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How To Connect With People on LinkedIn: 10 LinkedIn Connection Tips

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How to connect with people on LinkedIn
There’s a gray area between the “right” and “wrong” way to connect on LinkedIn. 


It’s safe to say that leading with a sales-based connection message won’t get you many accepted requests. Especially if your personalized message points out that the person has “areas to improve.”

It’s also a given that a personalized message should be included in connection requests to give them a reason for why they should accept a request. Random connections don’t necessarily lead to impactful relationships. 

How should you connect with people on LinkedIn? We asked business professionals for their best LinkedIn connection tips to help you build your network. 

Here are 10 LinkedIn connection tips:

  • Don’t Pitch
  • Connect Prior to Meeting
  • Reply to Interesting Connection Requests
  • Leverage Student Status and Alumni Community
  • Mention Common Grounds
  • Never Imply a Nonexistent Past Relationship 
  • Address “Why?”
  • Similar Industry
  • Value Alignment

Don’t Pitch Quite Yet

Make it all about them and do not use this first outreach as a sales effort. When you approach a new contact on LinkedIn, reference their background, research, expertise, etc. Let them know your interest in the subject matter and that you would like to connect to keep current on the topics they care about. Introduce yourself in the context of their interests.

Marti Konstant, Workplace Futurist

Connect Prior to Meeting

While it might be considered “creepy” to immediately request someone on Facebook right after you meet them, it is not the same with LinkedIn. The rule I have when connecting with professional contacts I meet or are referred to by others is to add those people right away! As a recruiting and staffing professional, I meet so many people from so many industries. When I meet someone at an event, no matter how many times I remind myself not to forget their name, I always do. I make LinkedIn connections right away so I don’t forget their information or miss out on opportunities with that contact.

Ryan Nouis, TruPath

Reply to Interesting Connection Requests

It seems like too many people request or accept a connection request without an exchange. One rule that seems to go far in developing relationships is to reply with a simple, “Thank you for the connection!” to select inbound requests. By initiating the conversation, you can learn more about the person behind the profile. 

Vicky Franko, Insura 

Endorse Skills

You should endorse them for their skills—people love this! If you are connecting with like-minded professionals, go for the skills in your field. If you are connecting with a recruiter, go for something that they specialize in, so on and so forth. The same goes if you are a sales professional and are prospecting, go with the reason why you’re reaching out. Most times, they’d have had a few highly endorsed skills already, you just have to click the big “+” button. Doing this sends them notifications and increases your chance of getting recognized and getting a reply—regardless of your reasoning for sending that connection request.

Hung Nguyen, Smallpdf

Leverage Student Status and Alumni Community

If you are currently a student, use it to your advantage! The great thing about being a student is that professionals in your industry are more than willing to help out, especially if they are alumni. Start by going to your university or college’s LinkedIn page and navigating to the alumni page. Type in keywords related to your interests or studies and start reaching out to professionals that you’d like to connect with! In my connection request, my one rule is to include my student status and explain why I am passionate about my field. If I am connecting with an alumni, I always include a P.S. and nod to Arizona State (ex: P.S. Forks Up!). 

Thylan Le, Markitors

Mention Common Ground

Make your messages personalized to each connection. If you are connecting with someone new make sure to mention something you have in common or be specific about why you are reaching out. The person is more likely to respond if you personalize the message instead of just sending the connection request without a note.

Dana Felix, HR Analyst

Never Imply a Nonexistent Past Relationship 

The number one rule that I have when asking for a connection in LinkedIn is to never imply a preexisting relationship that does not exist. There is a natural progression that relationships take that must be respected. The most valuable resource a person can give you is access to their network and that should be treated as sacred. If you cannot make that request without a clear value proposition to that person, go back to the drawing board.

Lukas Ruebbelke, Briebug

Why?

What is the “why” for connecting with me? I am more likely to engage with someone that helps me understand what made them select me in the first place. It also makes that first inMail seem less cold.

Steven Brown, DP Electric Inc

Similar Industry

If a person is in a similar industry, I will typically approve the connection. You never know when you may be able to network with someone, or collaborate on a project. Many accept all invitations just to boost their connections. However, if you\’ve been on LinkedIn for a week, you should easily be able to spot a sales or marketing pitch, disguised as a connection invite.

Andrea Loubier, Mailbird

Value Alignment

While it’s not a hard and fast rule, I do try to assess based on a person’s profile if there is a value alignment either by perusing their activity or reviewing what they highlight in their profile. If it does not seem like a values match, typically, I will decline a connection request. I also suggest trying to follow someone first before connecting. It may be that the connection at first glance seems favorable, but over time, questionable. Following the person first provides an appropriate distance so you can assess further before fully engaging this person in your professional circle, particularly if you have only met online.

