When sending a LinkedIn connection request, the message you include can make all the difference in whether the recipient accepts or ignores you. A thoughtful, personalized note demonstrates that you view the person as more than just another contact to add to your network. It shows you respect their time and have a genuine interest in connecting.
Here are some tips on what to say when sending LinkedIn invitations:
Personalize the Message
A generic invitation copied and pasted to everyone comes across as spammy. The recipient is likely to ignore or even report it. Take a minute to write a unique note tailored to how you know the person. Mention where you met them, a mutual connection, or a common interest or experience you share. This tells the recipient why you want to connect specifically with them.
For example:
“Hi Jane, I hope you’re doing well! It was great meeting you at the software developers conference last month. I really enjoyed our conversation on AI automation. I’d love to stay in touch and learn more about the projects you’re working on at Acme Corp. Let’s connect here on LinkedIn!”
Keep it Concise
While personalization is important, there’s no need to write a novel. A brief 1-2 sentence note gets your message across without overwhelming the recipient. Long-winded invites are more likely to be ignored or rejected.
Stick to key details like:
- Where you met/how you know each other
- A specific topic of common interest
- Your purpose for connecting (e.g. staying in touch, exchanging ideas, etc)
Use a Warm, Friendly Tone
Your message sets the tone for the new connection. An invite with a warm, enthusiastic tone makes a great first impression. Avoid sounding overly formal or coming across as purely self-interested. Build rapport by being cheerful and personable.
Some examples of friendly wording:
- “It was so great to meet you last week!”
- “I really enjoyed our conversation about [topic].”
- “I’d love to stay in touch and exchange ideas.”
- “Feel free to reach out if I can ever be of help!”
Explain How You Can Help Each Other
Emphasize mutuality and how you both stand to gain from the connection. Rather than making it all about what they can do for you, note ways you can collaborate, share ideas and resources, or support each other’s professional goals.
For example:
“Connecting could lead to some great synergies between our companies. I’d be excited to exchange ideas on supply chain optimization best practices.”
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Pose one or two questions that show your interest in learning more about the person and their expertise. What projects are they working on? What are they most passionate about? This gives you something substantive to follow up on after connecting.
Some examples:
- “What upcoming projects are you most excited about?”
- “What interests you most about the [industry] space right now?”
- “What challenges are you solving for in your role at [company]?”
Proofread for Typos
Before sending your invite, double check for any embarrassing typos or spelling and grammar errors. These small mistakes can leave a bad first impression and cause the recipient to question connecting with you.
Quickly review for things like:
- Misspelled names
- Incorrect job titles/company names
- Autocorrect errors
- Repeated words
- Missing words
Follow Up After Connecting
Don’t let weeks or months pass without following up, or the new connection will lose relevance. Within a day or two of the person accepting your invite, send a quick note to say hello, ask a thoughtful question, or share an interesting article or resource related to their work. This keeps the conversation going.
Avoid Hard Selling
It’s fine to mention your company or role if relevant to your common interests and the purpose of connecting. But avoid sounding like a sales rep pitching your product. Focus on mutual benefits and relationship-building vs. trying to sell something outright.
Respect Boundaries
If the person ignores your initial invite, do not keep badgering them to connect. Take no for an answer and move on gracefully. Forcing a connection on someone who has declined just annoys them.
Also avoid sending overly familiar invitations implying you have a closer relationship than you actually do. This comes across as presumptuous. Keep it professional.
Proof Your Profile
Before asking others to connect, make sure your own profile is complete, professional, and error-free. This gives people confidence in connecting with you. Have a polished headline, summary, experience section, and background photo.
Don’t Overdo Connection Requests
Connecting just to inflate your contact count won’t advance your career. Focus on building relationships with people you have a genuine interest in knowing and mutually beneficial reasons for connecting. Quality over quantity should be the goal.
Connect with Insights, Not Just Introductions
Rather than asking for an introduction from a mutual connection, offer unique insights to get on the person’s radar yourself. What articles or resources can you share that are tailored to their interests? This sets you apart from other connect requests.
Follow Up if They Don’t Respond
If your initial connect request goes unanswered after 1-2 weeks, it’s reasonable to send one brief, polite follow-up. But don’t harass them if they continue not to respond. Simply move on and keep networking.
Don’t Take it Personally if Rejected
If someone declines your invite, try not to view it as a personal slight. They may wish to keep their network tightly focused or have other reasons. Keep things cordial and professional in case your paths cross again down the road.
Customize Invites for Different Audiences
The message you send to a colleague or client should differ from one sent to an industry leader you admire. Tailor your tone, length, and questions accordingly. Show you understand their specific perspective and interests.
Connect First on Common Ground
Before asking a major leader or influencer to connect, engage with them on social media or comment thoughtfully on their content. Establish common ground first before requesting access to their inner circle.
Send Individual Messages
When inviting multiple new connections, avoid blasting out generic invites to everyone at once. Take the time to craft unique messages, even if this means sending fewer requests per day. Quality relationships, not volume, should be the priority.
Highlight Ways to Create Value
Demonstrate that you want to add value, not just extract it from the connection. Offer insights, share resources, and think about how you can be helpful to the other person and their professional goals.
Set Relationship Goals
Have an end goal in mind, not just connecting for its own sake. Do you want to build camaraderie with a fellow alum? Brainstorm ideas with someone at a competitor? Ask about job openings at their company? Knowing your purpose guides the tone.
Align with Their Interests and Needs
Review the person’s profile and background before inviting them. Highlight common interests and topics that resonate based on their role, company, interests, and goals. This shows you’re on their wavelength.
Spotlight Shared Connections
If you have contacts in common, mention this shared tie. “We both know Jane Smith from XYZ Corp” gives the invitation added relevance.
Be Clear on Next Steps
If requesting a meeting, be specific on the purpose and proposed date/time. Don’t just vaguely suggest meeting up someday. Giving actionable next steps increases the odds of a yes.
In summary, a thoughtful LinkedIn connection request demonstrates respect for the recipient’s time and attention. Take the time to personalize your message, use a warm tone, explain how you can mutually support each other’s goals, and follow up to strengthen the relationship after connecting. This sets you apart from generic invitations and builds rewarding professional bonds.