When you want to connect with someone on LinkedIn for a potential opportunity, the way you craft your message is very important. A thoughtful, personalized message shows that you’re genuinely interested in starting a conversation, while a generic outreach is easy to ignore. Here are some tips for messaging contacts on LinkedIn in an effective way:
Do Your Research
Before reaching out, learn about the person and their company by looking at their LinkedIn profile and website. Understand what they do, their role, how long they’ve been there, and look for any shared connections or experiences you may have. This will allow you to tailor your message and show you took the time to learn about them.
Personalize the Message
A generic “I’d like to connect” will likely be overlooked. Personalize the message with details about why you want to connect with this particular person. Reference their work, company, shared connections, or groups. Share why you are interested in connecting and how it can potentially benefit both parties.
Be Clear About Your Intent
State the purpose of your outreach directly. Explain who you are, why you’d like to connect, and what you hope to potentially explore together, such as career opportunities, expertise sharing, event invitations, or joining their network. Being upfront will allow the person to determine if they are open to what you have in mind.
Keep It Conversational
Write your message as you would talk to someone in person. Avoid overly formal language and keep it friendly, casual, and approachable. This will make it more likely to get a response than sounding robotic.
Mention Any Common Ground
If you have a shared connection, group, education, or work experience, mention it. Finding common ground gives the person context around who you are and makes them more receptive to connecting.
Respect Their Time
Be conscious not to take up too much of their time. Keep your initial message clear and concise. You can dive into more details about opportunities once they respond. Long messages can be overwhelming.
Close With Next Steps
Instead of just ending your message, close by suggesting next steps should they be open to connecting. This could be linking to your LinkedIn profile, requesting to connect, or asking if they would be open to a phone call. This gives them a clear call-to-action.
Crafting the Right Subject Line
The subject line of your message is just as critical as the content. A compelling subject piques interest and incentive to open. Consider the following subject line tips:
– Keep it short, clear, and descriptive
– Briefly state your purpose for connecting
– Use power words that grab attention like “opportunity”, “introduction”, “invite”
– Avoid overused phrases like “Hope you’re well!”
– Personalize it with their name or company
Here are some example subject lines:
– Exploring job opportunities at [Company Name]
– Seeking UX mentorship and advice
– Introduction request – [Your Name]
– Quick question about [Industry] trends
When is the Best Time to Send?
Connect at the right time to increase your chances of a response. According to LinkedIn data, the peak times for connecting are:
– Tuesday-Thursday: These midweek days see more connection requests accepted. Mondays and Fridays tend to be busier catch-up and wrap-up days.
– Morning: Connect in the morning before their inbox piles up. 8-10 AM tends to be a good window.
– Work Hours: Most people check LinkedIn sporadically throughout the workday. Avoid early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
Day of Week | Best Time |
---|---|
Tuesday-Thursday | 8-10 AM |
Following Up
If they do not respond within a week, it is appropriate to follow up. Here are some tips for an effective follow-up message:
– Send a brief, polite reminder restating who you are and your original purpose for connecting.
– Ask if they received your initial invitation and if they need any clarification.
– Offer additional value by sharing an interesting article, update, or idea relevant to their work.
– Suggest an alternate channel like email or phone if they prefer.
– Let them know you understand if they cannot connect at this time.
– Thank them for considering and close with next steps should they decide to engage.
Accepting a Response
If you get a positive response, continue the dialogue by:
– Thanking them for connecting and responding
– Suggesting next steps like linking profiles, scheduling a call, or meeting in person
– Asking what times and communication channels work best for them
– Restating your shared objectives and how you may be able to collaborate
– Sharing ideas of value you can both gain from the relationship
Dealing With Rejection
If your request gets declined or ignored, handle it gracefully by:
– Thanking them for considering nonetheless
– Wishing them the best and keeping the door open to connect in future if there is interest
– Asking if they have any concerns about connecting that you can clarify
– Seeing if they would suggest a more suitable person for you to reach out to
– Accepting their decision politely without arguing your case
Do not see rejection as a personal attack. They likely get many requests and need to limit connections. Try reaching out again in a few months or seek opportunities with others in your network.
Limitations
While LinkedIn is designed for professional networking, there are limitations to how you engage:
– Avoid overly pushy or aggressive outreach. It can damage your brand and relationships.
– Do not overuse copy-pasted messages. Personalize each invite.
– Connect selectively with those you genuinely want to build relationships with.
– Focus on quality over quantity of connections. A robust network is more than high numbers.
– Don’t see LinkedIn as a sales and promotion channel. Build trust first.
Etiquette Tips
Apply these rules of etiquette for relationship-building on LinkedIn:
– Craft a complete, detailed profile showcasing your expertise.
– Only connect with those you know, have met, or share a purpose with.
– Personalize invitations – do not spam connect.
– Reply thoughtfully if you accept an invitation. Do not just click “Accept”.
– Ignore invitations if you do not know the person or see a purpose for connecting.
– Be selective about who you invite. Do not bombard your network with requests.
– Manage your notifications and respond to messages in a timely manner.
– Recommend and share others’ content relevant to your network.
– Be authentic and engage new connections once linked.
Conclusion
Utilizing LinkedIn thoughtfully to build strategic relationships requires etiquette and personalized outreach. Research thoroughly, craft relevant messages showcasing common ground, and follow up politely. With the right approach, you can connect with those who can collaborate, hire, mentor, or support you in fulfilling your professional purpose.