When someone accepts your connection request on LinkedIn, it opens up an opportunity to start building a meaningful professional relationship. However, it can be tricky to know how to initiate that first conversation in a way that comes across as friendly, authentic and adds value.
The good news is that there are some simple formulas you can follow when messaging new LinkedIn connections that will lead to more positive interactions. Here are some tips on what to say when someone accepts your invitation on LinkedIn:
Thank them for connecting and explain why you wanted to connect
Start by thanking the person for accepting your invitation and briefly explain why you wanted to connect with them. For example, “Hi [name], thank you for connecting! I came across your profile and was very impressed by your experience in [field]. I’m interested in learning more about [topic related to their work].”
Thanking them right off the bat helps break the ice and shows appreciation. Explaining why you wanted to connect personalizes the message and shows you have a genuine interest in engaging with them specifically.
Comment on something specific in their profile
Look for something in their profile that genuinely interests you or you have in common you can mention. For example, “I see you also went to [college name]. I remember my days at [college name] very fondly.”
Or, “I couldn’t help but notice in your experience at [company] you led [impressive project or initiative]. That must have been an impactful learning experience.”
Calling out something specific like an alma mater, previous employer or achievement shows you took the time to get to know their background.
Ask an open-ended question
Pose an open-ended question related to their work or industry that invites them to share insights from their experience. For example, “In your current role at [company], what are you finding to be the most exciting projects to work on?”
Or, “I’d love to learn more about how you’re using [technology, platform, tool] at [company]. What have been some of the biggest benefits?”
Asking a question gives them an easy opening to respond and engages them in a dialogue instead of one-way communication.
Offer to help or introduce them to someone
If appropriate, you can also think about ways you may be able to offer assistance or connections. Just make sure it’s something you’re genuinely able to provide value with. For example, “I know you mentioned an interest in connecting more people working in [industry]. I’d be happy to introduce you to a few colleagues I think you’d enjoy networking with.”
Or, “I noticed you recently joined [company] in a [role]. I worked at [company] for 5 years so please feel free to reach out if you ever want an insider perspective or have any questions come up.”
Extending a helpful hand positions you as a thoughtful connector who wants to proactively add value.
Share an article or other piece of content
If you come across a relevant article, book, podcast episode or other content you think would interest them based on their background, share it in your message. For example, “I recently listened to this podcast episode on [topic related to their work] and thought you might find it interesting as well. I’d love to get your thoughts on the interview.”
Sharing useful content shows you’re paying attention to their interests and establishes common ground.
Keep it short and casual
In general, keep that initial message short and casual. You want to come across in an authentic, friendly way – not overly salesy or formal. Shoot for a paragraph or two at most. And don’t overthink it too much.
Something as simple as, “Hi [name]! Thanks for connecting. Looking forward to learning more about your experience in [industry]. Hope you’re having a great week so far,” can totally work.
Don’t make it all about you
While it’s fine to briefly share what interests you about their background, avoid making the message too much about yourself or overt self-promotion. You can always delve more into your own experience in follow up conversations once rapport is built.
Follow up if they don’t respond right away
Don’t be discouraged if they don’t respond to your initial message. Sometimes people miss notifications or need to come back to messages later when they have more time. Follow up in a week or two if you still haven’t heard back.
Send a friendly reminder, like “Hi [name], just wanted to re-connect and make sure you had received my note from [date]. Would still love to [continue the conversation, hear your perspectives on X, etc.] Let me know if you have any availability to connect further in the coming weeks.”
Adjust based on your relationship
If the person accepting your invitation is someone you already have an established relationship with, such as a current colleague, former coworker, classmate, etc. you can take a more casual tone. Just a quick “Looking forward to staying in touch on here!” is fine.
But if it’s someone you don’t know very well or at all, follow the tips above on making that initial outreach more personal and value-focused.
Connect first, message later if you prefer
It’s also totally fine to connect with someone first without an initial message, and then reach out at a later date when you have more time to craft a thoughtful note. Just be sure to eventually follow up or reciprocate if they message you first.
Avoid LinkedIn connection ghosting
Try to avoid “LinkedIn ghosting” where you connect with someone and then never interact. This can come across as just trying to inflate your connections number rather than build authentic relationships.
Even if you don’t have time for an ongoing back and forth, a quick reply thanking them for reaching out or commenting on something they shared goes a long way.
Stay positive even if the conversation doesn’t go anywhere
Keep in mind not every new connection will necessarily turn into an active professional friendship or lead somewhere. That’s ok. The important thing is putting your best foot forward and engaging positively.
If the conversation fizzles out after a few polite exchanges, let it go and refocus your energy on nurturing the relationships that do develop momentum.
Maximize the double opt-in approach
Because connecting on LinkedIn requires both parties to opt-in or accept the invitation, you’re already off to a good start in establishing mutual interest. This makes initiating that first conversation much less awkward or one-sided.
So leverage that equal buy-in to start things off on the right foot and develop meaningful professional relationships.
Connecting with recruiters
If you’re connecting with a recruiter, express interest in any job opportunities they may have open that fit your background and explain how your skills would add value. For example, “Hi [recruiter name], thanks for connecting! I’m very interested in [roles you are targeting] and would love to learn more about any related opportunities you may have. Given my background in [relevant experience], I could contribute [value you offer] to your clients.”
You can also ask if they’d be open to a quick phone or video chat so you can learn more about roles they recruit for and their hiring needs.
Following up with old coworkers and classmates
If reconnecting with old coworkers, managers or classmates on LinkedIn, bring up shared memories and experiences you had together. For example, “It’s great to connect with you on LinkedIn! I often remember our days working on [project] at [company] together. Let me know if you’d ever like to catch up over coffee/virtual coffee sometime.”
Or, “Hi [name]! It’s so nice to reconnect after all these years. We had a lot of fun in [class] at [college] didn’t we? Would love to hear how your career has been going since graduation!”
The invitation message
Even in your initial invitation message, include a customized note instead of just using LinkedIn’s standard templates. Reference previous conversations, shared connections, groups in common, or details that illustrate why you want to connect.
This helps provide helpful context upfront and makes accepting your invitation feel more meaningful to the recipient.
Tone and voice
In both your initial outreach and follow up exchanges, maintain a tone that’s:
- Friendly and authentic
- Conversational yet professional
- Genuinely interested in learning more about them
- Focused on being helpful and adding value, not just taking
This helps build rapport and nurture the relationship in a positive direction.