Nadine Mullings, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

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10 LinkedIn Connect Message Tips To Build Relationships

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When crafting the perfect LinkedIn Connection Request, the last thing you want to do is come across boring and spammy. Chances are the person you are reaching out to has an inbox full of requests, and “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” is not going to cut it. You have to customize your message to truly stand out and invite the individual to not only accept your request but check out your profile as well!

Now, that is much easier said than done! That is why we reached out to 10 business leaders with the busiest LinkedIn notifications in the game. Below, you can find their advice on how to always get your invitations accepted.

It’s Your Elevator Pitch

Think of your connection message as an elevator pitch, because that’s what it is, essentially. Develop two or three key points to mention that describe who you are and why you wanted to connect. Don’t overwhelm your potential connection with a long pitch requesting they do something for you. Keep it short and sweet!

Court Will, Will & Will

Show Interest in Their Profile

LinkedIn messages need to feel genuine. If you can avoid it, do not use the automatically generated responses they give you –it looks disingenuous and unprofessional. Instead, take a moment to analyze the person’s profile that you are messaging and compliment something about their career or a place they have worked in the message. This shows that you took the time to look at their profile and you have an interest in them as a professional. They will likely be more receptive to your message if you show genuine interest. 

Peter Babichenko, Sahara Case 

Keep it Short

Don’t attempt to send a novel to someone who does not yet have any connection to you. They may even be under the impression that your message is spam or a sales pitch and ignore it. Use their name, where you know them from or how you found them and that you’d like to build a connection.

Jon Schneider, Recruiterie 

Personalize It!

Make your message as personal as possible! If you have met the individual before, remind them of where you met or how much you enjoyed chatting about whatever topic you discussed. If you haven’t met them before, explain why you are interested in connecting with them. This will make them more likely to accept your request and reply to your message!

Nikitha Lokareddy, Markitors

Make Your Point While Being Friendly

Keep your connection message short, to the point and friendly. My network exceeds 10000 connections and was built with a simple request to members in a synergistic profession. “Hi John, we share contacts and interests, let’s connect!” When I wanted to connect to a prospect that is c-level, I changed it a little to “Hi John, I do this and this when companies need this. I’d love to connect and possibly work together in the future, lets connect!”

Tony Baumer, Old Grey Tiger Consulting

Don’t Always Have Expectations

My first tip is, if you aren’t connecting on LinkedIn you are doing it wrong. My second tip is, if you are sending canned messages, you are also doing it wrong. My third tip when crafting a LinkedIn message is, come from a place of honesty and sincerity and don’t always have expectations. For example, I truly care about connecting with you and sincerely want to learn more about you and your business!

Erika Acorn, Tempe Chamber

Give the Person a Reason to Connect

Always remember to focus on the other person, not you. Too many people talk about themselves in the LinkedIn connection request and wonder why it gets ignored or denied. People want to know what’s in it for them and how they stand to benefit, so tell them directly.

James Pollard, The Advisor Coach LLC

Continue the Conversation

I use a formula that goes like this. First, introduce yourself, reason why you are connecting with them, and end with a question to continue the conversation going. This formula has worked not just on Linkedin, but also on Facebook and Instagram direct messages.

Sara Yusupov, iHeartRadio

Have a Valid Reason to Connect

Visit the profile of the user and study their achievements, line of business, if they are writing on LinkedIn, and check their posts. By doing all this, you are actually finding a logical and valid reason to connect. Once you’ve found your talking point, then you are all set to message the person and initiate conversation. The process goes as follows: 

  • Put a catchy subject line. “Happy to Connect with You,” “Thank You for Connecting” or any other line which can hold the person’s attention to go further down.
  • Introduce yourself. Then keeping it short, give a brief intro about yourself. 
  • Mention the things you two have in common. In the second paragraph, give an overview about the interests you both share and ask them to elaborate on their other interests. 
  • Offer your help. In the third or closure line, offer your assistance and support if you can provide any.

With this, you can initiate a good conversation with your new connection and you are all set to build a new professional relationship on good grounds.

Rameez Ghayas Usmani, PureVPN

Deliver Value

That’s also my tip for networking—always deliver value before (instead of) asking for a favor, job lead or sale. Take a minute to tell a job seeker you have many recruiters in your network, or to compliment someone on a recent post. It’s highly effective—so much more so than asking for the sale before you even say “hello.”

