LinkedIn Games: Boost Networking & Sales Fast

LinkedIn has long been the hub for professional networking, job hunting, and sharing insights. But what if it’s not all suits, sales pitches, and CVs? In a surprising twist, LinkedIn has added a splash of fun with its own set of daily games—giving users a new way to engage, build relationships, and take a much-needed break from classic networking routines. This article explores the unique world of LinkedIn games—and, just as importantly, shares actionable sales frameworks you can use to book more meetings on the platform. Whether you’re intrigued by playful competition or seeking next-level outreach tactics, you’ll find practical value here.

Based on the original video:

LinkedIn Games: The Unexpected Twist on Professional Networking

While LinkedIn is best known for its talent pool and thought leadership, the introduction of LinkedIn games adds an unexpected, creative channel for professionals to interact. These games—launched about six months ago—have become a daily ritual for many users, encouraging friendly competition and sparking new conversations beyond the transactional.

This shift toward incorporating games is more than just a marketing gimmick or another productivity killer. Instead, it’s an evolution in how people connect: games act as icebreakers, building relationships and camaraderie that can be leveraged for professional growth.

The Five LinkedIn Games: How They Work and Why They Matter

If you haven’t stumbled upon them yet, here’s how to access the LinkedIn games: Click on the “My Network” tab, and look for the suggestion to ‘stay in touch through daily games’. There, you’ll discover a set of five intuitive and competitive mini-games: Zip, Queens, Tango, Pinpoint, and Cross Climb.

Each game seems inspired by classic puzzles or logic games, making them instantly familiar yet subtly addictive. Let’s break down what you need to know about each:

1. Zip

Zip is a puzzle-lover’s delight. The objective? Connect your path sequentially through numbers 1 to 9—without retracing your steps. While simple in concept, it quickly becomes challenging, testing your strategic thinking.

This game provides more than entertainment. Consider it a tool for warming up your brain in the morning or sharing a challenge with a colleague to kickstart a conversation. These playful interactions can set a positive tone for deeper networking.

2. Queens

Queens presents a familiar logic puzzle: place queens on a board so that none threaten each other. It requires planning and foresight, qualities valued in the business world.

Competing with team members or your network is a unique way to strengthen bonds and perhaps spark strategic conversations unrelated to work.

3. Tango

Tango adds a social element. You play a word association or matching game, often revealing interests that go beyond the professional.

This format is a natural icebreaker—giving you insights into your connection’s personality and creating smiling moments between sprints of productivity.

4. Pinpoint

Pinpoint offers a trivia-inspired experience, challenging your general knowledge and recall. It encourages you to stay mentally agile and find common ground over offbeat shared facts.

5. Cross Climb

Cross Climb resembles word ladders or crossword puzzles—great for language lovers and those who appreciate a clever twist on communication. It rewards logical thinking and quick wit.

• Key Takeaway: Each LinkedIn game provides a unique way to connect, collaborate, and compete with your network—transforming professional engagement into something more memorable and human.

Playing the LinkedIn Games: Strategy Meets Social Connection

While fun is at the forefront, there’s more beneath the surface. Playing these games competitively with coworkers, managers, or even prospective clients fosters connection and lowers the barriers in traditional networking. Here are a few practical strategies:

• Challenge Your Network: Invite contacts to play and use the results as a lighthearted follow-up in your outreach messages.
• Initiate Conversations: Share your high score and ask about your connection’s favorite games—natural lead-ins for meaningful discussions.
• Build Team Spirit: Organize informal competitions within your company to strengthen camaraderie, especially for remote teams.

Integrating Games and Outreach: Five Frameworks for Booking LinkedIn Meetings

Of course, games alone don’t drive business outcomes. The real power of LinkedIn lies in effective, personalized outreach frameworks. The video shares five distinct strategies tailored for the platform—each easily understood and immediately actionable:

1. The Value-First Game Outreach

• Start by inviting your prospect to try one of LinkedIn’s games.
• Follow up with a brief note aligning your value proposition with their likely interests (highlighted by their choice or performance in the game).
• This approach lets you warm up the connection and naturally segue into business topics.

