LinkedIn is the simplest place to community in 2026, and one specific tactic compounds relationship-building outcomes: espresso chats.
Espresso chats are 15 to 30-minute digital conversations held over video. These calls are relaxed and informal, however the constructive influence may be large. Right here’s what you must know to maximise this free, highly effective community-building alternative.
A espresso chat on LinkedIn is a casual dialog held over Zoom or Google Meet. These chats are framed as unstructured conversations meant to put-a-face-to-the-name, with no promoting or requests. They rose to prominence throughout COVID-19 and have since turn into ingrained in LinkedIn tradition.
Advantages of Digital Networking in 2026
Actual-time conversations speed up relationship constructing by connecting with folks as people, not simply connections or followers.
“Lots of people these days take a look at constructing on social media, and so they… are obsessive about followers,” mentioned Roman Pikalenko, proprietor of Kaizen. “However they by no means actually care about who these followers are.”
This raises a key distinction that’s important to networking: high quality over amount. When making selections about the place you wish to focus your vitality for digital networking, take time to think about all of your choices.
Who to Chat With
There aren’t clear-cut guidelines for deciding who to construct skilled relationships with. When networking, I personally group folks into three classes: trade leaders, friends and potential purchasers.
Alternatively, Pikalenko says he seems to be at networking via the lens of people who find themselves a few steps forward professionally, in step or a few steps additional again.
If you happen to’re newer to networking, a cushty place to start out is along with your peer group. In contrast to trade leaders, friends are extra approachable, accessible and energetic when supporting one another.
Arranging a LinkedIn Espresso Chat
Step 1: Talk on public posts
Earlier than talking privately, interact publicly with an individual’s content material. Feedback are essentially the most comfy preliminary level of contact on LinkedIn. Tag the submit writer to extend the chances of them remembering your title and responding.
Step 2: Transfer dialog to direct messages (DMs)
After partaking with somebody on posts, ship a considerate connection request to provoke a non-public dialog. If the invitation is accepted, converse via DMs. Throughout this time, you’ll transfer from a random title on LinkedIn to somebody this particular person is starting to know individually.
DMs aren’t only a place to heat up the connection: They’re additionally a means so that you can gauge the extent of overlap between your roles, industries, and many others. Don’t view this as a LinkedIn DM technique or hack—strategy this as a standard dialog and it feels way more pure for each events.
Step 3: Counsel a chat
There’s no precise method for suggesting a name, but it surely ought to really feel private, informal and handy.
I usually ship a model of this message: Between X, Y and Z, we now have loads in widespread. Are you open to an informal 15-minute digital cup of espresso to get to know one another? I’ll drop my calendar reserving hyperlink under in the event you’re .
Step 4: Have an amazing chat
As soon as a chat is scheduled, give it the vitality it deserves. Present up on time and be ready to leap proper into the dialog. Each skilled and private questions are honest so long as you respect regular social boundaries.
There’s no official rulebook for these sorts of conversations, however I strongly recommend you don’t attempt to provoke any transactions. Gross sales pitches or requests for favors nearly all the time come off the unsuitable means once you’re simply attending to know somebody.
Step 5: Proceed the connection
If each espresso chat is a dead-end, there’s little level in persevering with. The dialog ought to go on in an energetic, genuine method to construct a long-term skilled relationship.
Pikalenko says he’s achieved greater than 100 espresso chats. He initially known as it “pandemic networking,” which is how he and I initially met. Since that first chat, he’s turn into a LinkedIn ghostwriter, and I’ve turn into a profession author. Once I want a LinkedIn professional, I attain out to him as a platform professional I do know and belief.
Constructing a Espresso Chat Routine
The espresso chats I’ve had with folks I’ve met via LinkedIn have led to real friendships and worthwhile profession alternatives. These are the instruments and construction I exploit:
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Google Calendar invite for scheduling (free)
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Google Meet for calls (free)
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All calls are scheduled on Friday to cut back distractions throughout the week—I name it “Pleasant Friday”
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Calls are booked for quarter-hour, however I block off half-hour to depart room for runover.
With expertise, you’ll naturally craft a novel framework that fits you.
The vital factor is to keep in mind that constructing relationships is the aim and use a system that helps you obtain that.
Begin Chatting
As AI continues to morph into extra humanistic and autonomous types, our personal skilled relationships have by no means had extra energy. Skilled relationship constructing can really feel summary and unapproachable, however a digital LinkedIn chat is a tangible constructing block at your disposal.
New acquaintances might help you are feeling extra linked to others in your subject and may even result in actual friendships and job alternatives. Lean into the social, human aspect of networking and I guess you’ll be stunned the place it takes you.
Espresso Chat FAQs
How lengthy ought to a LinkedIn espresso chat final?
A LinkedIn espresso chat ought to final 15 to half-hour.
When is the suitable time to ask for a espresso chat in DMs?
Wait till you’ve had an opportunity to talk privately through DMs earlier than suggesting a espresso chat. That is customary networking etiquette on LinkedIn.
What’s the distinction between a espresso chat and an informational interview?
In contrast to an interview, a espresso chat has no formal energy imbalance or transactional expectations. The one finish aim is for each events to get to know one another.
What’s the “no-sell” rule of networking?
The “no-sell” rule of networking dictates that you just by no means ship a gross sales pitch whereas attending to know somebody. Gross sales pitches are more practical when a relationship has already been established.
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