When connecting with someone new on LinkedIn, it can be tricky to know what to write in the note or message you send along with your connection request. A good connection note serves multiple purposes – it jogs the recipient’s memory about where you met or your relationship, provides context for why you want to connect, and gives a good first impression.
A thoughtful note shows that you respect the other person’s time and aren’t just blindly sending connection requests. It also makes you more likely to stand out among other requests in their inbox. Writing an effective LinkedIn connection request note takes effort but is worth it for building strong professional relationships.
Keep It Personalized
The most important tip for writing effective LinkedIn connection notes is to personalize each one as much as possible. Generic messages like “I’d like to add you to my professional network” are impersonal and easy to ignore.
Instead, remind the reader who you are, where you met, and why you want to connect. Jog their memory with a few details:
– “It was great meeting you at last week’s XYZ Conference. I enjoyed our conversation about trends in the accounting software industry.”
– “I see you work at ABC Company. I’ve been connecting with innovators in that field as research for a book I’m writing.”
– “I noticed you recently became head of marketing at 123 Corporation. Congratulations on the new role! I’m excited to connect since we’re both marketers in the same industry.”
Personal details make it obvious you know the recipient specifically and aren’t just trying to grow your network for the sake of numbers. Context also helps them understand why connecting would be mutually beneficial.
Keep It Brief
While personalized messages are important, you also want to keep your LinkedIn notes relatively brief. Professionals get inundated with messages daily, so avoid long-winded notes that require significant time to read.
Here are some tips for brevity:
– Get right to the point about who you are and why you want to connect. Don’t make the recipient wade through lots of extra words.
– Avoid formal introductions and lengthy descriptions. Assume the reader already knows who you are based on your profile.
– If you met in person, focus on 1-2 reminders of where you interacted, not every detail.
– Summarize mutual connections/interests in a few words rather than full sentences. “We’re both members of [Association] and interested in [Topic]” suffices.
– Use sentence fragments rather than full sentences when possible. “Met at last month’s X Conference. Hoping to collaborate given our shared interest in Y.”
Add Value
In addition to personalizing your request, also communicate the value of connecting. How will the relationship be helpful and worthwhile to the recipient, not just you?
For example:
– “Connecting could lead to potential partnerships between our companies down the road.”
– “I have experience in the industry you’re expanding into. I’d be happy to offer insights anytime.”
– “Since we’re both looking for new roles, I thought we could share leads and advice.”
Suggesting specific ways you can add value makes the recipient more inclined to accept your request and engage once connected. It’s not just about exchanging basic LinkedIn connections for the sake of expanding networks.
Use Templates – But Carefully
Writing personalized connection notes takes extra effort. Using pre-written templates can save time but has some drawbacks.
It’s fine to start with a template then customize the details for each recipient. Just avoid over-relying on templates that generate generic messages. Here are some tips for improving templates:
– Add the recipient’s first name to show you’re addressing them specifically.
– Swap out generic descriptions with ones tailored to their profile/situation.
– Change industry names, company details, event locations, etc. to match each person.
– Use your own words as much as possible instead of bland, overused phrases.
– Only use templates for the first 1-2 sentences then personalize the rest.
With these tweaks, templates can be a useful starting point while still maintaining a personalized tone.
Proofread
Before sending your connection requests, always proofread your notes carefully:
– Check for spelling and grammar errors. These make a bad first impression.
– Read your note from the recipient’s perspective. Does it communicate well?
– Make sure important personalization details like names and companies are correct.
– Look for unnecessary length you can trim.
– Review your closing. Do you suggest a clear next step for connecting further?
Taking a few minutes to proofread saves you from mistakes that could make your outreach ineffective or unprofessional. Catch them before they reach recipients’ inboxes.
Follow Up
Don’t end your efforts after sending a connection request. To get the most value from new LinkedIn contacts:
– Follow up in 1-2 weeks if they haven’t responded. Send a friendly reminder note.
– After connecting, reach out to schedule a call, meet in person, or engage in other ways. Don’t let it end at the connection stage.
– Add them to relevant LinkedIn Groups you are both part of to spark future conversations.