2. The Strategic Commenter

• Engage with their content meaningfully—add thoughtful comments before sending a direct message.
• Reference a shared insight or comment, blending it with a light mention of the new games or interactive features.

3. The Shared Curiosity Approach

• Ask for your prospect’s take on the best LinkedIn game or strategies for achieving a high score.
• Tie this curiosity back to your professional offer: “Much like finding the most efficient Zip path, we help teams build optimized workflows…”

4. The Fun Follow-Up

• After connecting, send a playful message about your result in a particular game. Use a GIF or screenshot for context.
• Encourage them to beat your score and suggest a brief meeting to share other time-saving tools.

5. The Spicy Challenge (Advanced)

• Host a mini-tournament among prospects—with a prize for the highest scorer (such as a coffee chat or consultation).
• This game-based challenge increases engagement and creates tangible reasons for follow-up conversations.

Using these frameworks keeps your outreach fresh, human, and non-generic—factors proven to improve reply rates on modern LinkedIn.

Frameworks in Action: Examples and Best Practices

Let’s bring a couple of these techniques to life:

• Example: “Hey Sarah, saw you tackling Zip this morning—impressive run! That same knack for optimization is why I thought you’d appreciate the workflow tracking method my team’s been using… Care to discuss?”
• Example: “Congrats on today’s Pinpoint score, Mike! I have a fun business trivia game I host for my clients—would love to share it (along with ways we help clients save 2 hours weekly).”

Best Practices:

• Avoid being overly salesy—let rapport come first through shared fun.
• Use humor and authenticity for higher engagement.
• Reference your interactions (games, conversations, comments) for context.
• Keep initial messages concise and focused on value.

For a deeper dive into crafting effective outreach on LinkedIn, check out this extensive resource on successful LinkedIn sales messages, which includes detailed examples and scripts you can adapt to your own campaigns.

Benefits of LinkedIn’s Gamification for Networking and Sales

Why does this playful side of LinkedIn matter? It delivers far more than a daily distraction:

• Warmer Connections: Shared games reduce cold outreach friction, making follow-ups less awkward and more welcomed.
• Increased Visibility: Game leaderboards and sharing results can put your profile in front of prospects repeatedly.
• Enhanced Brand Personality: Participation in games shows you’re engaged, approachable, and adaptable—a positive for personal and employer branding.
• Organic Discovery of New Contacts: Competing with mutual connections or joining leaderboard challenges exposes you to professionals outside your direct network.

Ranking the LinkedIn Games: Which Is Best for Engagement?

After hands-on play, here’s a subjective ranking of the five LinkedIn games—weighted for fun factor, challenge, and network-building potential:

1. Zip – Most engaging for strategic thinkers and best for opening conversations.
2. Queens – Excellent for those who enjoy puzzles and indirect competition.
3. Tango – Great icebreaker; easily sparks new conversations outside of typical work topics.
4. Pinpoint – Ideal for trivia lovers and sharing interesting facts during icebreakers.
5. Cross Climb – Fun for language enthusiasts; strongest in team environments.

No matter your preference, these games are easy to integrate into daily networking rituals—and offer surprising benefits for relationship-building and outreach.

Tips for Maximizing Results with LinkedIn Games and Modern Networking

To get the most from this playful side of LinkedIn, keep these tips in mind:

• Set Aside Time: Use games as a ‘warm-up’ for targeted networking sessions.
• Personalize Outreach: Reference shared scores or inside jokes from the games to stand out in crowded inboxes.
• Track Engagement: Note which contacts are most active or responsive in-game to identify warm leads for business discussions.
• Stay Consistent: Play regularly and share results to keep your profile top-of-mind among connections.

For those interested in broader outreach strategies, the evolving world of LinkedIn integrations and automation tools has never been more exciting—here’s a look at the latest innovations in LinkedIn outreach platforms and how they’re transforming the art of meaningful digital connection.

FAQ: LinkedIn Games and Outreach Strategies