Key takeaways
- The note explains why you are connecting, not what you sell.
- One true shared detail beats a paragraph of compliments.
- Keep it within the note limit, with the reason in the first line.
- Save any business question for after they accept.
What should a LinkedIn connection request message include
It should include their name, the shared reason for connecting and nothing more. People decide on an invitation in a second, so the note has to make sense at a glance.
A plain note that names the shared context reads as genuine. A note that opens with 'I help companies like yours' reads as the first step of a sales sequence, and many people decline those on sight.
Three connection note templates
The three notes below cover the commonest reasons to connect. The shared-context version is in the template block; the post and event versions are here.
- After a post you read: 'Hi [first name], your post on [topic] made me rethink [one specific point]. Would be good to follow your writing more closely.'
- After an event: 'Hi [first name], good to meet at [event] and hear your take on [what you talked about]. Would be glad to stay in touch.'
How to write a connection request after an event
Send it within a day or two, while they still remember the conversation, and name what you talked about. 'Great to meet you' alone could be from anyone in the room.
If you only heard them speak and did not meet, say so honestly: 'I was in the audience for your talk on [topic]' is better than implying a conversation that did not happen.
What to leave out of a LinkedIn invite message for sales
Leave out the pitch, links, a meeting request and any claim that you have a mutual goal you cannot name. These belong, if anywhere, in a later message after they accept.
- 'I would love to add you to my network' says nothing about why.
- 'Quick question about your sales process' in an invitation is a pitch in disguise.
- Flattery about their 'impressive profile' sounds automated.
How to write a connection request note, step by step
Look at their profile and recent activity first.
- Find one real reason to connect: shared context, a post you read or an event you met at.
- Write the note in one or two sentences with that reason first.
- Check it fits the note limit and contains no pitch or link.
- Send the invitation from your own account.
The shared-context connection note
Use it when you share something real, such as an industry group, a former employer or a customer in common. Change the shared detail first.
Hi [first name], we both [the shared context, such as a former employer or a group you both post in].
I have enjoyed your comments on [topic] and would be glad to connect.
Leave the note blank rather than send a generic one; a blank invitation at least makes no false claim.
Where Pebbles Ai fits
- CapabilityOutreach contentAn assistant drafts LinkedIn notes and messages for you to send yourself; Pebbles Ai does not send on LinkedIn for you.
- CapabilitySocialboxIn Socialbox you can invite someone on LinkedIn with an optional note and see the requests you have sent and received, beside your LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram chats. You write every message yourself.
Common questions
Should I always add a note to a connection request?
Add one when you have a real reason to give. A note with a specific reason is usually better than none, and none is better than a generic one.
Can I mention my product in a connection note?
It is better not to. A product mention turns the invitation into a pitch, and the person cannot reply to it until they accept.
What if they do not accept the invitation?
Leave it. Withdrawing and resending, or messaging them elsewhere about it, reads as pressure.
About this page. Written by the Pebbles Ai team for people who run sales, marketing and growth. Last updated .
