Sending out the first connection message is the hardest.
“What should I say?”
“When should I follow up?”
“What do I do if they don’t accept?”
There are a lot of things to consider even if it’s something as simple as connecting with someone for the first time.
In this guide, let’s remove some of that difficulty. I’ll give you a couple of our LinkedIn connection request message templates straight from the BAMF Bible.
We’ve used these templates in the past, and we’ve had so much success with them.
So, stop worrying.
I got you covered.
Get a copy of the LinkedIn Bible today!
Finding Common Ground
There are different types of LinkedIn connection request message templates that we can talk about.
And, they’re all similar in one way.
They find common ground.
Finding some common ground is the basis of all human interaction and communication. Everything from ordering fries to transacting with an angel investor revolves around finding something in common.
And, that’s the goal of today’s guide.
As much as saying “Hi” might be the best way of connecting with people, it won’t mean much if your message doesn’t resonate well with your prospect.
But, what happens if there’s no common ground?
That’s impossible.
There are a lot of things that you share in common with your prospect, you just have be patient enough to find it.
Personalizing Each LinkedIn Connection Request Message Template
The aim of the game is still personalization.
None of the templates we’ve produced over the years are designed to be used blindly.
You still need to add your personal touch to it.
We strongly advise that you theme the templates that you use.
You can add some fun, add serious notes, or even make it sound more casual.
Some people try and stick in just the first name of their prospect, but don’t just do that.
Everyone’s doing that, and there’s a fair chance that your prospect knows you’re using a template.
What you want to do is to add in more personalization elements such as things that they’ve posted in the past, prospect-specific details such as their company, etc.
Once you do that, you get to set yourself apart from the other templated outreach styles of your competitors.
LinkedIn Connection Request Message Templates
Using Specific Mutual Connections
LinkedIn will show you if you have a common connection with a prospect, and you can use that to push towards a new connection with them.
Here’s how we do it.
Hi {first_name}! I noticed we’re both connected to {name_of_mutual_friend}.
How do you know him/her? I also checked out your profile and saw that you and I both {common_connecting_point}.
Judging from your role at {company_name}, we might be able to help each other out.
Let me know if you’d like to connect sometime and talk shop. Take care!
The great thing about this approach is that it’s very simple to use and it’s deployable with anyone – as long as there’s someone mutual connecting you both.
We highly suggest this LinkedIn connection request message template if you want something that’s quickly deployable and easy to customize.
Using General Mutual Connections
This is kind of like the approach above, but instead of using a specific person, we’re going to go for a more general approach.
Hi {first_name} — Hope you’re well!
I found your profile through {mutual_connection_mutual_group_ or_mutual_school} and am interested to learn about your background in {your_industry}.
Are you available to connect either online or on the phone? — {my_first_name}
This is a more versatile approach since you can use this with almost any connection between you and your prospect.
It can apply to a Facebook group, LinkedIn group, page, etc.
Towards the end, you may choose not to include the phone part and just add a meeting link.
Not Using Mutual Connections
How about if you don’t have mutal connections?
Mutual connections are the best piece of leverage you can use, but if you’re starting outreach in a new industry, they might be hard to come by.
This is why we’ve developed this particular template.
Hi {first_name}! I came across your profile after seeing your post about {topic_they_posted_about}.
Interesting stuff…what’s your take on {related_topic}?
I’m trying to learn more about {your_industry} these days—I sell {business_solution} to {business_type} businesses—and it seems like everyone I talk to has a different opinion.
Care to share some wisdom with me?
P.S. – I had a friend who worked at {company_name} too back in the day. How did you like it there?
As you can see, it uses multiple elements of personalization to show the prospect that you really are interested in what they have to offer.
It starts with mentioning a piece that they wrote, moves the conversation towards a more specific topic, and then brings it home by asking for advice in their industry while also subtly promoting your business.
This is not the easiest template to deploy due to the number of things you have to switch out, but its personalization features are worth it.
Expect to get a lot of engagement with this particular approach.
Flattery + Question
Compliments are great and all, but they’re not much stand on if used on their own.
So, in this approach we combine a compliment, in the beginning, to hook them in and a question so that they can talk about themselves right after.
Lesson one in dealing with people: people always like to talk about themselves.
Let’s take advantage of that.
Hi {first_name},
Thank you for connecting with me.
{compliment_on_their_profile_or_professional_background_or_ accomplishment_or_their_content_etc}.
{question_about_an_initiative_in_their_company_or_something_ they_shared_on_linkedin}.
{my_first_name}
This approach is effective if you don’t have a lot in common with the prospect you’re reaching out.
It’s short enough to be highly readable and it puts the prospect first because of the compliment and question.
We also like how it’s straight-to-the-point in driving a conversation.
When they reply, you can then ask them about their challenges and how they’ve overcome them, and then slowly sneak in what you have to offer.
Going Straight for the Connection
If you want something that’s more straightforward.
Then, I’d highly suggest this method.
Here’s the template.
Hi {first_name}, {something_that_interests_you_about_person}.
{something_specific_that_is_in_their_profile_or_the_content_ they_shared}.
I’d appreciate the opportunity to connect with you on Linkedln. {my_first_name}
You want to know why I’ve built up so many connections using this approach?
It’s honest.
And, people like that.
In a world where everyone is trying to sell you something every couple of seconds, having an outreach message designed like this makes for something refreshing.
With this approach, expect to do the actual pipeline work later.
You want to get these connections and put them in a separate list.
Don’t worry about nurturing them, if you’ve followed our work in the past, you’ll know that you’re already doing so by posting value-added content on a regular basis.
The Casual Approach
If your corporate culture dictates a more laid-back approach, there’s nothing wrong with a more casual way of doing things.
This is especially the case if most of your prospects are young and easy-going as well.
Heya {first_name}, you popped up in my feed and I gotta say — I really dig what you’re working on! I ❤ amazing businesses and interesting projects, and I wanted to follow along so I’ve always got the scoop. Let’s connect?! ? – {my_first_name}
The language used is lively, it’s more conversational, and it stands out.
Also, there is liberal emoji use and that really helps make the message pop.
I recommend this approach if you’re adopting a more casual approach in your industry.
These messages easily standout in a stream of professional connection messages and it might just be the little kick you need to get into someone’s connection.
But, there’s a catch.
You can’t use this approach regularly.
Some people – especially in complex B2B industries – don’t appreciate this approach, and it could off as unprofessional.
Be exceptionally careful of these types of LinkedIn connection request message templates. You can use them, but don’t overdo them.
Getting People to Accept LinkedIn Connection Requests
Sending a message is only 50 percent of the battle.
Think about it.
When you receive a random connection request message, don’t you look at the person’s name, photo, and headline?
Remember, your prospect can see these details.
Sometimes, when the message sounds interesting, we even visit the person’s profile just to check them out.
This is why it’s absolutely critical that you optimize your LinkedIn profile.
- Profile Photo – make sure that you match the message that you’re sending out. For example, you don’t want emojis on a connection request if you’re looking serious in a suit. Wear the clothes that you’d normally wear in a meeting.
- Headline – your headline should tell your prospect what you do in one line. It’s one of the most hardworking parts of your profile because it appears almost everywhere. Pay special attention to this.
Once you get these aspects of your profile hammered down, you’re pretty much good to go.
Find out how you can optimize your LinkedIn headline.
Follow-Up Messages to LinkedIn Connection Request Message Templates
Once your prospect accepts your request, make sure that you thank them.
Keep it short and don’t sell to them right away.
Remember your A-B-Cs.
Always Be Cool.
Once you’ve said thanks, they’re already partly in your pipeline.
Now you can directly interact with them at any given time or include them in any campaign that you want to run or currently have running.
The possibilities are endless.
The next thing you have to do now is to make sure that you post on a regular basis – at least three times a week – to get them to see the value that you bring as a connection.
This part is important.
After that you want to interact with some of their posts and engage them from time-to-time.
Make them feel that you’re just a message away in case they need any help.
This allows three things to happen.
- Your visibility increases allowing you to easily communicate with them should you add them to a campaign.
- You increase the likelihood that they’ll reach out to you.
- You increase the reach of the posts that you put out allowing you to gain more connections.
Other Tips
- Make sure you organize your campaigns using the ABM method. Group your outreach based on target ideal customer profiles so that you have a more focused and personalized approach.
This is how you create an ideal customer profile.
- Don’t send too many messages in one day. This is especially true for newly minted LinkedIn accounts. You need to warm up the account before you do anything else.
- If your request has been ignored for more than three months, make it a habit to clear it out. You don’t want that number of connection requests to stack up.
- If you feel like you won’t be able to connect with a person yet, don’t force it. There’s a scoring system, the more people reject you, the more your account gets flagged. You don’t want too many rejections.
- Make connection requests a regular habit. You want to grow your network as large as possible.
- There are tools out there that can help you with the outreach. However, you want to be careful, some of them might not follow LinkedIn’s guidelines.
- However, we still highly recommend that you write out each of these requests yourselves even if you’re using a template. It’s still the safest way of doing it and you can customize each one.
Takeaways
Building your connections is a crucial part of your LinkedIn growth hacking strategy.
The more connections you have, the more you get to connect with other people and expand your organization’s reach.
If you’re aiming to become an influencer, it’s critical that the number of your connections keeps rising steadily.
These LinkedIn connection request message templates are just a guide on how you should reach out to your prospects.
You still have to personalize them to make them your own.
So, are you ready to grow?
Why don’t you connect with me as well on LinkedIn today?