– Share their content and like/comment on their posts. Establish an active presence in their network.
– Save their profile for future reference since LinkedIn relationships require ongoing nurturing.
The effort doesn’t stop once they’ve accepted your request. Take the next steps to turn it into a lasting connection.
Avoid These Common Pitfalls
When writing your connection notes, be sure to avoid these common missteps:
– Sending an overly salesy or promotional message. Keep the focus on mutual benefits.
– Making it all about you and how the connection will help you, rather than them.
– Assuming they remember you well or have time for a long catch-up. Keep details brief.
– Making requests too vague or general. Personalized context is essential.
– Forgetting to proofread for errors that detract from professionalism.
– Waiting too long to follow up after connecting. Don’t let weeks or months pass.
– Using boring, generic templates that lack personal details. Customize these.
– Focusing solely on expanding your network and number of connections. Emphasize quality.
Avoiding these pitfalls helps ensure your outreach makes a positive first impression and leads to substantive connections.
Great Examples
To see these tips in action, here are two example connection notes that stand out:
Example 1:
Hi John, I hope you’ve been well! It was great chatting with you at last month’s Marketing Meetup. As we discussed, we both specialize in content marketing for financial services companies. I’d love to connect so we can share content and strategize together. I’m sure there are many ways we can collaborate in the future. Let me know if you would ever like to grab coffee!
Example 2:
Hi Sarah, I saw on LinkedIn that you recently joined XYZ Company as their head of sales. Congratulations on the new role! I know XYZ is growing quickly in the tech sector. My name is Anne and I’m head of sales for 123 Corporation. I thought it would be great for us to connect, since our sales teams may benefit from sharing best practices given our similar roles. Please feel free to reach out anytime about collaborating. I’m happy to offer any insights that may be helpful as you get started in your new position. Best of luck and looking forward to connecting!
Key Takeaways
Here are some key tips for writing effective LinkedIn connection notes:
– Personalize each note with specific details about how you know the person.
– Keep it brief – 1-2 sentences is often sufficient.
– Suggest clear mutual benefits of connecting.
– Proofread carefully before sending.
– Follow up and build the relationship after connecting.
– Avoid salesy, overly promotional language. Focus on value.
– Use templates judiciously. Customize them to be unique for each recipient.
– Make sure your note is focused on the other person, not just yourself.
With these strategies, you can write effective LinkedIn connection requests that make a great impression and lead to meaningful professional relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I send a LinkedIn request with a customized note or just use LinkedIn’s standard message?
It’s best to send a customized note rather than just rely on LinkedIn’s standard messaging. A unique note shows you put time and effort into personalizing the request for them specifically versus sending mass connection invites. It also lets you provide helpful context about where you met, why you want to connect, and what value you can offer them.
How long should my connection note be?
Aim to keep your LinkedIn connection notes 1-3 sentences in most cases. You want to be brief while still including key details about your relationship and reason for connecting. Avoid long paragraphs or overly verbose notes. Get to the point concisely in a few sentences that are skimmable for the recipient.
What details should I include in a connection note?
Good details to include are where you met the person, your experience interacting, any key mutual connections/interests you share, your rationale for connecting now, and potential ways you could help each other out. Specifics like names, employers, locations, dates, and recent news make it personalized.
How do I follow up if I haven’t received a response to my request?
You can follow up in 1-2 weeks if you haven’t received a response. Send a brief, polite note re-introducing yourself and restating why you’d like to connect. However, don’t harass people who don’t respond – one follow-up is generally sufficient before moving on.
What makes a LinkedIn connection note ineffective?
Notes are ineffective when they’re too generic, overly salesy, focused on your own interests rather than mutual benefit, or full of grammar/spelling errors. Avoid these pitfalls with brief, customized notes highlighting shared interests and value.
Conclusion
Sending thoughtful, personalized notes along with your LinkedIn connection requests will help you build a diverse professional network full of meaningful relationships. Avoid bland, mass-produced language by crafting each note specifically for the recipient. Brief but strategic messages get you noticed and engaged among the many requests people receive. Plus, following up after connecting leads to ongoing collaboration. With extra effort put into your outreach, you can make the most of each new addition to your network.