Crafting a LinkedIn Connection Request That Gets Accepted

I get 400+ connection requests every week. 99% make the same mistakes. Only 1% get it right. Here’s how you can be that 1%. Before I preach: I’ve also made all these mistakes. I’m no exception. But, by now I’ve learned from it. I hope this post helps you avoid them. ❌ SENDING REQUESTS WITHOUT A NOTE. 99% of connection requests I get have no note. By adding no note, you’re asking the other person to spend at least 30 seconds looking at your profile title, understanding what you do, & decoding whether that’s relevant. Sure, they can do it for 10 people. But not 100+. You’re wasting an opportunity EVERY time you send a request without a note. ✅ SEND A NOTE, EVEN IF IT'S 2 SENTENCES. Forget writing detailed & specific notes. Just write 2 sentences. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. Now, I’d love to follow along your journey and hopefully contribute in a meaningful way.” That’s it. BOOM. You just 5x-ed your acceptance rate. ❌ ASKING FOR A "20-MIN CALL" No, most people don’t have time for a “20-min call.” I don’t have time for a “20-min call.” Because you haven’t convinced me what’s in it for me. Instead, here’s an idea: ✅ ASK, "HOW CAN I HELP?" That’s it. So simple. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. I also see you publish regularly. I’d love to follow along your journey. Also, if I can help in anyway, just let me know.” I will 1000% accept a request with such a note. Most people would. Build a relationship before asking for more. ❌ SENDING AN ESSAY FOR A REQUEST By sending long essay messages, you’ve made 3 mistakes: - You wasted your time - The other person probably didn’t read it - Your request got lost in the abyss ✅ SENDING A SHORT, SPECIFIC REQUEST WITH A COMPELLING WHY Make it easy for the other person to help you. Keep your message short, specific, and give them a REASON to help you. “Hi Pooja! I’ve read most of your posts on LinkedIn. There’s so much value in them. Thank you. I aspire to publish my book next year. Can you point me to any resources/tools that was helpful for you? If you already have it written down somewhere, let me know. P.S. I can help you compile a post on this if you’d like!” Now, you’ve given me 3 reasons to help you: - You’ve done your homework in reading my posts - You have a clear goal in mind - You already offered value in your “P.S.” I get it. All this is extra work. It takes time. But, these few minutes will make or break your chance to find your co-founder, next job, or even a best friend. If this helped you, please re-share the post and help your network! 👉 And, follow me if you'd like more of this. I publish a resource every day. P.S. Wanna send me a connection request? Now you know how to do it 😉 #writing #freeresources #unshackled #advice #linkedin

I tested 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (During my last job search and as a career coach). These 𝟱 get the highest response rates, especially from hiring managers👇 1. The Profile Viewer Message Check who viewed your LinkedIn profile. They’re already aware of you, don’t let that warm lead go cold. Try this: "Hey [Name], I noticed you stopped by my profile, appreciate you taking a look! Curious, was there something specific that caught your eye, or are you open to conversations around [industry/topic you're exploring]?" 👉 Tip: Warm > Cold. Always start with people who’ve already shown interest. 2. Acknowledge + Ask Find something unique about their background or a recent post, and ask a question. "Hi [Name], I saw your talk on [topic], your insight on [specific point] stuck with me. How did you land your current role at [Company]?" People love talking about themselves, especially when you show genuine interest. 3. Value First Offer a useful insight, article, or trend that aligns with their work. No ask, just value. "Hey [Name], I saw your post about [topic]. Just came across this article, it touches on a similar trend. Thought you might find it interesting." Position yourself as thoughtful, not transactional. 4. Mutual Connection Approach Bridge a real mutual connection or shared experience. "Hi [Name], I noticed we both worked with [Person] / went to [School] / worked in [Company or Industry]. I'd love to learn more about your path, especially how you made the transition to [Role/Company]." Relatability opens doors faster than credentials. 5. Compliment + Curiosity Start with a specific compliment, then open the door. "Hi [Name], really enjoyed your article on [topic], especially your point about [detail]. Are you open to connecting with people exploring similar roles in [industry]?" It’s respectful, direct, and makes it easy for them to respond. Reminder: You don’t need to spam 100 strangers. Start with 10 meaningful messages a week. Track responses. Iterate on what works. Focus on warm leads, shared interests, and genuine curiosity. What template would you like to see next? If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want. ➕Follow Jaret André for more daily data job search tips.

As a founder, would you ever send a deck with the first slide "I want to raise ₹____ funding"? I mean, we know the desired outcome is fundraising, but that's not how you'd start. So why would your Linkedin connect request be "I want to connect"? After yesterday's tips on optimising your Linkedin profile for fundraising, today, let's focus on how to optimise LinkedIn Connection Requests Each day, I'm left aghast with generic "I'd like to connect" requests. It's a MASSIVE missed opportunity. Instead, use this as an opportunity to tell me why you're connecting. Personalization is key. Some things I'd consider make for a strong investor connect request: Portfolio Company: "Hi [Person's Name], I'm a huge admirer of your investment in [Portfolio Company]. I'm building [Your Company], which addresses a similar challenge in the [Industry] market" Specific Focus: "Hi [VC Name], I was particularly impressed by your recent focus on [Sector]. I'm building [Your Startup] and believe my approach aligns with your investment thesis on [Specific Area]" Do you have a shared connection: "Hi [VC Name], [Mutual Connection] suggested I reach out as I'm building [Your Company] in the [Industry] space" After this intro, quickly include 1-liner impact message. Some stand-out metric or interesting customer insight. Remember, your connection request is your "social currency". Spend it wisely. That first reach-out message should usually get you a response. Show that you've got some value to give and have a genuine reason for connecting. Many of you must have got a "Send me more info over email at _____" from me? That's a sign of a good conversion. What will you add/remove from your on your LinkedIn connect messages? #Entrepreneurship #Startups #venturecapital #founders