Tips for Personalizing LinkedIn Connection Requests

Stop paying agencies $5K/month to spam your connections with garbage templates. The highest-converting LinkedIn outreach targets people who ALREADY engaged with your content. This system books 5-10 qualified calls weekly in just 15 hours. Here's how it works: 1. People who engaged with your content are GOLD Track everyone who likes, comments, or views your profile after seeing your posts. These aren't cold leads - they raised their hand. 50-60% will accept your request. 2. Send connection requests without notes (seriously) Everyone agrees: when someone just engaged with your content, adding a note feels awkward. No note gets higher accept rates. Save notes for real connections - met at a conference, attended their webinar, etc. 3. Reference their EXACT engagement immediately "Saw your comment about ARR tracking on my post. Been there - would love to share notes." Not a template. You're acknowledging something that just happened between you. 4. Lead with value, not begging for meetings When they respond, resist asking to book a call. Instead: "We cracked this for [similar company]. Instead of [common approach], they [counterintuitive solution]. Result: [specific metric]. Happy to share the playbook." Let them ask. 5. The money is in the follow-up sequence Day 3: "Quick bump - know your calendar is insane. That [specific insight] might save you weeks." Day 6: "Documented that framework. Want me to send it?" Day 12: "Guessing this isn't priority. I'll keep sharing content." 6. Response timing matters more than you think Being online at the right moment can make all the difference. Respond within an hour when possible. Late is better than never, but catching them while they're still thinking about your content? That's when magic happens. 7. Your safety limits determine volume LinkedIn allows 100-200 connections/week based on account age. Stay under 80% of limit. Space requests throughout the day. Accept rates below 20-30% means stop and reassess. 8. Turn one engagement into multiple touchpoints Someone who comments gets: connection request, thank you message, follow-up conversation, and goes on a list for future engagement. One interaction becomes four opportunities before any sales conversation. 9. Build a repeatable daily system Morning: Send 10-20 requests. Afternoon: Message new connections (from previous days). Follow up. Flag hot leads. Total: 1-2 hours daily, max. 10. Why this beats cold outreach every time Cold outreach 100% has its place. But messaging people who already engaged with your content gets 3-5x higher response rates. They know you. They trust your expertise. They self-selected. It's the difference between interrupting and continuing a conversation. BTW: This is all MANUAL. Do not use automations - bad for your personal brand, bad for your account. NOT worth it. LinkedIn outreach is quality over quantity. Any questions about implementing this? AMA below 👇

👋🏼 I'm back with #LinkedInTips number 2 - and similar to my first tip (check out my previous post 😉 ) this one is all about breaking the barrier between computer and human connection. The job market is full of amazingly talented individuals. Some applying to as many jobs as they can, some utilizing their networks and reaching out to people on multiple platforms, and most are doing both to get their foot in the door. As a recruiter, we can receive up to 10 connections requests and messages in a given day. During internship recruitment, I can receive sometimes up to 50, depending on if I had just attended a career fair. Here's my tip on making yourself STAND OUT from those 50 requests: ✨ Add a note in your connection request or send a message ✨ Adding a note to your connection request can do multiple things: 1. At the very least, this will make your connection request take up more space than the others. This can very easily make the eyes gravitate towards your connection. 2. It can provide context to the person you are connecting with, especially if you had met them at a previous event, like a career fair! 3. It shows you have intention, and that you took the extra effort to write something. 4. When they accept, your note automatically opens as a message, giving that person the opportunity, right then, to respond and follow up! BONUS TIP: Don't only add a note asking for time to chat, provide the role you applied for, why you're interested, and add in something you may have in common! Identifying a commonality will help you 🤜🏼 break down the barrier, allowing that person to connect with you emotionally. People are more likely to help someone they feel a connection to 💖 Here's a quick example: "Hi! I see you are also an alum from the UO, go ducks! I’m interested in your company, and applied for this open position. I’m passionate about what you’re doing, and believe my skills in these areas would be valuable to your goals. I would love to connect with you further. Best - Claire" Of course you'll want to specify the company and other details, but all of this fits within the 300 character limit with room to add more! It comes down to intentionally connecting, and that will help you stand out. Happy connecting! #NetworkingTips #UniversityRecruiting

