Top 10 Worst Connection Requests of 2023
RACHEL SIMON
Digital Account Manager - KWSM: a digital agency | LinkedIn?? Profile Expert | LinkedIn Local ATL Co-Host | Greater Perimeter Business Radio Host | ?? Swiftie
A core component of a vibrant LinkedIn strategy is building a strong, targeted and engaged network. But how you send a connection request and what you include in the message can be the difference between opening the door to a new connection and relationship or getting that door slammed in your face.
?I have pretty high standards when it comes to accepting LinkedIn connection requests - this has helped me build a professional network filled with amazing people from around the world. I am liberal with the IGNORE button because I am focused on QUALITY not QUANTITY.
One thing to be aware of is that LinkedIn is limiting the number of personalized connection requests you can send if you have a free account. At the end of this blog, I’ll share a little more about this change and how to adapt your connection strategy.?
?Note, many of these examples are clearly using automation tools to send outreach – I know this because my name is all capital letters - RACHEL (this is my BOT detector).? Automation tools violate the LinkedIn user agreement and put your account at risk if you use them. As you will see below, they are obvious and often the targeting is incorrect. Don’t fall for them as a quick fix to automate connecting with people!
?Without further ado…here are the top ten WORST connection requests messages I received in 2023:
10. Rebel without a Clue
The cheese factor is very high in this message. The sheer number of compliments come across as fake and insincere. I guarantee this person never looked at my profile and has no clue what I actually do. But glad I can be so “inspiring.”
9. Team?
My team…..you mean my team of ONE? This is a prime example of what happens when you just get pulled into a search based solely on keywords. I likely ended up here because I have CEO in my profile.
8 - Know your Audience
There is nothing in my profile that talks about video or SEO. Messages like this are somewhat of a mystery as I’m not sure what would have pulled me into this keyword search. Likely these people are just looking to spam people in marketing and hope for the best.
7 - Digital Twin
I think there are better ways to scale my business than to create an AI “digital twin” and seriously, who buys these things??
6 - Make me an Offer!
Is this person offering to acquire Connect the Dots Digital? If so, I’ll sell it for 10 million dollars! Sound good?
PS - I received this exact same message from another person this year
5 - What’s in a name?
While I am a LinkedIn Consultant and Profile Expert, I tend to reply to “Rachel” vs whatever this greeting is supposed to be. Plus, can we dig deeper to ask why one would want to “sport” a wearable magazine?? What on earth??
4 - Killing me with Kindness
I also gravitate towards people who are nice and kind but I guarantee my posts did not come up in a search for the word “kindness.” Another very cheesy and insincere message.
3 - Fake, fake, fake!
These two connection requests were sent within the same week. I normally remove people’s full names and photos when I share any examples but these are clearly fake profiles so there is no one to protect. This company just churns out fake profiles to send spammy messages - the best response is to Report and Block these “users.”
领英推荐
2- How do you like your SPAM?
What doesn’t this person offer? My favorite on this list is “web scraping” -? I guess this is how I get added to so many email lists. No, just no.
1 - You definitely got my attention…
Now technically this is not a connection request but I had to include this as I have never received anything quite like it. This person somehow found my business PayPal and sent me $0.01 along with this sales pitch. Talk about bold! While it definitely got my attention, it’s an intrusive way to prospect. But hey, I’ll give them props for creativity!
LinkedIn Connection Request Dos and Don’ts?
As we head into 2024, remember that connection requests messages should be about the recipient, not the sender. Make good use of the 300 characters you have to show WHY you want to connect and would be a valuable addition to someone’s network.
The update to free accounts will limit personalized messages to between 5-15 per month. Personally, I see this as a bad move from LinkedIn. They claim it is supposed to help reduce spam (see examples above) and while it may help with this, it will also impact users who are not in a position to pay for the upgraded features. This includes small businesses, nonprofits, students, and newer professionals to name a few.
The good news is that there are ways to get in front of prospects, particularly those who are active on LinkedIn, simply by engaging on their content. This can get you noticed so when you send that connection request (without a message) there is a good chance it will be accepted. The strategy will have to be adjusted for these changes.?
Here are some high level Dos and Don’t that you can apply:
?DO:
? Refer to a recent LinkedIn post
? Send as a follow up to an event you both attended
? Thank them for engaging on one of your posts
? Share the benefit you took from a webinar, podcast or article by them
? Use a LinkedIn Audio or Live, a webinar, conference or meeting as a point of reference
DON’T:
? Use automation tools
? Be self-promotional
? Sell in the message
? Be too generic?
? Waste the opportunity to make a great first impression
? Use automation tools
? Be self-promotional
? Sell in the message
? Be too generic?
? Waste the opportunity to make a great first impression
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Leadership Development & Career Coach Helping You ACCELERATE Your Career ?? LinkedIn Profile Makeovers ?? Interview Prep ?? Team Building ?? Executive Coaching ?? Author ~"You Are the CEO of Your Career"
1 年#1 is certainly the winner, Rachel! Very innovative AI approach. I wonder how many pennies they spent on that campaign? And what was their ROI?
Great list! I'm pretty sure I've gotten 8 of the 10. :)
Digital Account Manager - KWSM: a digital agency | LinkedIn?? Profile Expert | LinkedIn Local ATL Co-Host | Greater Perimeter Business Radio Host | ?? Swiftie
1 年Somehow half of this article was cut off so I just updated it. If you didn't see the worst CR of the year, take a look.
I enjoy bringing people together to solve complex problems, build great products, and get things done at McAfee! International Keynote Speaker | Author
1 年LinkedIn isn't Tinder for job seekers. It's a platform for meaningful professional connections. So, personalize your approach. Don't just hit 'connect'; write a message. Explain who you are, why you're reaching out, and what you admire about their work. Be succinct, but not cryptic. Show you've done your homework; flattery is cheap, specific admiration isn't. And please, don't pitch your multi-level marketing scheme. This isn't a platform for amateur hour; it's for professionals looking to build a network that adds value, not noise.
Training deserving people how to get the jobs they deserve/ A four step method that will get your job search unstuck/single mom advocate/ 2,000+ helped so far.
1 年Rachel the problem that comes thru here is the benefit is one sided. Linkedin is supposed to be a site for connecting with people where there is a mutual benefit.