How to send an "invitation to connect" on LinkedIn that gets a positive response

LinkedIn has been one of the most important tools in my career when it comes to building a broad professional and business network. It has enabled me to build relationships with people that wouldn't ordinarily be in my network but should be given my passions and interests. I've reached out to many people on this platform that have translated into meaningful in-person (and now virtual) work relationships. LinkedIn has literally allowed me to expand my network from the ground up over the years. 

I've connected with many inspirational people who seem to be making waves in the very area I want to make impact and I always deem it a priority (and privilege) to connect with them. Investing in these relationships can lead to growth and insights that you need for the next level in your career. But how do you actually initiate relationships with people who are successful and probably very busy? 

It is said that "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." The people you want to add to your network may be receiving several (generic) messages a day, so the question is: How do you reach out in a way that grabs their attention and encourages a response (not just an "accept")? If you don't use LinkedIn strategically to build your networks, you are truly missing out on a great opportunity. Here are a few tips and tricks to consider as you seek to build connections aligned to where you are headed.

1) Listen virtually - you may be wondering what this means exactly but before you hit that "connect" button, take time to scope out their profile. By having a look at their activity: their posts, comments, likes and articles, you will get a flavour of their interests and passions. This will be helpful when crafting a personalised message. 

2) Reference their work or achievements in the message - this is a great way of communicating that you have done your homework and that you admire their accomplishments. You may be reaching out because you want to collaborate or work with them but don't lead with this. I often find request to connect messages with links of products and services being offered both generic and off putting. 

3) Share something about yourself - it is a good idea to share a bit of your work and background but do so in a way that resonates with their values. If you've listened well virtually, then you should be able to mention something about your experience, passion and interest that is in alignment with theirs. 

4) If the person you are connecting with is active on LinkedIn, try engaging with their content before you hit that "connect" button. You can comment or share their posts that you found valuable which may also add value to people in your network. LinkedIn will flag that you have engaged with their post which will draw their attention to your profile. When you now pop up in their "invitations" list, they would have already seen your profile /name before.

Once you send a personalised message that gets someone to accept, be sure to follow up and make it clear what the purpose of connecting is. Again, make sure you position it in a way that resonates with their values. 

I want to share this example with you. When I was building SEO London's HerCapital programme in 2017, I was keen to work with highly inspirational and successful women who could speak at programme events. I used industry awards lists as a great starting point for identifying female leaders within financial service. I then reached out to some of these women on LinkedIn with personalised messages. These awards lists were great because their bios gave lots of clues as to why they would be willing to connect. Linking their experiences / accomplishments to the vision of the programme was an effective way to get their attention and I had a great response rate.

So if you are looking to expand your network to achieve your professional goals, make sure you are thoughtful in your approach and take some time to study those who would a great addition to your professional network.

I hope you find this useful and Happy connecting!