"You showed up in my LinkedIn feed as someone that I should connect with..." I've lost count of how many times I received this exact message 🙄 Here's the deal - that script doesn't work. There's a better way: If LinkedIn recommends that you connect with someone, it's because you have something in common with them. << That's the key. We can work with that. 1️⃣ Go to that person's profile. 2️⃣ Find out what it is that you have in common. 3️⃣ Write a *personalized* connection request that refers to the commonality AND ends with a question. (Pro Tip: Ending with a question is a foolproof way to get a conversation going.) Here are 2 examples: "Hey [First Name]! I see we both attended [college/university name]. That was such an awesome 4 years. I graduated in [year]. How about you?" "Hi [First Name]. I see we both know [name of mutual connection]. I met [first name of mutual connection] at a SHRM conference back in 2007, and we immediately hit it off. He's the best! How do you know him?" Your response rate to these personalized messages will be *significantly* greater than a generic, overused script. And it only takes a few minutes of your time to get a much higher return. 🙌 You've got this 👊 P.S. Keep in mind that networking takes practice. The more you do it, the easier and more natural it becomes. So keep at it! #fulfillment #career #careeradvice #careercoaching #networking #linkedintips #jobsearchtips

I get 400+ connection requests every week. 99% make the same mistakes. Only 1% get it right. Here’s how you can be that 1%. Before I preach: I’ve also made all these mistakes. I’m no exception. But, by now I’ve learned from it. I hope this post helps you avoid them. ❌ SENDING REQUESTS WITHOUT A NOTE. 99% of connection requests I get have no note. By adding no note, you’re asking the other person to spend at least 30 seconds looking at your profile title, understanding what you do, & decoding whether that’s relevant. Sure, they can do it for 10 people. But not 100+. You’re wasting an opportunity EVERY time you send a request without a note. ✅ SEND A NOTE, EVEN IF IT'S 2 SENTENCES. Forget writing detailed & specific notes. Just write 2 sentences. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. Now, I’d love to follow along your journey and hopefully contribute in a meaningful way.” That’s it. BOOM. You just 5x-ed your acceptance rate. ❌ ASKING FOR A "20-MIN CALL" No, most people don’t have time for a “20-min call.” I don’t have time for a “20-min call.” Because you haven’t convinced me what’s in it for me. Instead, here’s an idea: ✅ ASK, "HOW CAN I HELP?" That’s it. So simple. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. I also see you publish regularly. I’d love to follow along your journey. Also, if I can help in anyway, just let me know.” I will 1000% accept a request with such a note. Most people would. Build a relationship before asking for more. ❌ SENDING AN ESSAY FOR A REQUEST By sending long essay messages, you’ve made 3 mistakes: - You wasted your time - The other person probably didn’t read it - Your request got lost in the abyss ✅ SENDING A SHORT, SPECIFIC REQUEST WITH A COMPELLING WHY Make it easy for the other person to help you. Keep your message short, specific, and give them a REASON to help you. “Hi Pooja! I’ve read most of your posts on LinkedIn. There’s so much value in them. Thank you. I aspire to publish my book next year. Can you point me to any resources/tools that was helpful for you? If you already have it written down somewhere, let me know. P.S. I can help you compile a post on this if you’d like!” Now, you’ve given me 3 reasons to help you: - You’ve done your homework in reading my posts - You have a clear goal in mind - You already offered value in your “P.S.” I get it. All this is extra work. It takes time. But, these few minutes will make or break your chance to find your co-founder, next job, or even a best friend. If this helped you, please re-share the post and help your network! 👉 And, follow me if you'd like more of this. I publish a resource every day. P.S. Wanna send me a connection request? Now you know how to do it 😉 #writing #freeresources #unshackled #advice #linkedin

