Guide from the Free Sales Email Grader
LinkedIn Connection Request Message Examples
A good LinkedIn connection note is short, says how you found the person or what you share, and gives a reason for now. A blank request is also a fair choice. Every example below is invented to show a pattern, and none comes with a promised acceptance rate.
A blank request is fine
Belkins studied LinkedIn outreach and found that requests with no note were accepted slightly more often, while requests with a personal note got more replies afterward. So a blank request is not a mistake. A note is worth adding when you want a conversation, not just a connection.
That study comes from a vendor's own data and a platform's users, not a controlled experiment, so treat it as a direction.
Based on: Belkins, 2026
What a good note says
LinkedIn's own help page suggests saying how you found the person or what you have in common, and why you want to connect now, in a clear and polite way. That is the whole job of the note. Anything more can wait until they accept.
Based on: LinkedIn, 2026
Fit the character limit
LinkedIn cuts off a connection note at a set number of characters. When we read its help page in September 2026, the limit was 200 characters. That is a platform fact, not a study, and limits change, so check LinkedIn's help page if a note will not send.
Based on: LinkedIn, 2026
Write it for one person
In LinkedIn's own data, short messages written for one person got more responses than long ones or ones sent in bulk. That data comes from recruiters writing to candidates, not sellers writing to buyers, so it is a direction for sales notes rather than a sales result.
Based on: LinkedIn, 2022
Four weak and better pairs
Every example here is invented. The names and companies are made up.
A template line versus how you found them
Weak: I came across your profile and would like to add you to my network.
Better: Hi Priya, I enjoyed your post on re-keying shipments this week. Would you be open to connecting?
The weak note could go to anyone. The better one says how you found her and why now, which is what LinkedIn suggests.
Based on: LinkedIn, 2026
A pitch versus a reason to connect
Weak: Our platform helps logistics teams streamline operations. Can we book a demo?
Better: Hi Priya, we were both on the dispatch panel in Denver. I'd like to keep in touch.
A connection note is not the place for a pitch. LinkedIn's advice is to open with something specific and save the rest for later.
Based on: LinkedIn, 2025LinkedIn, 2026
A leftover template field versus a real name
Weak: Hi {{first_name}}, I help companies like yours grow.
Better: Hi Priya, congrats on the new role at Northline.
A leftover field shows the note went out in bulk. Messages written for one person did better in LinkedIn's recruiter data.
Based on: LinkedIn, 2022
A pile of questions versus one easy ask
Weak: Are you the right person? What tools do you use? Who else should I talk to?
Better: Hi Priya, I work with a few dispatch teams on late ETAs. Happy to connect if useful.
Several questions make replying harder. LinkedIn's writing advice is one clear ask, or none at all in a short note.
Based on: LinkedIn, 2025
A quick check before you send
These habits catch most problems before the note goes out. This is a writing practice, not a study result.
- Read it as the other person. Would you know why they reached out?
- Cut anything about your product.
- Make sure no template field is left over.
- Check the character count against LinkedIn's limit.
Writing practice, not a study result.
Check your LinkedIn note
Paste your note into the LinkedIn Message Checker, one of the free tools on this site. It checks the character limit, whether you say how you found them and why now, and whether it reads like it was written for one person. Find it under More free sales tools on the home page. It is free, and nothing you type is stored.
Try the LinkedIn Message CheckerSources
- Belkins. LinkedIn B2B outreach statistics: Belkins' 2026 study (2026). Read the source
- LinkedIn. Personalize invitations to connect (2026). Read the source
- LinkedIn. How to Improve Your InMail Response Rate, According to LinkedIn Data (2022). Read the source
- LinkedIn. 6 InMail Templates that Can Help You Break Through (2025). Read the source
Advice marked as writing practice is common sense for clear email, not a study result. See where all of our guidance comes from. No statistic on this page is invented.