LinkedIn is a professional social networking site designed specifically for career and business networking. With over 722 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is one of the most popular platforms for connecting with other professionals in your industry, finding job and business opportunities, and building your online brand.
One of LinkedIn’s key features is the ability to directly message other members through the LinkedIn messaging system. This allows you to communicate and network with connections without having to share email addresses or other contact information.
But due to LinkedIn’s primary purpose as a professional platform, there are some important things to consider before sending direct messages, especially to people you do not know well. Here we will explore the proper etiquette around messaging on LinkedIn and when it is appropriate to reach out directly to new connections.
Should I message people I don’t know on LinkedIn?
In general, it is fine to message people you do not already know on LinkedIn, as long as you do it in a professional, polite manner. The key is to avoid contacting strangers out of the blue with aggressive sales pitches or inappropriate requests.
Instead, you will have better success carefully choosing who to message and crafting customized messages that provide value, express shared interests, or request information related to professional goals. Focus on only messaging those you have substantive reasons to connect with.
Here are some tips for politely messaging new LinkedIn connections:
- Personalize the message and explain why you want to connect with them specifically.
- Be transparent about who you are, your position, and intentions for reaching out.
- Refer to shared connections, groups, or interests to establish common ground.
- Ask professional questions or request advice rather than proposing meetings or favors.
- Use a courteous tone and avoid overly casual language.
As long as your outreach is thoughtful and focused on networking, most LinkedIn members will be open to engaging. But random, mass-message campaigns will likely be ignored or elicit negative reactions.
What is appropriate to discuss over LinkedIn messaging?
LinkedIn messaging is designed for professional conversations and should follow standard business etiquette. Stick to discussing career-related topics like:
- Job opportunities
- Business proposals and partnerships
- Advice related to your industry or position
- Professional introductions and referrals
- Upcoming conferences, events, or speaking engagements
- Academic and educational opportunities
Avoid overly personal subjects in early conversations with connections you do not know well. And never use LinkedIn messaging for unprofessional requests like soliciting money, asking for inappropriate favors, or non-business matters.
Use your best judgment and do not say anything you would not be comfortable expressing in a face-to-face professional interaction. Keep the conversation focused on career-development topics.
How frequently should I message new connections?
When messaging new LinkedIn connections, follow the “1 in 10” rule of thumb: only message around 1 out of every 10 new connections. Messaging at a lower frequency prevents your outreach from feeling like spam.
Focus on only contacting those you have strong, substantive reasons to connect with and avoid mass messaging campaigns. Quality conversations will have much more impact than dozens of generic messages.
In addition, avoid repeatedly messaging the same connections if they do not respond. Take the lack of response as a sign of disinterest and move on. Continually messaging non-responders can come across as pushy.
Be patient and wait at least 2 weeks before following up with connections who haven’t responded. And limit follow-up messages to around 2 per person maximum.
What is the best way to start a conversation?
Making a strong first impression by crafting a thoughtful introductory message is key when messaging new LinkedIn connections. Follow these best practices:
- Personalize the message and reference their background to show you did research on their profile.
- Be transparent about who you are and how you found them.
- Quickly explain the purpose for connecting in a polite, professional tone.
- Ask an open-ended question or propose a discussion topic to spark conversation.
- Keep the length reasonably short while still being personable.
- Use proper grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and avoid typos.
- Thank them and express interest in hearing back from them.
A strong introductory message establishes common ground, provides value, and gives the recipient reasons to respond. This not only increases the chances of getting a reply but also sets a positive tone for building an ongoing professional relationship.
Should I follow up if I don’t get a response?
It is appropriate to follow up if you do not receive a response to an initial message to a new LinkedIn connection, but be careful not to overdo it.
Send no more than 1 or 2 follow-up messages spaced at least 1-2 weeks apart. Any more than that can come across as pushy or even harassing. And if they continue not to respond after a couple of attempts, it is best to stop reaching out.
When crafting follow-up messages:
- Politely acknowledge you messaged them previously.
- Re-state who you are and the purpose for connecting.
- Add a bit more personalized detail to spur engagement.
- Consider posing a new discussion topic or question.
- Remain professional, patient, and do not insist on a response.
The lack of response likely indicates they are not interested in connecting. But a polite follow-up or two is reasonable to try reigniting the conversation before moving on. Just be careful not to harass connections that prefer not to engage.
How can I gracefully handle rejection or no response?
Not every new LinkedIn connection will be receptive to messaging. Some may ignore your outreach completely. Others may politely decline interest in discussing further. How gracefully you handle rejection or non-response leaves an important impression.
Here are tips for handling those who do not reciprocate interest in connecting:
- Do not take it personally and avoid burning bridges. Remain cordial.