LinkedIn has been a great channel but still so many people leaning into it in the wrong way. You are moving way to fast. Why are you writing an entire paragraph in your connection request? I decline all of those because I know it’s going to be the same story as the lead gen services and financial services people spamming me. Extremely short connection note or nothing at all works the best IMO. “Just applied for your open SDR role and wanted to connect here” Now when they accept your connection request you are going to need to slow down again. Do not pitch. I repeat do not pitch. A slow approach of building some rapport has worked best for me, my team, and people prospecting me. I like to start with a question or some personalization I found on their LinkedIn profile. One of my favorites I have gotten recently. “Parker thanks for the connection. Really love the last piece on your bio around trust with you not being earned but given on Day 1 Did someone teach you that or is that something you came up with?” Nothing to do with their product, different than all of the other messages I get, did some basic research, 10/10 got a response. But also the goal is not always to get a meeting. You can reach out to people learn about what’s top of mind today, product they are using, intros to the right people, etc. Stephanie Martin does such a good job on this a prospect told her not only who to reach out to but a song to bring up in the voicemail that would guarantee a call back. And that if she couldn’t get ahold of them, they would call for us. But your not going to mass blast your way to success on LinkedIn.

#GetHiredNetworking Job seekers who are gearing up for a change can't expect the "Apply and Pray" strategy to land them a new job in 2024. After applying to a role, I recommend job seekers do a quick LinkedIn search to find someone at that company who is an internal Recruiter, in Talent Acquisition/Human Resources, a Hiring Manager, or even someone with the same title. Send them a connection request and include a note that says something like: "Hi {First Name}, I applied to the {Job Title} role posted to LinkedIn. I'd love the opportunity to chat with you more about the role and how my skills could add value to your team at {Company Name}." Make the note personal by using their name and mentioning the role's title and company's name. The above template is just an example and you should put your own spin on it. The extra effort goes a long way, even if you don't see immediate transactional results. When I was an internal Recruiter with hundreds of applicants to go through, the candidates who took the extra effort to connect with me on LinkedIn with a personalized message always stood out and I made a point to give their resume and application a thorough review.

I spent 6 months studying how to network on LinkedIn Here’s what I learned in < 60s (without the "love to be in your network" templates) I went from: Clicking 'connect' → sending hyper-personalized requests Being scared of networking calls → now hopping on 3-4 monthly (still scared :P) Being clueless on seeking opportunities → now a weekly 'shoot your shot' hour To build an effective network, I focused on 4 things: 1. Profile stalking 2. Connection Requests 3. Networking calls 4. ‘Shoot your shot’ hours. 1. Profile stalking ↳ Study the profile like an exam sheet ↳ Identify commonalities such as ethnicity, hobbies, and career shifts ↳ If they actively post, find the 'secret sauce'—personal details, jokes ↳ Enagage with their posts. Use the 'secret sauce' to add value P.S - I reached out to someone with over 50K followers via email. When I sent my LinkedIn profile, he remembered me because I was consistently engaging on his posts. Not bad, huh? 2. Connection Requests ↳ Use templates for cold piches, doubts, meetings, etc. Do not abuse it ↳ Start with how you came across their profile ↳ Go onto to tell them what you liked about their profile. Be brutually honest ↳ Get to the point. What action do you want them to take? 3. Networking calls ↳ Get used to asking for a call in the DMs + Take adv of the free calls provided ↳ The more you explain your ‘what’, ‘why’, and ’how’, the more you understand it as well ↳ If those you seek something from charge for calls, consider taking it up. Knowledge is money ↳ Always research your questions thoroughly + follow-up with a thank you note 4. ‘Shoot Your Shot' Hour ↳ For one hour, ask for opportunities you might/might not have a chance at ↳ Do steps 1, 2, 3, and then aim high. Can you work with them, get a referral, get help? ↳ Be unhinged. Be shameless. Don't care about rejection. ↳ I've sent so many requests (so many!) and got 4 'yes's. Not much, but better than 0. P.S - Generic templates. Big no, yes? #linkedin #networking #learning #career

