What to Say in a LinkedIn Connection Request (Messages by Situation)

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By Frank Velasquez, YourSocialStrategy.

Last updated: October 27, 2026

BLUF: A good LinkedIn connection message is one or two short sentences. It names one real reason you are reaching out, says who you are in a line, and asks for nothing. Less wins because the reader decides in seconds, and every extra sentence gives them a reason to ignore it. Below are examples for four situations: a buyer, a peer, an investor and a hire.

Key takeaways

Keep the note to two sentences. One reason, one line about you.

The reason has to be specific to that person. If it could go to anyone, leave the note off.

Do not pitch in the request. Pitching belongs after the accept, and only if they show interest.

Each situation needs a different reason: a buyer, a peer, an investor and a hire care about different things.

Free accounts can add a personalized note to only three requests a month, up to 200 characters each. Save notes for when you have a real reason.

Track your accept rate. A weak rate points to the wrong people or a thin profile before it points to the wording.

How long should a LinkedIn connection message be?

Short enough to read in one glance. Two sentences is a good ceiling.

LinkedIn also caps the note you can attach to a request. According to LinkedIn Help, free members can add a personalized message to up to three connection requests per month, and each message can be up to 200 characters. Premium members can send unlimited personalized invitations, with notes up to 300 characters. LinkedIn has changed these limits before, so check the "Add a note" box in the app. Two short sentences fit well inside it.

Free accounts only get a few personalized notes a month. That is another reason to save them for people where you have a real reason.

The limit is not the real constraint. Attention is. A decision maker sees a pile of requests every week. The ones that get accepted are the ones that take three seconds to understand.

Should you add a note at all?

Only when you can say something specific about that person. A note is a signal that you looked. A generic one is a signal that you did not.

If you cannot write a real reason, send the request with no note. A blank request reads as neutral. A template that sounds like a template reads as spam, and that does more damage than saying nothing.

A quick test before you hit send: could you paste this exact message into ten other requests? If yes, it is not specific enough.

Why a blank request often wins at volume

When you send requests at volume, the decision to accept is made on your profile. The person looks at your headline, your photo and your role, and decides in a second or two whether you are relevant. The note rarely changes that. A bad note, one that reads like a pitch or a template, can tip the decision the wrong way.

In our outbound work the target is 100 to 150 connection requests a week. At that pace a blank request removes every way to get it wrong. There is nothing to misread and nothing that says you want something from them before they have agreed to connect. The accept comes down to your profile, so a profile that says what you do and who for does the work.

A note earns its place when you share real context. A mutual connection, the same event, or a post you both commented on gives you a legitimate reason to write. The note's job there is to name that connection, not to sell anything. At low volume with people you already have context with, a thoughtful note can help. At volume, blank is the safer default.

The two-line formula

Every example below follows the same shape:

One specific reason. A post they wrote, a topic they work on, a shared group, a mutual contact, an event you both attended.

One honest line about who you are. What you do and who you do it for, in plain words.

No ask. No link. No "I would love to pick your brain." The request is the ask.

What to say to a potential buyer

A buyer is someone who could hire you or your company. The reason should show you understand their world, and the line about you should make clear what you do without selling it.

Illustrative example:

"Saw your post on how your team handles onboarding. I help founders explain what they do on LinkedIn so buyers get it fast. Happy to connect."

What works here: the first sentence proves you read something. The second sentence tells them what you do in one line. There is no price, no call link and no question that forces a reply.

Hold the pitch for after the accept. For more on growing your connections toward buyers, see how to grow your LinkedIn connections faster.

What to say to a peer

A peer is someone who does adjacent work and may send you referrals, trade ideas or swap introductions. The reason can be shared ground, since you are not asking them to buy anything.

Illustrative example:

"Your take on client retention in agencies matched something we keep running into. I run LinkedIn content for founders. Would be good to have you in my network."

Peers respond to honesty about what you are working on. They respond badly to flattery. Skip "huge fan" and say what you actually found useful.

What to say to an investor

An investor gets a lot of cold requests from founders who want money. The note works when it shows you know what they invest in and does not ask for a meeting.

Illustrative example:

"Read your piece on early-stage B2B software. I am a founder building in a similar space and follow how you think about it. Glad to connect."

Do not attach the deck, the raise amount or the ask. The goal of this note is to be someone they recognize later. A request that opens with a funding pitch gets declined, and it can close the door for the real conversation.

What to say to a hire

Reaching out to a candidate is a different job. They are deciding whether you are worth their time, so the note should say why you are contacting them and what they would be looking at.

Illustrative example:

"Your work on content ops at a small team caught my eye. I am building out a writing role and would like to hear how you think about it. Open to connecting?"

Be clear that you are hiring. A vague note that hides the reason feels like a bait and switch, and good candidates notice.

What to say when you know them from somewhere

If you have met, worked together or share a mutual contact, lead with that and nothing else.

Illustrative example:

"We were both at the founders dinner last month. Good to meet you. Would like to stay in touch."

Name the place or the person. "We met a while back" is vague enough to be a form letter.

What to send after they accept

What you send depends on who made the first move.

If you sent the request and they accepted, send one complete message. Mention one specific, real thing about them, such as a recent post or a company update. Say directly why you are reaching out, point to one relevant result of yours, and ask for a short call, something like 20 minutes. Keep the ask low pressure. Skip the "hey, how are you" warm-up, because a string of small talk messages gives the connection time to go cold.

If they sent the request, or engaged with your content first, keep it low-key. Thank them for connecting. When they reply, ask about their company or goals, never their personal life, and do not assume a problem they have not named. Once they show real interest, suggest a call.

For the longer path from a new connection to a booked call, how founders turn LinkedIn into sales conversations picks up where this page stops.

Common mistakes in connection requests

Pitching in the note. The request is not the place for an offer. A pitch before trust reads as spam.

Writing a paragraph. Long notes get skimmed, and the specific detail gets lost in the filler.

Copying a template word for word. If the person has seen your sentence before, it works against you.

Flattery with no content. "Love your work" says nothing. Name the post or the idea.

Asking for a favor. Intros, feedback and calls come later, after some trust exists.

Skipping the profile. The note sends people to your profile. If your headline does not say what you do and who for, the best message will still get declined.

How do you know your message is working?

Look at your accept rate, not at how the message feels. If you send a batch of requests and few are accepted, check these in order:

The list. Are these people who match the buyers, peers or hires you actually want?

The profile. Does the headline say what you do and who for?

The note. Is it specific, short and free of a pitch?

Fix the earliest problem first. Changing the wording while the list is wrong rarely moves the number.

Here is a rule of thumb from how we run outbound, not an industry stat. With an optimized profile, expect roughly 30% of your requests to be accepted. Below 20% points to a profile problem. Above 40% is achievable.

FAQ

What should I say in a LinkedIn connection request?

Give one specific reason you are reaching out and one honest line about who you are. Keep it to two sentences and ask for nothing.

How many characters can a LinkedIn connection note have?

Per LinkedIn Help, free members can add a personalized message to up to three requests per month, up to 200 characters each. Premium members can send unlimited personalized invitations, with notes up to 300 characters. LinkedIn has changed these limits before, so check the "Add a note" box in the app.

Is it better to send a connection request with or without a note?

Send a note when you have a specific reason. Send no note when you do not. A blank request beats a generic template.

Should I pitch my service in the connection request?

No. Wait for the accept, thank them, and ask one easy question. Pitch only when they show interest.

What should I say to an investor on LinkedIn?

Show you know what they invest in, say you are a founder in a related space, and ask for nothing. Do not attach a deck or mention a raise.

What should I say when I connect with someone I already know?

Name where you met or who you both know, and say you want to stay in touch. A vague "we met before" reads like a form letter.

Why are my connection requests not accepted?

Start with the list and the profile before the wording. Requests to people with no link to your topic, or from a profile that does not say what you do, get declined whatever the note says.

If you want a second pair of eyes on how your requests, profile and posts work together, book a discovery call.