkedIn users that matches the criteria of your category. You may end up finding a regular poster whose information you truly enjoy, and you can make a connection with them.

Post your own content.

Make sure that you’re sharing your own content on LinkedIn. By doing this, you can find your own content in the LinkedIn Today section, which means that total strangers can find your work and connect with you. You never know who can do what for your future, so it’s a great idea to connect with those who admire your work.

Check out who’s looking at you.

LinkedIn allows you to see a list of people who have checked out your profile in the past few months. You may want to take some time and review the people who have looked at your profile. Check out who they are, where they work and what they can offer you. If it turns out that you share similar interests with certain people, take the initiative and connect with them. You could build beneficial relationships by simply paying attention to those who are checking you out.

If you care about your career, you should really consider using these tips to make the best type of connections on LinkedIn. Not only can the right connections lead to beneficial partnerships, but it may also influence the future of your career.

Garrett Payne is a social media manager who specializes in online reputation management.  He enjoys blogging about technology and education in his spare time.