LinkedIn connection request message template for B2B prospects

A good LinkedIn connection request message is one or two sentences, about them, with no pitch. The goal is to be accepted by a real person who sees a clear reason you wrote. Send it from your own account. The note has a length limit, so brevity is not optional.

When to use it

Use it when you want to start a relationship before or alongside an email: you saw a post, they just changed roles or you share a contact. If you have nothing true to say, a blank request beats a generic one.

The template

Hi (first name), I saw (specific thing: your post on topic, your move to company). (One sentence on why it caught your attention.) I would like to connect.

Keep it short enough to read in one glance. LinkedIn caps the length of the note, and the cap can differ by account type, so check what your own account allows.

Why it works

• A specific detail proves a person wrote it.
• There is no ask, so there is nothing to refuse.

Two variations

For a new role:

Hi (first name), congratulations on joining (company) as (title). I work with (type of team) on (area) and would like to follow what you build there. Glad to connect.

For a shared interest or post:

Hi (first name), your post on (topic) made me rethink (one specific point). I write about the same area, so I would like to be connected.

What to check before you send

1. You can name the specific thing you are referring to, and it is public.
2. The note has no link, no pitch and no request for a call.
3. You send it from your own account. In Rodok, LinkedIn steps are tasks for you. LinkedIn's user agreement restricts automated activity, so check its rules before you use any tool that sends for you.
4. Regional privacy rules, such as GDPR and CASL, exist for people in those regions. Keep to a short, relevant message and keep your reason for contacting them clear.
5. After they accept, wait a day or two before the next message. See the message after a connection accepts.

Mistakes to avoid

• Pitching in the request. It reads as spam.
• Sending the same note to everyone.
• Sending dozens of requests in a rush. Fewer, relevant requests beat a rush of generic ones.

Finding who to connect with

The slow part is deciding whom to write to and what is true about them. In Rodok, you describe a signal in a sentence, such as "new VPs of Sales at B2B software companies in the US", and a tracker finds people who match and shows their company and LinkedIn page. Rodok drafts a first line from the signal, and a LinkedIn step shows up as a task for you. For wider ideas, see LinkedIn prospecting and social selling.

Frequently asked questions

Should I add a note to a connection request?

A short, specific note usually helps when there is a clear reason. If you only have a generic line, a plain request is fine.

What should I say after they accept?

Thank them and ask one light question, or share something useful. Do not pitch in the first message. A template is in the message after a connection accepts.

Can I automate connection requests?

In Rodok, a LinkedIn step is a task for you, with the first line drafted. LinkedIn's user agreement restricts automated activity, so check its rules before you use any tool that sends requests for you. A personal note is also more likely to be accepted.