Should you accept LinkedIn connection requests from strangers?
When you receive a LinkedIn connection request from someone you don’t know, you have to decide whether accepting the request is worth your time. Here are some things to consider:
- What does their profile say about them? Do you have any shared connections or are they in your industry? This might make them more relevant.
- Are they reaching out with a personalized message explaining why they want to connect? Or is it a generic invitation? Personalized requests warrant more consideration.
- Do they have an incomplete profile or seem suspect in any way? Be wary of connecting with strangers who may just be trying to expand their network without good reason.
In general, it’s fine to connect with professionals outside your immediate network on LinkedIn, as you never know when a broader connection might become useful. But it’s smart to vet unfamiliar invitation senders thoroughly first. Look for signs that the person is established on LinkedIn as a real professional with shared interests or goals before accepting.
How to politely decline a LinkedIn connection request
If after reviewing a connection request, you don’t feel comfortable accepting, you can politely decline by:
- Clicking the “Ignore” button instead of “Accept.” This removes the request so you can essentially decline quietly.
- Using the default “I don’t know [name]” message LinkedIn provides to decline.
- Writing a custom message politely explaining why you don’t think it’s the right fit at this time.
For example:
“Hi [name], Thanks for your invitation! Unfortunately I don’t believe we have any shared connections or industry overlap. I try to keep my network focused. I appreciate you thinking of me, but for those reasons, I don’t think it’s the right fit currently. Best of luck in your search!”
Declining respectfully preserves your brand and the other person’s dignity. Most LinkedIn users won’t be offended if you decline connection requests periodically as long as you do so in a professional, considerate manner.
How to accept a LinkedIn request strategically
When you’ve evaluated a connection request and decided you do want to accept, do so strategically:
- Personalize your acceptance message – Say hello, mention shared connections, and explain why you’d like to connect.
- View the sender’s profile and look for conversation starters – What are they interested in? Where do they work? What groups do they belong to?
- Connect, then follow up! Don’t just accept and forget the invitation. Send a message within a few days introducing yourself and asking about an area of shared interest.
Turning connection requests into conversations is key. This helps transform unknown contacts into warm professional relationships that may benefit you both down the line.
Sample messages for accepting and following up on LinkedIn requests
Acceptance message:
“Hi [name], thanks for connecting! I see we’re both in the [industry/city/etc.] community. I’m looking forward to exchanging ideas and insights related to [shared interest].”
Follow up message:
“Hi [name], it was great connecting with you on LinkedIn recently. I noticed on your profile that you’re involved with [organization/initiative]. I’m curious to learn more about how you help [their goal]. Are you open to jumping on a quick call this week to discuss?”
Proactively mentioning shared connections, interests, or goals helps turn cold contacts into real relationships with networking potential.
Should you send LinkedIn requests to strangers?
While accepting relevant connection invitations can expand your network, randomly sending requests to strangers is less likely to be beneficial.
Ask yourself these key questions before sending someone a LinkedIn request out of the blue:
- Can I articulate why connecting with this specific person aligns with my goals?
- Do we have any shared connections, groups, or interests I can mention in my request message?
- Have I taken the time to personalize my request message with context about why I want to connect?
If you can’t clearly answer “yes” to all those questions, reconsider sending the request. Blind invites to strangers often feel like spam and get ignored.
Instead, focus on organically meeting new people through shared connections, groups, and events. This helps you build relationships gradually with the right people, rather than randomly expanding your network for quantity’s sake alone.
How to write effective LinkedIn connection request messages
A good LinkedIn connection request clearly explains who you are, what you want, and why the recipient should accept. Follow these tips:
- Introduce yourself right away.
- Explain how you found their profile or if you have any shared connections.
- Mention one or two specific things you admire about their background or interests.
- Share why connecting would be valuable to both parties.
- Extend an invitation to connect in more depth.
Here are some message template examples:
“Hi [name], I’m [your name], an [industry] professional in the [city] area. I noticed we’re both members of [group] and are interested in [topic]. I’m expanding my network of fellow [industry] folks and would enjoy exchanging ideas. Hope to connect soon!”
“Hi [name], I came across your profile after speaking with our mutual connection [shared name]. As a fellow [industry] professional with experience in [topic], I’m impressed by your background with [company]! I’m looking to connect with more [industry experts]. Would you be open to linking up on LinkedIn?”
The more personalized context you can add about shared connections or interests, the better. This shows you took the time to understand who they are and why connecting makes sense.
Key takeaways
Here are the main tips for handling LinkedIn connection requests:
- Vet unfamiliar request senders to determine if connecting makes strategic sense.
- Politely decline requests that don’t seem like a relevant fit.
- Accept requests thoughtfully by personalizing your reply and reviewing the sender’s profile for follow-up talking points.
- Only send your own requests to new contacts selectively, with personalized messages explaining the value.
Expanding your network strategically is crucial. With the right approach, accepting and leveraging LinkedIn requests can forge connections that boost your career over the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are LinkedIn connection limits?
LinkedIn allows up to 30,000 connections on a free account. Paid Premium accounts can connect with up to 90,000 professionals. The Recruiter plan has no preset connection limit.
Is a high number of LinkedIn connections important?
Quality is generally more important than quantity of connections. Curating a focused network of connections in your industry and niche is better for meaningful engagement than inviting strangers solely to boost your numbers.
Can you delete a LinkedIn request after sending it?
No, once you’ve sent a connection request the invitation can’t be deleted. You either have to wait for the recipient to accept, decline, or let the request expire after one week.
Is there a way to connect on LinkedIn without the other person knowing?
No, you can’t connect without the other person knowing. Both parties have to consent for a connection to be made. The best approach is to thoughtfully customize your request explaining who you are and why you want to connect.
Can I resend a LinkedIn request after they ignored it?
It’s best not to repeatedly send the same person connection invites if they ignored you. Take the hint and connect in other ways. You could try asking a mutual connection for an introduction instead.
| Connection Request Scenario | Best Response |
|---|---|
| Receive generic invite from stranger | Politely ignore if no obvious relevance |
| Receive invite from someone in your industry | Review profile for networking potential before accepting |
| You come across an interesting potential contact | Only send personalized invite explaining the value of connecting |
| After accepting a request | Send follow up message to start a dialogue |
Conclusion
LinkedIn connection requests require diplomacy and strategy. Assess incoming requests carefully before accepting. Decline politely when needed. Only send thoughtful invites of your own to relevant recipients. Adding the right connections can forge fruitful professional networking opportunities. But the best approach is always quality over quantity when building your LinkedIn community.
