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LinkedIn Connection Request Masterclass
5 tips to 3x your acceptance rate
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Read time: 3 minutes
Welcome To The Clever Letter!
Every Saturday, we’ll share an actionable lead generation guide that’ll help get your first (or next) 100 customers so you can take your business to the next level. This newsletter will remain Free forever. We hope you enjoy!
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Everyone's inbox is flooded with generic messages like "Let's connect, we have mutual connections!"
Here's how to stand out and get REAL results:
(You can read text but if you’d prefer to watch a video click here)
1️⃣ Keep it short and casual
Fit your message on one line (about 70 characters).
Write like you're talking to a friend.
Let's break this down:
Short: LinkedIn cuts off connection requests after about 70 characters.
That's roughly 8-10 words. Make them count!
Casual: Imagine you're texting a friend. Use contractions, skip formal greetings, and get straight to the point.
Example:
❌ "Dear Mr. Smith, I hope this message finds you well. I would like to connect with you."
✅ "Hey John! Your recent post on AI in healthcare caught my eye. Let's chat?"
The second example is friendly, direct, and shows you've done your homework.
2️⃣ Use a pattern break
Start with something unexpected instead of "Hi [Name]".
Most connection requests begin with a generic greeting. Stand out by leading with something different:
"Impressed by..."
"Loved your thoughts on..."
"Fellow [industry] professional here..."
These openers grab attention and show you're not just another bot sending mass requests.
3️⃣ Include a relevant personalizer
Show you've done your homework. Mention something specific about their experience or location.
This is where many people fall short. They either don't personalize at all or use vague statements like "I see we're in the same industry."
Instead, dig deeper:
Reference a recent post they made
Mention a specific project they worked on
Comment on a mutual connection you genuinely have
Example:
"Your work on the XYZ project at ABC Corp caught my eye. Innovative stuff!"
4️⃣ Target a specific audience
Tailor your message to one type of prospect at a time. This allows for hyper-personalization at scale.
Instead of trying to connect with everyone, focus on a specific niche:
People with a certain job title
Professionals in a specific industry
Individuals in your local area
This allows you to craft messages that resonate deeply with that group.
Example for targeting local real estate agents:
"Fellow Denver realtor here! Your recent sale in Cherry Creek was impressive."
5️⃣ Hint at value
Briefly mention how you help people like them, but don't pitch directly.
The goal is to pique interest, not sell in your first message. Hint at the value you provide without being pushy.
Example:
"I help healthcare leaders streamline patient onboarding. Your recent post on efficiency caught my eye."
This suggests you have relevant expertise without directly pitching your services.
Here's a real example that got a 51% acceptance rate:
"Impressed by your clinical experience! I work with healthcare leaders to [brief value proposition]."
Let's break down why this works:
Pattern break: Starts with "Impressed by" instead of "Hi"
Personalized: References their specific clinical experience
Targeted: Clearly aimed at healthcare professionals
Value hint: Mentions working with similar leaders without a hard pitch
I've used this framework to help 1,500+ B2B business owners scale their leads and sales.
With 1,000+ 5-star reviews, I guarantee it works.
Want to see these principles in action? Here are two more high-performing examples:
"Selected you from top national project management execs for our exclusive PM mastermind."
Acceptance rate: 38.8%
"Saw you went to school in Philly. Just looking to connect with local pros!"
Acceptance rate: 48%
Notice how each follows the principles we discussed while tailoring the message to a specific audience.
See you next week,
Nick
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