- Thank them for their time if they respond but decline further discussions.
- Do not ask for detailed explanations if they did not respond at all.
- Respect their wishes and do not continue attempting to message them.
- Continue nurturing your other LinkedIn relationships.
- Reflect on their reasons for declining and improve your outreach strategy.
Rejections happen to everyone on occasion when networking. How professionally you handle them says a lot about your character. By remaining polite, respectful, and moving forward, you will make the best of the situation and avoid developing a negative reputation.
What are some alternatives to messaging?
If messaging new connections does not feel like the right approach, there are other good ways to engage LinkedIn contacts:
- Comment on their posts: Provide thoughtful comments on their articles, updates, and posts to start interactive dialogues.
- Like and share content: Frequently interacting with their posts and content builds familiarity and rapport.
- Join common groups: Become active in the same LinkedIn groups they participate in to connect over shared interests.
- Invite to events: Once you build stronger relationships, invite them to virtual or in-person professional events.
- Request informational interviews: Ask if they would be open to quick informational interviews to learn about their career paths.
- Volunteer referrals: Rather than asking directly for referrals, recommend them for opportunities you come across.
Slowly engaging new connections in these ways can establish relationships naturally without requiring immediate back-and-forth messaging. Just focus on providing value and contributing to their networks as fellow professionals.
Conclusion
Messaging new connections on LinkedIn can be highly effective for expanding your professional network when approached carefully. Avoid spamming strangers and instead customize thoughtful messages focused on career-related subjects. Handle rejections and non-responses gracefully. And use alternatives like commenting and sharing to engage if messaging feels premature.
With proper etiquette, LinkedIn messaging can facilitate constructive new relationships. But utilized poorly, it can damage your reputation and cause friction. Mindfulness of the recipient’s perspective is key to ensuring your outreach translates into mutually beneficial connections.
Messaging Dos | Messaging Don’ts |
---|---|
Personalize messages | Use copy-pasted templates |
Politely introduce yourself | Make aggressive sales pitches |
Establish common interests | Message random strangers |
Focus on career-related topics | Discuss personal issues |
Be transparent about intentions | Vaguely ask to “connect” |
Gracefully handle rejections | Insist on responses from non-responders |
Follow the 1 in 10 rule | Mass message all connections |
Use proper grammar and punctuation | Use overly casual language |
Thank them for their time | Make unreasonable requests |
Comment on posts to engage slowly | Bombard with constant messages |
Example First Message
Here is an example of a polite, professional introductory message to send to a new LinkedIn connection:
Hello [Name],
My name is [your name] and I found your LinkedIn profile after we both joined the [Group/Network name] group. I was very intrigued by your experience as a [their position] at [their company]. I am currently a [your position] at [your company] and have been looking to connect with other professionals in our field.
I noticed we have some shared interests in [common interest like an industry, topic, skillset]. I would love to connect and possibly set up a quick 20 minute informational interview at your convenience to learn more about your career journey and industry insights. Please let me know if you might be open to scheduling a brief chat.
Either way, it was great to connect! I look forward to following your activity here on LinkedIn. Have a wonderful day!
Best,
[Your name]
This demonstrates how to politely introduce yourself, establish common ground, request informational discussions, and express interest in further engaging. Personalized messages like this are well-received and more likely to get responses than generic outreach.
Following Up Politely
If you do not receive a response after 1-2 weeks, here is template language for a polite follow-up message:
Hi [Name],
I wanted to follow up on the LinkedIn message I sent last week introducing myself. I know you must be very busy, so no need to respond if you are unable to connect right now.
However, I am always happy to connect if you free up and think our shared [industry/interests] could lead to constructive networking. Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime. I’m looking forward to crossing paths on here and at future [industry events if relevant].
Thanks again for your time and all the best!
Regards,
[Your name]
This warmly reconnects without being overly pushy or demanding. If they remain unresponsive, it is best to stop reaching out further.
Replying Politely When Declined
If a connection replies declining further discussions, use language like this to maintain positive relations:
Hi [Name],
Thanks for getting back to me. I completely understand and appreciate you letting me know directly. I will go ahead and give you space here on LinkedIn. Please feel free to reach out in the future if you ever want to connect.
I sincerely appreciate your time and wish you the best of luck in your career!
Kind regards,
[Your name]
This preserves goodwill and professionalism even when interest is not mutual. Leaving the door open for future networking if they change their mind is ideal.
Conclusion
Messaging thoughtfully and purposefully is key to building relationships with new LinkedIn connections. While rejection is possible, following best practices maximizes the chances of stimulating constructive dialogues. With proper etiquette, LinkedIn messaging can expand your professional network and lead to exciting career opportunities.