The other day, I made a lighthearted note on what not to do during networking with others. Many of you asked, "So, Amir, how am I supposed to approach things?" Here is that response. Here are my 13 steps to Approach Games Networking Effectively on LinkedIn: 1. Personalize Your Message and Build A Genuine Connection: Start with a warm, respectful greeting and, using feel and judgment without being over-the-top, show genuine interest in the person's professional work and achievements, referencing their LinkedIn profile. 2. Be Specific in Your Request: Clearly explain why you're reaching out and how they can assist you, being direct but polite. 3. Offer Value: Consider what you can offer in return, like expertise, insights, or connections. Networking should be a two-way street. Again not in not every situation but as appropriate with judgment, think of how you can help them. 4. Respect Their Time and Boundaries: Keep your message concise and professional. Be understanding if they are unable to respond immediately. 5. Consider Seniority: If you write the head of a studio, it might be hard to get a response. Give a thought to more junior folks who might also be able to help with what you need and might have the bandwidth to offer even more help with a common frame of perspective. 6. Avoid Overstepping Personal Boundaries: Keep the conversation focused on professional topics and avoid oversharing your private life or concerns or asking for personal favors. 7. Tailor Your Job Inquiries: If inquiring about jobs, express interest in specific roles you found that align with your skills and why you're a good fit. Don't just ask for a job or for them to "hold onto your CV." This won't go anywhere and isn't realistic given reach-out volume. 8. Write And Follow-Up Politely: If you don't receive a response, a polite follow-up is acceptable after 1-2 weeks. Respect if someone decides not to engage. Ensure all your communication is work-appropriate and polite. 9. Respect Privacy and Avoid Creepiness: Refrain from mentioning information that suggests extensive personal or non-professional research. 10. Adopt a Patient Approach to Networking: Understand that networking is about building relationships over time, not getting immediate results. Avoid treating your initial message as a sales pitch or creating a sense of urgency. Focus on gradually developing a connection, showing interest in their work and offering value, rather than expecting immediate favors or responses. 11. Proofreading: Make sure your spelling and grammar are perfect. If you need help (ONLY FOR EDITING), run it through ChatGPT and say "edit this for spelling and grammar," and then add your write-up. 12. The "Dream Job" Trap: Write people at a wide range of organizations, especially smaller ones. Everybody writes Nintendo and Blizzard - it's time to branch out. 13. No Spray And Pray: Don't blanket write everybody at an org. They will all know what you are doing and it will backfire.

Please STOP making generic LinkedIn connection requests. I see too many Account Executives and Sales Reps reaching out on LinkedIn with one-size-fits-all messages. Yet, they're missing out on building impactful relationships. If you want to stand out and create meaningful connections, do this instead: Tailor your requests to each individual Highlight a specific detail that resonates with their work Clearly communicate the mutual benefit of connecting This approach can drastically lower your risk of professional isolation and the immediate loss of opportunities. For example: Mention a recent success or project they’ve worked on Align your message with their sales strategies Provide value by sharing industry insights or resources This method ensures you're not just another name in their inbox, but a noteworthy and memorable connection. It's crucial for quickly establishing and nurturing relationships, thus avoiding the pitfall of rapid relationship decay. Commit to personalizing every connection request for the next 60 days and observe the transformation in your network.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐬? You might be making these common mistakes 😐😐😐 : 𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 - Avoid starting with "Hi" or "Hello" without using the recipient's name. Personalize your message to show genuine interest. 𝑰𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒌s - Skip generic questions like "How are you?" or "How's your day?" Leaders are busy and appreciate directness. 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓-𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 - Excessive flattery can seem insincere. Compliment their work briefly, then move on to your main point. 𝑳𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕 -  Get to the point quickly. State your purpose early in the message to keep their attention. 𝑽𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔 - Avoid small, unclear questions. Be specific about what you need or propose a clear next step. -------------------------------------------------------- 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 😊😊😊 : 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 - Use their name and reference specific work or achievements. 𝑩𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 - Clearly state your purpose in the first two sentences. 𝑨𝒅𝒅 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 -  Explain how your message or request can benefit them or their organization. 𝑩𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 -  Respect their time with concise, well-structured messages. 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞!