LinkedIn Connection Request Template

Copy. Paste. Customize. Send. Book meetings.

Best for:Warm prospecting

Reply rate:35%

Length:45 words

The Template

Subject:

N/A (Connection Request)

Hi {{first_name}}, I came across your work at {{company}} and was impressed by {{specific_observation}}. I'm working with {{industry}} leaders on {{value_area}} and thought there might be some interesting overlap. Would love to connect and exchange ideas. {{your_name}}

Variables to Customize

{{first_name}}

Prospect's first name - LinkedIn is personal, so first names are essential

{{company}}

Their current company - shows you did your homework

{{specific_observation}}

Something specific you noticed (recent post, company news, job change, publication, podcast appearance) - this is the key differentiator

{{industry}}

Their industry or vertical (e.g., 'SaaS', 'fintech', 'healthcare tech')

{{value_area}}

The problem space you solve (e.g., 'pipeline acceleration', 'revenue operations', 'customer acquisition')

{{your_name}}

Your first name - keep it personal

When to Use This

Perfect For

• Warming up cold prospects before email outreach
• Building a network in your target vertical
• Connecting with decision-makers at target accounts
• Following up after meeting someone at a conference or event
• Engaging with prospects who've viewed your profile
• Multi-channel outreach strategies (LinkedIn + email)
• Reaching prospects with low email deliverability
• Account-based marketing campaigns

Not Ideal For

• Mass connection requests with no personalization
• Prospects who have 'open to connect' turned off
• Immediate sales pitches (save that for the follow-up message)
• Very senior executives who are over-networked (may need InMail or warm intro)
• Prospects in industries with low LinkedIn adoption
• When you have no genuine reason to connect

Variations

Variation A: The Content Engager

{{first_name}}, Really enjoyed your recent post about {{post_topic}}. Your point about {{specific_insight}} especially resonated. I work in {{related_area}} and am always looking to learn from practitioners who think differently. Would be great to connect. {{your_name}}

Variation B: The Mutual Connection Reference

Hi {{first_name}}, I see we're both connected with {{mutual_connection}}. Small world! I noticed you're leading {{initiative_or_role}} at {{company}} - I've been working with similar teams on {{value_area}}. Would love to be connected. {{your_name}}

Variation C: The Event or Conference Connection

Hey {{first_name}}, I noticed you attended {{event_name}} / spoke at {{event_name}} - I was there too and really valued the sessions on {{topic}}. I'm focused on {{value_area}} for {{industry}} companies and thought it would be worth connecting. Looking forward to staying in touch. {{your_name}}

Variation D: The Job Change Congratulations

{{first_name}}, Congrats on the new role at {{company}}! Exciting move. I've been working with {{industry}} leaders navigating similar transitions, specifically around {{challenge_related_to_new_role}}. Would love to connect and follow your journey. {{your_name}}

Variation E: The Industry Peer

Hi {{first_name}}, We're both in the {{industry}} space and it looks like we're solving similar problems from different angles. I'm at {{your_company}} focused on {{your_focus_area}}. Always great to connect with others in the trenches. Let's connect? {{your_name}}

Variation F: The Profile Viewer Follow-Up

{{first_name}}, I noticed you checked out my profile - thanks for stopping by! I've been doing some research on {{company}} and {{industry}} more broadly. Looks like there might be some interesting alignment. Happy to connect and chat if timing ever makes sense. {{your_name}}

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Keep it under 300 characters when possible. LinkedIn shows a preview of your message - if it's too long, the most compelling part gets cut off. Front-load your personalization

Tip 2: Never pitch in the connection request. The goal is to get accepted, not to close a deal. Save the pitch for the follow-up message 2-3 days after they accept

Tip 3: Reference something specific and recent. A post from last week, a job change, company news, or a mutual connection. Generic 'I'd like to add you to my network' messages get ignored

Tip 4: Engage with their content before connecting. Like and comment on 2-3 of their posts over a week before sending the request. When they see your name, it's already familiar

Tip 5: Time your requests strategically. Tuesday through Thursday mornings tend to have higher acceptance rates. Avoid weekends and Monday mornings when LinkedIn activity is lowest

Tip 6: Follow up within 48 hours of acceptance. Strike while the iron is hot. A quick 'Thanks for connecting, {{first_name}}' message keeps you top of mind and opens the door for a real conversation

A/B Testing Suggestions

Test personalized connection messages vs. no message at all - surprisingly, blank requests sometimes perform well for senior prospects who get too many sales messages

A/B test mentioning mutual connections vs. not mentioning them - mutual connections typically boost acceptance rates by 20-30%

Compare content-engagement hooks ('loved your post about X') vs. company-focused hooks ('impressed by what {{company}} is doing with Y')

Test shorter messages (under 200 characters) vs. longer messages (250-300 characters) to find the sweet spot

Try question-based requests ('Would love to connect and hear your thoughts on X') vs. statement-based ('Thought there might be interesting overlap')

Experiment with time-of-day sending: morning (7-9am) vs. lunch (12-1pm) vs. evening (5-7pm)

Explore More

Sales Articles

LinkedIn prospecting strategies and social selling guides

Sales Glossary

LinkedIn-specific terms like SSI, InMail, and connection limits

Playbooks

Complete LinkedIn outreach playbooks and multi-channel sequences

Benchmarks

LinkedIn acceptance rates and response benchmarks by industry

Lead Sources

How to build targeted prospect lists using LinkedIn

Tool Comparisons

LinkedIn automation tools and Sales Navigator alternatives

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