How to Work Around LinkedIn’s Weekly Invitation Limit in 2025

If you’ve ever hit LinkedIn’s invitation cap, you know how frustrating it can be. LinkedIn restricts the number of connection requests you can send each week to keep spam in check and improve user experience.

But don’t worry... you can still grow your network effectively without running into these limits.

Understanding LinkedIn’s Weekly Invitation Cap

While LinkedIn doesn’t officially state the exact number, most users can send 100 to 200 connection requests per week before reaching the limit. Trying to exceed this can result in a temporary restriction on sending further invitations.

First, How to Make the Most of Your Connection Requests

To maximise your invitations without hitting restrictions, try these strategies:

1. Connect with the Right People – Focus on people who are 2nd-degree connections and who you would like to do business with.
2. Engage Before You Send Requests – Follow, like & comment on content or share their content (if appropriate) to warm up the connection.
3. Optimise Your Profile – A strong, well-crafted profile increases the likelihood of getting accepted and can attract your ideal clients.
4. Monitor Your Invites – Too many ignored or declined requests can raise flags, so be selective.
5. Pace Yourself – Spread out your connection requests throughout the week instead of sending them all at once.

The Importance of a Warm-Up Strategy

Before sending out connection requests, take time to warm up your prospects. This involves hitting the Follow button, interacting with their content with likes on posts, and commenting to initiate conversation. Even consider sharing their post if appropriate and you can do so authentically.

Engaging first builds familiarity and makes your request more likely to be accepted. It also shows that you’re interested in forming a meaningful connection rather than just adding numbers to your network.

Crafting Effective LinkedIn Connection Messages

If your warm-up strategy is good enough then you do not need a connection message. Also, users on the free version are currently limited to just five connection requests with a message.

So, if you are going to send a connection message, make sure it counts!

A personalised message can significantly improve your connection request acceptance rate. Here are a few best practices:

• Keep it Short and Relevant – No more than three sentences
• Create Common Ground – Reference their content, something from their profile or common experience
• Don't pitch – Never start with a pitch or anything that looks like a sales set-up. Be informal and friendly in the first interactions
• Avoid Generic Messages – Don't send messages like 'LinkedIn suggested you as a connection'. A personalised approach stands out more than a default request.

Example:

Hi [Name], I just wanted to say that I appreciated your recent post on [topic]. Would you be open to connecting? Looking forward to staying in touch!

Other Ways to Expand Your Network

If you hit the weekly limit, don’t panic... there are other ways to grow your LinkedIn presence:

• Use the ‘Follow’ Option – Engage with users without needing to send a connection request.
• Get Active in Groups & Events – Joining discussions in relevant LinkedIn groups can lead to inbound organic connections.
• Leverage Open Profiles – Some users allow direct messaging even if you’re not connected.
• Try InMail – If you have a paid account then InMail lets you reach out beyond your network.
• Look Beyond LinkedIn – Consider email outreach or other professional networks to connect with key people.

Benchmark Connection Request Conversion

A healthy connection rate is approximately 40%. So, free version users sending 100 connection requests per week can add 40 new contacts to their network per week. For premium users, that number is closer to 80 new contacts.

Add to this the alternative methods to expand your network, and you could be adding up to 60 new contacts on free version and up to 100 on a premium account

Avoid Pitfalls and Restrictions

• Focus 90% of your connection activity on 2nd-degree connections Too many 3rd-degree connections can get you restricted
• Do the warm-up strategy over 2-3 days to avoid low connection rates
• Better to send no connection message than a generic message
• Keep pending connection requests under 500

Final Thoughts

Building a strong LinkedIn network isn’t just about numbers, it’s about making meaningful connections.

By being strategic with your invites, engaging consistently, and leveraging alternative networking tactics, you can grow your LinkedIn presence without worrying about restrictions.

Have you hit LinkedIn’s invitation limit? Share your experience and tips in the comments!