"I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn."
Hmmmm. LinkedIn connection requests don’t get more *yawn* than this.
Generic LinkedIn requests get ignored. You’ll see much better results of acceptance by taking a few minutes to personalize the message. Make your first contact targeted, personal, and relevant!
Tips on crafting the perfect cold outreach Linkedin connection request
How did you find them?
Did they write an article, share interesting content, present a workshop, or do you have a peer in common? Let them know.
Establish common ground
Share something you have in common - perhaps a point in the article they wrote or a professional interest. This adds authenticity.
Why are you connecting?
Just ‘to connect’ doesn’t cut it. Be specific - do you want to ask professional advice, learn more about their work, or know about a product?
Get straight to the point
You’ve got a few seconds to grab their interest. A LinkedIn connection request should be more ‘instant messenger’ than email style. Stick to a few concise sentences with the points above and a closing phrase (eg: I’d love to keep in touch) and your name.
A few minutes of extra effort will pay off for your LinkedIn connection requests. You’ll see! Below are a few templates you can use.
Continue reading...