LinkedIn is a great place for professionals to connect and build important relationships.
Each connection presents a unique opportunity - it could open doors to new job prospects, collaborative ventures, business partnerships, or simply expand your knowledge base through diverse interactions.
Sending out connection requests, however, isn't always accepted. While this can be disheartening, it's crucial to understand that the quality of these connections matters far more than quantity.
That said, genuine connections are pivotal for professional development - they can provide mentorship opportunities, industry insights, and even lead to career advancements.
Each accepted invitation helps build your professional network on LinkedIn. So, it's worthwhile to find strategies to increase the acceptance rate of your invitations. And in this short blog post, I'll share with you some ways to increase your chance of getting your LinkedIn connection requests accepted.
1. Add a Personal Touch
One common mishap in LinkedIn invites is sending requests without any note – this signals a lack of effort and just looks really lazy.
Remember, the person you're reaching out to is also likely receiving numerous other requests.
People love to be acknowledged and would respond more positively if they feel unique and special.
Saying something as simple as:
"I enjoyed your talk on renewable energy innovations at the UK GreenTech conference, particularly your take on solar panel efficiency."
...can significantly increase your success rate.
2. Don't Send Boring Invites
A cardinal sin in this networking terrain is issuing mass-produced invites such as:
"We have mutual connections; let's connect!"
It lacks authenticity and rings hollow even if just sent without tools automation. What's missing in these cookie-cutter templates?
Genuine interest.
Tailor your request using details from their profile or shared posts. A more engaging example might be:
"Your post about remote work challenges was insightful and resonated with me given my current role managing a remote team."
3. Don't Sell Yourself Too Quickly
There's no need to put on the hard sell right away; it can come off arrogant or desperate. Opt for sincerity instead.
Consider Steven Bartlett, the creator of Social Chain. He doesn't instantly show off his success. Instead, he shares his journey from being a university dropout to starting a highly influential social media company. His podcast, "The Diary of a CEO", honestly details his experiences, including his wins and challenges.
Bartlett's approach is genuine. He uses his platform to share valuable insights about business, self-improvement, and mental health. In this way, he subtly shows his skills and expertise without coming across as desperate or conceited.
His catchphrase, "Expect problems and eat them for breakfast", shows his resilience and problem-solving skills, without highlighting his personal success. This way of doing things has helped him build a strong personal brand that appeals to many budding entrepreneurs and those seeking personal growth.
An statement or invitation like:
"I have knowledge in digital marketing strategies that I think could support your brand narrative,"
...is better received than claiming to skyrocket their business into millions overnight.
4. Relevance Over Numbers
Quality over quantity – this holds true even for LinkedIn connections.
Skip random invitations and concentrate on potential contacts who can provide reciprocal benefits.
By building strong relationships in your field, you'll spend less time guessing and more time creating targeted strategies.
5. Engage Before an Invite
Engaging with their contributions before sending an invite increases the chances of acceptance.
Actively liking, sharing or commenting insightfully on topics they’ve posted about demonstrates intentionality behind connecting.
Let's consider the case of British entrepreneur and influencer, Joe Wicks. Known as "The Body Coach", Wicks has crafted a dynamic personal brand by consistently engaging his audience with lively, health-focused content.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when gyms shut down and people were confined to their homes, Wicks started hosting free live workout sessions on his Youtube channel. These sessions were not just aimed at adults, but he also included workouts for children and seniors, catering to a broad demographic.
This active engagement strategy helped him navigate the turbulent times of 2020. His approachable personality and humour infused into his sessions made him a household name, strengthening his followership. In addition, he also actively responded to comments on his social media platforms, further fostering a sense of community and connection with his audience.
Final Note on LinkedIn Invites
In conclusion, creating successful LinkedIn invitations highly depends upon understanding what strikes a chord with people - authenticity, relevance, engagement and adding value subtly without overselling.
Remember everyone has a different story; take the time to read theirs before writing yours into it.
So why not start today? Don't forget why we connect - to enrich each other's journeys. Let's change our mindsets together so we all can reap rich dividends from networking responsibly!
Lastly but importantly Subscribe to my newsletter 'A Marketer's Mindset' for more insights to bring out the stellar networker in you!