7 tips to writing the perfect LinkedIn connection message

Sometimes It can be challenging to send LinkedIn messages to people that we are trying to connect with. Maybe you just got back from a business trip or a career fair and have a bunch of business cards from people you promised to connect with. Perhaps you found someone on LinkedIn interesting and want to connect with them despite not knowing what to say. Either way, you are left with a blank message box and don't know even how to start. If you don't want to appear desperate, how can you get their attention?

Here are a few tips for you to write the perfect Linkedin connection message:

1. Tell them how much you enjoyed meeting them at the event you attended

You could have a small introduction about who you are, and express the gratitude of meeting them at the event. People really appreciate small details especially if it comes as a genuine comment. 2. Make connections with people who are really a good fit for you If you didn't meet them at an event, you could find people that you share common interests with, such as your education background, previous companies that you both worked with in the past or any other common past experiences. Start the conversation by pointing out the common ground you have with them so they feel more inclined to connect with you not just on Linkedin but for a real personal connection as well.

3. Tell me who you are and what do you want? Are you a journalist? an intern? a student? Why are you interested in the industry? For what reasons are you trying to reach out? Are you looking for an interview, advice, mentorship, or maybe just having a coffee and chat? All of them are valid options for you to try to reach out. Don't be afraid of asking what would you like to achieve by connecting with them. As long as it is not an automated sales pitch, people will most likely respond positively to your intentions.

4. Be aware of how you come across If you’re not sure what tone to use, keep it simple and professional. This is especially important while reaching out professionals that have several years in an industry, or have a greater educational degree than yours. However, if you’re messaging someone closer in age to yours, similar degrees or seniority level, or even if you saw them using a colloquial language in previous posts, it is acceptable to chat in a more casual way.

5. Be nice and friendly Although this may seem obvious, some people neglect this simple but important advice. Friendly and respectful people tent to make a much better impression than arrogant and disrespectful ones. So try to maintain the conversation in a positive and friendly level and keep in mind that you are the one that wanted to start the conversation in the first place.

6. If you didn't get any reply try a quick follow-up A lot of people receive several messages and connection requests so don't lose your hope if they don't reply. If you see they've been active on LinkedIn for the last few days and you still didn't receive any response, you could send them a quick follow-up message to bump up your name in their chat box. It might increase the chances of your message being seen and getting a reply.

7. Be clear and proofread

Message as simply as possible, without over writing and making your future connection to scratch their head and try to figure out what you mean. A good tip to make sure your message is clear is proofreading. Proofread your message before you send it to check if everything makes sense or if you can improve your message. Once you finished drafting and proofreading your message hit the send button. If they don’t respond, that’s fine, anyways most people are usually very busy, and sometimes replying messages of unknown people won’t always be their first priority. However, it is worth the time and effort since you'll find that a lot of people are willing to connect and share their thoughts and experiences with others.

Looking forward to connecting with you!

Thanks for reading and good luck!