Networking. There’s no doubt it’s important. You definitely don’t want to start off on the wrong foot. Follow the tips below to achieve the most success when connecting with fellow professionals on LinkedIn.
1) Don’t you dare hit that “connect” button without sending a personalized message
If I get a connection from someone I don’t know on any social media platform without a message, you better believe it’s getting denied. Be professional, especially on LinkedIn.
2) Greet them by name
It’s professional and polite.
3) Introduce yourself
What do you do for a living? Is it relevant to the conversation?
DID YOU KNOW in July 2018 LinkedIn updated messaging options to be able to share attachments, start group messages, mention (tag) users in the message and more. (source)
4) Tell them why you want to connect with them
State their job title/company in the description to show it’s more than a stock message.
Are you connecting because you’re looking for a new job? Are you just building your network for the future?
Why are you reaching out to them? Let them know.
5) Provide value
Don’t ask for something without offering anything in return. It doesn’t have to be specific. Just let them know that you’ll do your best to help them if they reach out to you in the future.
A sample message might look like this: Hi Adam, I see you’re the Director of Public Relations at ABC Company. I’m the Public Relations Manager at XYZ Company. I’m always happy to connect with professionals in the communications industry. Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance. -Heather
*Remember that your initial connection message is limited to 300 characters.