LinkedIn connection request template
Get a connection accepted by a cold prospect with a short, relevant note that doesn't pitch.
- Multi-channel
Hi {{first_name}} — I follow your work on {{topic}} and noticed {{specific_observation}} at {{company}}. Would love to connect and trade notes with others tackling the same thing.
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Shorter variant (under 200 characters):
Hi {{first_name}}, really liked your take on {{topic}}. Working on similar problems at {{company}}'s scale — would be great to connect.Replace the {{merge_tags}}with the recipient’s details before sending. In Autocloz, these fields fill in automatically from each lead’s record.
When to use it
Use as the opening touch in a LinkedIn-led sequence. The connection note is not the place to pitch — it's the place to earn the accept.
Why it works
The structural reasons this message earns replies.
A specific reference to the prospect's work signals you're a real person, not a bulk connector.
Framing it as "trade notes" positions the connection as peer-to-peer rather than seller-to-buyer.
Staying under the character limit keeps the note readable in LinkedIn's preview, so it doesn't get truncated mid-sentence.
How to personalize it
A template only works once it sounds like it was written for one person. Do these before you send.
Reference an actual post, comment, or shared interest — generic flattery ("love your content") reads as automated.
Never pitch in the connection note; save the offer for after they accept, in a follow-up message.
Keep it under ~250 characters so the whole note shows without a "see more" cut.
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View templateFrequently asked
Should I send a note with a LinkedIn connection request?
For cold prospects, yes — a short, specific note meaningfully raises accept rates. For warm contacts who already know you, a noteless request is often fine and faster.
What's the character limit for a connection note?
LinkedIn allows up to 300 characters in a connection note, but aim for under ~250 so it reads cleanly without truncation. Brevity also signals you respect their time.
When should I follow up after they accept?
Wait a day or two, then send a value-first message — never an immediate pitch the moment they accept. See the LinkedIn InMail template for the message that follows the connection.
Send templates like this at scale — start free
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