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Best ways to invite someone to connect on LinkedIn

maximize LinkedIn, inviting people to connect on LinkedIn, LinkedIn invitation to connect, LinkedIn,
Change your invitation text to improve
your chances of the person accepting
your invitation to connect.
Because I am open to connect with job seekers (and anybody else who invites me on LinkedIn), I receive all types of invitations to connect.

About 90 percent of the invitations I receive just include the default invitation message, “I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

But did you know you can easily replace the default message to reflect your personality and convey why you want to connect? Here's how:




LinkedIn invitation to connect, inviting someone to connect on LinkedIn, growing your LinkedIn network, default LinkedIn invitation message,
Default LinkedIn invitation message

Default invitation message
Although LinkedIn recommends that you only send invitations to people you know well, many more people who you don’t know are open to connect with you if you explain who you are and why you want to connect.

Changing your message to be more personal, interesting and informative can greatly improve the response rate to your invitations and start to build a relationship with your new connections.

Instead of using the default invitation message, customize your message like I have done below by highlighting the default text, deleting it and replacing it with your own message.


LinkedIn invitation to connect, inviting someone to connect on LinkedIn, changing LinkedIn default invitation message,
Example of customized invitation

Customized invitation message
Modify your message to show recipients why you want to connect with them. Examples:
  • "I read your blog regularly and love your advice.” (Believe me; bloggers never tire of such messages!)
  • “You may recall that I met you at the networking event. I was the person who was very impressed with your business card.”
  • “I see you also worked at XYZ Corp. I’d like to invite you to connect.”
  • “I see that you are also an alum of the University of Missouri. Go Tigers!” Similarly, you could send messages to your particular school … “I see you were a 1995 Business School grad, too. I bet we had Econ 101 together. I‘d like to invite you to connect.” You could also invite people from your fraternity or sorority even from a different college saying something like, “I see you are a Kappa Kappa Gamma from ABC University. I was one at the University of XYZ.”
  • “I’ve enjoyed reading your comments on the [GROUP NAME] discussion board. I think we share a lot of the same perspectives.”
  • “I know we have not yet met, but my friend Joe Blow talks so highly of you, I wanted to invite you to connect to introduce myself.”
  • “I heard you speak at an event and was so inspired by your message.”
  • “I’ve seen you in the XYZ Co. Cafeteria, but have not yet had the opportunity to introduce myself.”
As you can see from the examples above, these type of invitations are so much more engaging than the standard LinkedIn default message.


Connection considerations


invite LinkedIn open networkers to connect, open networkers, LION, LinkedIn open networker,
Open networks are open to all invitations
  • People (like my friend Robert Shindell, shown above) who include the word “LION” or their number of connections after their name are called LinkedIn Open Networkers. Open networkers will accept all invitations … so by all means go ahead and invite them to connect, but for best results, still modify your message to let them know why you want to connect with them.
  •  Did you know that you can send InMessages to anyone in the same LinkedIn group? That means if you belong to a LinkedIn group with 20,000 people, you can send a well crafted connection invitation to anyone (or everyone) in the group to greatly expand your network.
  • Recruiters or hiring managers may be resistant to accepting connections from job seekers … they fear you will use the connection to pester them about job openings. Rather than asking them to connect, invite people to connect who can influence the hiring decision on your behalf at your target companies.
  • Accept invitations! In all the time I’ve been on LinkedIn, I have accepted invitations from all who have asked and have never had a problem with spam or inappropriate contact. So don’t resist connection requests; each connection expands your network which, in turn, can help you learn about and then connect with the right people within target companies.
  • Not everyone will accept your invitation, often because they don't really use LinkedIn. Don't get discouraged; just keep on inviting others to connect.
  • If you do decide not to connect with someone, click the “Ignore” button.
  • Invite me to connect … and practice customizing your invitation while you are at it! I will accept and then you can feel free to ask my questions or let me know how I can help you. -- Kathy
Just do it!
Customize your connection invitations starting now to reflect your personality and purpose. Doing so can help you land a job or get a better one!

 
Find related "how to's" on the Topic tab, including tips on how to ...
  • Add your LinkedIn profile to your e-mail signature
  • Improve LinkedIn profile and presence
  • Improve your online presence
  • LinkedIn groups
  • LinkedIn introductions
  • LinkedIn recommendations
  • LinkedIn recommendation list
  • Research hiring companies using LinkedIn
  • Send a mass LinkedIn InMessage to select people
  • Use LinkedIn to learn about hiring companies
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4 comments :

  1. Also reach out to people you don't completely know, they might be helpful too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Also reach out to people you don't completely know, they might be helpful too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi !

    Can you also suggest how a student may connect with his/her professor on LinkedIn ?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous asked the best way for a student to connect with his/her professors on LinkedIn ... When inviting professors, use the classmate invitation option to let the professors know you attended the school where they teach. Customize your invitation message to say something like, "I took your XYZ class last fall at SCHOOL NAME and really enjoyed learning from you. I learned so much! I would like to invite you to connect. I am currently seeking ABC types of positions in CITY. If you have any suggestions to help, please let me know."

    Most professors and teachers are glad to connect with their past students and are willing to help in your job search if asked.

    ReplyDelete

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