A connection request isn’t a pitch. It’s a reason to say yes. Here are twenty that give one.
Most connection requests fail in the first five words. “I’d love to add you to my network” or “I came across your profile” tells the other person you have no particular reason to talk to them. The best notes do the opposite: they name a specific reason, keep it short, and ask for nothing.
The short answer
A good LinkedIn connection request message is one or two sentences that reference something specific, like a post, a role change, a mutual connection or an event, add one line of shared context, and don’t pitch. LinkedIn’s help pages put the note limit at 200 characters, and free accounts can only add notes to a few invitations each month, so save notes for the people who matter most.
20 connection request examples
Swap in your own details. Every one of these should be true when you send it.
After someone posts
“Your point about SDRs burning out on volume targets is the thing nobody says out loud. Would be good to be connected.”
“Loved the breakdown of your pricing change. We went through the same debate last quarter. Happy to connect.”
“Your post on founder-led sales matched our first year almost exactly, down to the spreadsheet. Let’s connect.”
“Saved your thread on onboarding metrics. Curious how it holds up at your next stage. Would like to follow along.”
After a job change
“Congrats on the move to Northwind. Heard good things about the team. Would be great to be connected.”
“Saw you just took over sales development at Acme. I spent two years building an SDR team from zero, happy to swap notes anytime.”
“New role, new city. Welcome to Lisbon. I run a small founders’ dinner here, would be glad to connect.”
With a mutual connection
“Maya Chen mentioned you’re the person to talk to about RevOps in fintech. Would love to connect.”
“We’ve both worked with the team at Halcyon, small world. Good to be connected.”
“Noticed we both came through the same accelerator cohort a few years apart. Let’s connect.”
Around an event
“Saw you’re speaking at the RevOps meetup next week. I’ll be there, would be great to say hello in person.”
“Enjoyed your panel on pipeline reviews yesterday, especially the bit about forecast calls. Let’s connect.”
“We were both at the founders’ breakfast on Thursday but didn’t get a chance to talk. Next time.”
When they’re hiring
“Five SDR openings at once is a big bet. Rooting for it. Would be good to be connected.”
“Saw you’re hiring your first marketer. That role is hard to scope, happy to share what worked for us.”
Shared interest or community
“Fellow member of the Pavilion London chapter. Always good to know more people there.”
“We both seem to comment on every post about outbound reply rates. Might as well connect.”
“Your newsletter on B2B pricing is one of the few I actually read. Would be glad to connect.”
Reconnecting
“We worked on the Brightline launch together years ago. Saw you’re at Juniper now, would be good to reconnect.”
“Realized we were never connected here after the conference in Berlin. Fixing that.”
Notice what they have in common. Each one is specific, short, true and easy to accept. None asks for a meeting.
Mistakes that get requests ignored
Mistake | Example | Why it fails |
|---|---|---|
Generic opener | “I came across your profile” | Signals there’s no real reason |
Empty compliment | “Impressed by your journey” | Sounds automated, because it usually is |
Immediate pitch | “We help companies like yours…” | Turns a yes into a sales decision |
Meeting request | “Do you have 15 minutes?” | Too much to ask from a stranger |
Fake familiarity | “Following up on my last message” | Breaks trust instantly |
Should you always add a note?
Not always. A blank request to someone you met yesterday, or a second-degree connection in your exact field, is often accepted anyway. Save notes for people who wouldn’t recognize your name, and for moments where the context matters, like after a post or a job change. If your account has a limit on personalized notes, those limits make the choice for you.
What happens after they accept
Don’t send a pitch the minute they accept. Either continue the thread you referenced (“Thanks for connecting. When you cut volume, what did you replace it with?”) or simply engage with their next post. The relationship is the point. For more on this, see how to personalize LinkedIn outreach with AI without sounding like AI and how to find people who recently posted about your topic.
Manet drafts connection notes like these from real signals, a post, a new role, a shared connection, in the way you usually write them, and waits for your approval before anything is sent.
Connection requests are step five of our LinkedIn prospecting playbook.
Frequently asked questions
What should I write in a LinkedIn connection request?
One or two sentences that reference something specific, like a post, a job change, a mutual connection or an event, plus a line of shared context. Don't pitch or ask for a meeting.
What is the character limit for a LinkedIn connection note?
LinkedIn's help pages put the note limit at 200 characters. Free accounts can also only add notes to a limited number of invitations each month.
Is it better to send a connection request with or without a note?
Add a note when the person wouldn't recognize your name or when context matters. A blank request often works for people you've met or who share your field.
How do I connect with a prospect without being salesy?
Lead with something about them, not you. Reference their post or new role, keep it short, and leave the pitch for later in the relationship, if at all.
How many connection requests can I send per week?
LinkedIn limits weekly invitations and doesn't publish an exact number for every account. Stay well within what a real person would send, and focus on people you have a reason to contact.
Can AI write LinkedIn connection notes?
Yes, if it's working from a real signal and your own writing style, and you review the note before sending. Manet drafts notes from context like posts and job changes and asks for your approval.
Want connection notes drafted from real reasons, in your voice? Try Manet free.
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