There are a few common reasons why someone may choose not to connect with another person on LinkedIn:
1. They don’t know you well enough
If someone receives a connection request from someone they don’t know very well or at all, they may be hesitant to connect. On LinkedIn, connections are meant to represent professional relationships and networks. Connecting to strangers or distant acquaintances can seem inappropriate.
Some tips if this is the reason:
- Only send connection requests to people you know and have an established professional relationship with.
- Personalize the connection request with a note reminding them who you are.
- Connect with them on other social media platforms first to get to know them better.
2. They want to keep their network selective
Some LinkedIn users are very selective about who they connect with and limit connections to close professional contacts. They may view connections merely as a way to exchange direct business opportunities rather than expanding their general professional network.
Tips if this is the reason:
- Respect their choice and look for other ways to engage, like following their posts or interacting through groups.
- Connect with them on other channels like email or social media sites where they may be less selective.
- Try connecting again later down the line when you have a stronger relationship.
3. They are trying to avoid solicitation
Many LinkedIn users get bombarded with spammy connection requests from people promoting products, services, multi-level marketing businesses, etc. They may avoid connecting to avoid these nuisance solicitations.
Tips in this case:
- Make sure your own LinkedIn presence does not appear to be promotional or sales-focused.
- In your request note, explicitly state you are seeking to connect for professional networking, not sales.
- Interact sincerely with their content before requesting a connection.
4. Your profiles are not a good match
LinkedIn connections are meant to be professional relationships between colleagues in similar industries and career levels. Some users will decline connection requests if they don’t see an obvious alignment.
If this is the reason:
- Make sure your profile headline, experience, and skills signal your professional background clearly.
- Try requesting connections who are similar levels and roles to you.
- In your request note, explain the specific professional synergy you see.
5. They are trying to avoid over-connecting
Especially for senior professionals, accumulating connections just for the sake of networking can seem disingenuous and even raise doubts. Some prefer to keep their networks focused.
In this case:
- Connect based on true shared interests, groups, and industries rather than volume of connections.
- Show you add value to your connections through engagement and valuable content.
- Connect periodically based on new projects and professional changes.
6. They already receive too many notifications
Frequent notifications from LinkedIn can be distracting for many professionals. They may avoid connections to limit notifications about connection requests, posts, and news.
Tips if this is the reason:
- In your request, note you will reach out via other methods than LinkedIn itself.
- On your own account, adjust settings to limit notifications to reduce noise.
- Engage directly through comments and messages rather than lots of posts.
7. Privacy and safety concerns
Especially for professionals in certain fields like counseling, law enforcement, etc., sharing connections publicly can raise privacy concerns and safety risks.
If this applies:
- Respect their choice and, if appropriate, connect on other channels.
- Offer to connect just via the LinkedIn messaging system rather than full profile access.
- Suggest groups or forums they can participate in more anonymously.
8. They find LinkedIn itself not valuable
While most professionals see strong value in LinkedIn, some may not use it enough to care about expanding connections and networks there.
If this fits:
- Connect with them on platforms and channels they do use regularly.
- Share examples of how LinkedIn drives business opportunities in your industry.
- Focus on connecting periodically when you have relevant updates to share.
The best way to react when someone declines a connection on LinkedIn is to respect their decision and look for other ways to build a relationship on channels that do work for both parties. Avoid taking it personally or pestering them to connect if they have declined. Find other professional social media sites and digital networking tools that may work better for establishing your relationship.