An effective way to stand out on LinkedIn is to include personal details in your connection request message, showing familiarity and admiration while building rapport.
Avoid sending generic messages, as these may be taken as spam or simply ignored. Instead, create custom content tailored specifically for their interests and needs.
1. Introduce Yourself
Connection request messages have a 300-character limit (that’s longer than tweets!) which forces you to be creative in choosing what to say. For maximum impact, these should begin with a personal note from you including name and title as well as reason for connecting followed by “thanks, talk soon” or simply your name as the closing phrase.
Make sure to mention any shared connections, groups, schools or employers in your message to make it more personalized and authentic, increasing its likelihood of acceptance.
Noting how you know someone is also key – did they invite you, are there any shared connections, or did you meet at an event. Doing this will set yourself apart from those sending generic greetings or being pushy.
2. Include Something Personal
When reaching out to LinkedIn leads, it’s essential that your messages stand out from generic connection requests and create a sense of mutual benefit. One effective strategy for doing so would be adding a personal note at the end of your message or referencing something unique about their profile.
As part of your message, it’s also crucial that you explain why you’re reaching out – this will give the recipient a clearer idea as to why they should accept or decline your request. Whether seeking professional advice, learning about their work or seeking employment opportunities with them company; by outlining your intentions in advance and outlining how you can be of value they’ll understand why and accept you request more readily.
To send a personalized note, navigate to their profile and click on the ellipsis icon next to their name. This will open a pop-up window where you can add notes to your request before selecting “Connect” to send. Follow up with another quick message so that conversations continue uninterrupted!
3. Outline Your Intentions
An effective connection request message provides the perfect opportunity to explain your intentions and build trust and rapport. Unfortunately, too often people forgo this step or use an ineffective message that does not convey their intentions effectively.
People will read your post history and LinkedIn profile before accepting your connection request, so it’s crucial that they convey a realistic image of what your work entails.
Mention your professional goals and how you add value, to help distinguish yourself from those sending generic, empty messages or overselling themselves. An introduction will have more of an effect than simply leaving no note at all.
4. Ask for a Connection
Your message should demonstrate that you have taken time and care in getting to know who the individual is; otherwise it risks appearing unknowledgeable and impersonal. Show that you took an interest in them by using research findings from LinkedIn, their website or social media channels as the basis for highlighting something unique about them; perhaps mention you met at a conference or share an interest in particular topics.
Our kickass templates feature messages within the 300-character limit to ensure that you can include their name, a short introduction, the reason you wish to connect and an invitation for further dialogue. This ensures your message remains pertinent and respectful and meets professional etiquette guidelines.
To add a personalized message to a LinkedIn user’s profile information, click on the three-dot ellipsis. This will open a window where you can compose your message. If you have already written an impressive connection request, this step simply involves adding their name and clicking “send.” Now that you know how to craft powerful LinkedIn messages, put this knowledge to good use and start getting real work done!
5. Follow Up
No matter if it be InMail or LinkedIn Connect, always follow up after making contact. A follow up message can demonstrate your continued interest and expand upon what was discussed during initial dialogue, increasing the odds that your connection request will be accepted and helping foster positive relations with those whom you reach out.
Make sure your message is tailored directly to the person – avoid sending generic greetings such as, “Hello there!” Instead, examine how they refer to themselves on their LinkedIn profile or in public discussions among LinkedIn users – do they use their full name or have a short nickname?
Check your messages carefully for spelling and grammatical errors to increase readability and ensure your intentions are clearly expressed. Remember: A connection request containing typos or errors is more likely to be overlooked!
