How To Connect On LinkedIn (100% Of The Time)

Let's say that you've found someone you'd like to connect with on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn will jump you through a hoop and ask you how you know this person.

This is exactly what you should do if you want your connection request to be 100% successful:

Choose the 'Friend' option - because this is the least problematic of all 6 choices(*). 'Other' will always prompt you for an email address. 'I don't know Lee' isn't actually a choice, it's a lesson, click it and you'll see what I mean.

Keep it brief and to the point. Though you now have 300 characters (it used to be 200), don't drone on. Brevity is key. An interesting study, which I can't find a link to, found that the more senior you are, the shorter your emails. You should emulate this. Think and write like a CEO.

Use the person's first name, you don't need permission. It's 'social', not 'formality media'.

"I'm a fan". Who doesn't want to be liked? No one. Everyone wants to be admired, applauded and cherished. But language is important, "I'm an admirer" is creepy and old fashioned. As a fan, you're not having to go into detail about the why of connecting. I'm using the hyphen as an abbreviation, it's the equivalent of saying "and this is why". It always astonishes me when people actually say "I stumbled on" or "I happened to find you" in their connection requests. No one likes to be found accidentally, no one one wants to connect with someone who is stumbling or accident prone. Right ?

"I'd very much like to". This is direct and not wishy-washy. "I'd like to" is lacking vigor and boring. You're very keen, so that's good. Never ever create doubt or uncertainty in the connection request; "I was wondering if ?" or "perhaps we could connect ?" or "would you like to ?". Well, if you're unsure, so am I. Understand ?

"Merge our networks". You're bringing something to the table, you're offering to connect your network to his/her network, that's a pretty good inducement wouldn't you say? You're also demonstrating that you're a knowledgeable, able and potentially, a well-connected networker.

"And connect directly." You've just reinforced the advantage of a prospective merger and made it personal, with only three words. That's almost Haiku.

"Best". Although it probably belongs with regards or wishes, subliminally, it positively suggests that this connection request is the 'best' he/she has read all week.

"A". Nice, you're already on informal terms; you're saying just call me by my first initial, you're also being as brief as can be.

This is my favorite connection request and I've had a lot of success with it over the years. I'm sharing it with you because it works and I want you to succeed. How does yours compare ? Thoughts ? Reactions ?

(*) I'm grateful to Donna Imam for commenting below. Interestingly, Donna shared that she didn't have any of the 6 options when sending a connection request. If she clicks the big blue connect button, it sends a connection request automatically, without the ability to personalize (presumably with the boilerplate "I'd like to connect etc." language). The only way she can personalize a connection request is by clicking on the tiny drop-down menu arrow (next to the grey 'Send x InMail' button). Donna informs that she has had this new set-up for "months". LinkedIn typically tests new features or changes to the platform on a small number of users before rolling out to all users. Perhaps this signals an end to the 6 option, explain-why-you-know-this-person, rigmarole ? If that's the case, I think a lot of people, myself included, will rejoice at not having to choose 'friend' etc.

I wrote “3 Stunningly Good LinkedIn Profile SUMMARIES” in early 2013. This post instantly became and remains to this day, a top Google search result for "LinkedIn Summary"....shared by over 2,600 people. Click here to read it.

Andrew Foote is a LinkedIn Coach. Could your LinkedIn Summary, Profile, presence & strategy do with my help? Contact me linkedinsights@gmail.com to find out...