Joni Holderman, Thrive! Resumes

How To Use LinkedIn To Find Employment

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How To Use LinkedIn To Find Employment

LinkedIn can certainly help a person looking for work to get connected to the right career. It’s all about choosing the right tactic in this competitive environment. Should you optimize your profile in hopes of being scouted? Should you message employees in your dream position? Or should you just take to the job board and apply to everything that seems remotely interesting?

Below, thought leaders and employers spill their top tips for utilizing LinkedIn to better your chances of employment.

Showcase Your Purpose and Values

Utilizing LinkedIn to streamline the process of getting connected to the right career can be a wonderful tool. LinkedIn is your personal professional brand, you want to be authentic and comprehensive about your current skills and goals. Leverage your network and connect with people in your industry that also align with your purpose and values. Do not be afraid to ask for an introduction to gain insight and advice about other’s career paths. 

Jenae Nichols, Y Scouts

Highlight Recent Experience 

We pride ourselves on hiring and developing highly qualified staff members for our full-service dental lab. LinkedIn is one of the recruiting tools we may use to help us identify a candidate. How do we identify candidates on LinkedIn? One way is looking at recent experience. Several profiles on LinkedIn stop at listing the job title and company in their experience. However, it is important to list out accomplishments in your experience – just like you would on a resume. By highlighting recent experience, you are providing employers with a much more in-depth look at what you’ve achieved. This helps companies like ours better identify the candidates that we want to interview. 

Henry Babich, Stomadent Dental Laboratory

Keep It Up-To-Date

I was actually recruited through LinkedIn. My tip is to always keep your profile up-to-date and make sure you have the right skills listed to match keywords in the career you’re interested in. While recruiters are filtering searches for possible candidates, you’ll be much more searchable if your listed skills align with their criteria.

Megan Chiamos, Cannabis ERP Software 

Don’t Spray and Pray 

If you apply for a job, respond to the company if they reach out to you. We have a file of people we won’t EVER interview because when we reached out to them they never responded. In one case they stood up the first interviewer. Don’t spray and pray. It seems that there are those that respond to multiple ads just to see what’s out there. We have had a significant number of applicants that didn’t so much as fill in the required questions. They will never EVER get an opportunity from us.

Mike Staver, The Staver Group

Generate Content That Ranks

LinkedIn is a platform that continues to surprise me. I discovered last year that Google indexes LinkedIn articles. So, while you might not get as many likes and comments on articles as you would a regular post, if you generate helpful content, your keywords may rank on a browser search for your topic. My LinkedIn articles consistently rank within the first three results on the topic of career agility. Find your topic you want to rank for and write about it.

Marti Konstant, Workplace Futurist

Bump up to a Premium Account

Research who the hiring manager may be for the role you are going for and reach out to them. If you have a LinkedIn Premium account, utilize the InMail feature and send a personalized message directly to the hiring manager stating who you are, why you are reaching out to them and the problem you can solve for them (i.e. the role you are applying for). If you don’t have a premium account, that’s ok! Send the hiring manager a connection request and ALWAYS include a short note as to why you are requesting to connect. Simply applying isn’t good enough anymore, you need to make that personal connection and more often than not – that manager will appreciate it.

John Indiveri, Talent Acquisition Manager

Reach Out to Mutual Connections

I think LinkedIn cold calling is a complete turnoff. But, I have had good results with warm handoffs to a second-level connection, using a mutual first level connection who knows me and is a strong advocate. Finding high-potential people with mutual connections can be done with almost surgical precision using LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator capability. This allows highly customized searches to mine your network’s network.

Dennis Skinner, Many-To-One

Keep It Professional

People who post memes, jokes and viral stories that are obviously fake destroy their credibility. Connect with people you’ve met in person, and if you’re headed to an event, message a couple of contacts you’ve never met and offer to meet in person if they’re attending the same event. Not to sell them anything, just to say hi.

Chryssa Rich, Primary Health Medical Group

Focus on ‘Who’ Over ‘What’

I believe LinkedIn has done an amazing job of democratizing the sharing of resumes on the net. That said, very few LinkedIn profiles give the viewer a sense of ‘who’ someone is vs. ‘what’ they’ve done in their career. The ‘Summary’ section at the top of each profile is a great spot to expand on your purpose, your values, your passions, and the things that matter most to you. It’s time to emphasize more than just an individual’s career history.

Brian Mohr, Mohr Impact Group

Optimize Your Profile

Recruiters utilize LinkedIn to find talented candidates. Be sure to optimize your profile for the roles that you want in order to be found. Digital communication is more important than ever so start building and cultivating your brand online. Be engaging by creating content, commenting on posts and sharing relevant information. This will help attract people to your profile.

Michelle Baker, Swoon Group