Sending that first LinkedIn message is nerve-wracking. You only get one chance at a first impression before someone accepts or ignores your connection request.
But a thoughtful, personalized ask goes a long way towards building new professional relationships. It shows you respect someone‘s time rather than treating them as just another contact.
In this comprehensive 2600+ word guide, I‘ll break down the art and science behind writing effective LinkedIn connection requests.
You‘ll walk away with actionable tips, templates, and real-world examples for standing out in the inbox. Let‘s get started!
Why Personalized Messages Are Critical
Generic LinkedIn connection requests get ignored up to 80% of the time. Ouch!
But personalized messages demonstrate extra effort and have much higher acceptance rates. They help separate you from the bulk arbitrage invitations clogging up the inbox.
Beyond just getting accepted, great connection requests also open the door to continuing conversations and building lasting mutually beneficial relationships.
Key Benefits of Thoughtful LinkedIn Outreach
Taking a few extra minutes to craft unique messages provides many advantages:
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Higher response rates: Personalized notes show you respect someone‘s time and have specific reasons for connecting. This significantly increases the odds they accept your request or respond.
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Stand out: Around [92% of requests] use the default canned message. Thoughful messages make you memorable and give you a competitive edge.
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Start relationships: An excellent message sets the stage for potential future conversations, meetings, business deals, or collaborations down the road.
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Saves time: You can still create templates with personalized variables quickly swapped out for each recipient. No need to fully custom write hundreds of notes.
Bottom line – personalization demonstrates extra effort that will be rewarded with more accepts and responses to your requests.
How to Write a LinkedIn Connection Request
When reaching out to connect with someone new on LinkedIn, apply these best practices:
1. Personalize The Message
Generic invites signal laziness. The most important element is personalizing the message to the specific individual.
Ways to make it personal:
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Mention common connections. Especially if they are close contacts that matter.
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Note shared interests or groups. Such as similar roles, organizations, or influencers followed.
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Reference their background. Such as university or past companies in common.
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Compliment work they‘ve done like an article they wrote or award they received.
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Use a personal tone. Write conversationally as you would speak to a new professional contact one-on-one over coffee.
Personalized invites make the recipient feel valued as an individual, not just another bulk target.
2. Keep It Concise & Clear
With only 300 characters available, don‘t waste space on niceties. Be warm but get right to the point on why you‘d like to connect and how it would be valuable for both parties.
If you have multiple reasons, choose the most compelling ones to highlight and save some for the first post-acceptance message.
Crystal clear communication also improves the odds of connecting versus hiding the ball.
3. Explain The Mutual Value
Take a "what‘s in it for us" perspective when explaining the upside rather than a self-focused "what can you do for me" approach.
For example, note if you:
- Share related backgrounds that could lead to referrals
- Have complimentary skills for collaborating
- Can make quality introductions to each other‘s networks
Show that a connection would be worthwhile for both sides.
4. Include A Clear Call To Action
Close your invite with an action step to help continue the conversation.
Some examples:
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"I‘d be curious to hear your perspective on X”.
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“Let me know if you‘d like an intro to contact Y”.
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"If there are any topics you think we should discuss, please share!"
This gives them an easy path to respond that moves the relationship forward.
Examples of Effective LinkedIn Messages
Now that we‘ve covered the core principles, let‘s analyze some real-world good and bad connection request examples.
✅ Good LinkedIn Request Sample #1
What makes this effective:
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Personalized: Mentions attending the same specific conference.
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Explains value: Shares an industry in common and suggests meeting up in person.
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Strong CTA: Proposes a specific next step to continue engaging.
This message clearly meets the criteria we outlined earlier.
❌ Bad LinkedIn Request Example
In contrast, here‘s where this message fails:
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Not personalized: Could be a generic canned message sent to anyone.
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No value stated: Very vague on the reason for connecting or expected outcome.
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No CTA: Doesn‘t provide a path for the recipient to respond and continue the dialogue.
Unless this person has an existing relationship outside LinkedIn, these flaws will likely lead this request straight to the trash folder.
✅ Good LinkedIn Request Example #2
What this request does very well:
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Personalized: References having contacts in common.
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Highlights value: Mentions relevant backgrounds and networking opportunities.
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Strong CTA: Suggests meeting online to discuss further.
The message checks all our boxes in a warm yet professional tone.
Key Takeaways
As you reach out to grow your LinkedIn network, customize your requests to show individuals you value their time rather than treating them as faceless contacts.
Bad invites are generic sales pitches nobody wants to engage with. Good requests invite mutual conversations.
Put yourself in the other person‘s shoes. Would you accept a thoughtful personalized invite or ignore yet another canned message?
LinkedIn Messaging Tips & Etiquette
Beyond writing solid connection notes, you need to follow proper etiquette when messaging new LinkedIn contacts too.
Here is a quick FAQ on best practices once connected:
What’s the proper etiquette once someone accepts your request?
- Say thank you appreciating them accepting
- Optionally suggest a call or meeting to continue the dialogue
- Add them to relevant groups if appropriate
What if I have no shared connections and want to message someone?
- Use LinkedIn InMail credits to message 2nd & 3rd degree connections
- Or request connecting with a note explaining why you‘d like to connect
Is it OK to message random strangers?
- Only message people who you have a valid professional reason for contacting
- Avoid mass spamming strangers for sales prospecting
The golden rule is adding value for others rather than aggressive self-promotion. Give contacts full control over engaging further rather than applying high pressure.
LinkedIn Automation & Services
Crafting personalized connection requests and messages at scale takes substantial effort.
LinkedIn automation tools can help by managing outreach while still allowing personal customization.
Some popular automation services include:
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Meet Alfred: All-in-one automation for finding leads, sending customized connection requests, and scheduling meetings. Easy to use with a generous free tier.
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Dux-Soup: Headless browser providing advanced automation for messaging, lead generation, and more. Extremely powerful but has a steep learning curve.
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UseViral: Managed service running large-scale personalized LinkedIn campaigns end-to-end for you. Very hands-off but can get pricey.
The right tools can absolutely 10x inbound leads and connections vs manual means. But low-quality spam hurts your brand, so incorporate personalization.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
Hopefully this comprehensive guide provided you a blueprint for standing out when connecting on LinkedIn.
I encourage you to apply the tips around crafting thoughtful, personalized messages explaining mutual value and suggesting next steps.
Sloppy connection requests are easily ignored. Thoughtful ones open relationship doors.
To keep growing your network, don‘t be afraid to leverage automation combined with quality messaging. The tools above can help accelerate results.
Now you‘ve got no excuses not to start expanding your LinkedIn network! Please reach out if you have any other questions. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and hope you found this helpful.