The short answer
A LinkedIn connection message is the short note you add to a connection request. It works best when it states one specific, honest reason for connecting, such as a shared event, industry, group or a post of theirs, and doesn't pitch. LinkedIn's Help Center lists a 200-character limit per note, so aim for one or two sentences.
On this page
Key takeaways
One reason, no pitch: Say why you want to connect with this person specifically. Save the pitch for later, if ever.
Stay under 200 characters: That's LinkedIn's stated note limit, and free accounts get only a few personalized notes a month. Make each one count.
Match the situation: A shared event, a mutual group or your recent email each call for a different first line.
The note isn't the message: Connecting opens the door. Your first message after they accept is where the conversation starts.
LinkedIn Connection Message Basics
A connection note has one job: give the person a reason to accept. Before the examples, here are the limits and rules that shape them.
Know the limit. LinkedIn's Help Center (checked October 2026) says a personalized note can be up to 200 characters, and that free accounts can personalize up to three invitations a month. Premium members can personalize every invitation, and some report a longer character box, so check the counter in your own invite window. Every example below stays well under 200 characters with typical names filled in.
Choose note or no note. On a free account, notes are scarce, so spend them on the prospects that matter most. Our guide to the LinkedIn connection request message covers when a blank request is fine.
| Situation | Lead with | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Prospect, no shared context | A specific observation about their work | A pitch or a meeting ask |
| Same industry | The shared world, plus one specific detail | "I'd love to add you to my network" |
| Shared group | The group and a topic from it | Generic "fellow member" lines |
| After an event | The session, talk or conversation | Pretending you met if you didn't |
| After an email or call | The email's topic, briefly | Repeating the whole email |
| They viewed your profile | A real reason to connect | "I saw you looked at my profile" on its own |
Rewrite weak notes before you send them. Most weak notes fail the same way: they talk about you, or they could have gone to anyone.
| Weak note | Why it fails | Stronger version |
|---|---|---|
| "I'd like to add you to my professional network." | No reason, could go to anyone | "Enjoyed your post on intake staffing. Would be glad to connect." |
| "We help health systems cut costs by 30%. Free for a call?" | A pitch and an ask before any trust | "Saw Brightline's expansion into Ohio. Glad to connect." |
| "Hi! Hope you're well! Let's connect!" | Friendly, but empty | "We're both in Healthcare Ops Leaders. Your comment on intake was useful." |
LinkedIn Connection Messages for Prospects
When you have no shared context, your research is your reason. Mention something specific about their work or company, then stop. Five minutes of prospect research is enough to find it.
1. The company news note
Hi [Name], read about [Account]'s [launch or expansion]. I work with
[peer type] on [topic] and would be glad to connect.
2. The post-they-wrote note
Hi [Name], your post on [topic] made a point I keep coming back to:
[short paraphrase]. Would be good to connect.
3. The new-role note
Hi [Name], congrats on the new role at [Account]. I work with [title]
on [topic] in their first few months. Glad to connect.
Notice what's missing. No company description, no meeting ask, no link. The note earns the acceptance, and the first message after they accept starts the conversation.
Same-Industry and Shared-Group Messages
Shared context is a reason by itself. Name it specifically, not as "fellow professional".
4. Same industry, broad
Hi [Name], I spend most of my week with [industry] teams working on
[topic]. Always good to connect with people who know the space.
5. Same industry, specific
Hi [Name], fellow [industry] person here. Your team's approach to
[specific thing] caught my eye. Would be glad to connect.
6. Shared group, their comment
Hi [Name], we're both in [Group]. Your comment on [thread topic]
was the most useful one in there. Happy to connect.
7. Shared group, a question
Hi [Name], saw you in [Group] too. Curious how [Account] handles
[topic the group discusses]. Would be glad to connect.
LinkedIn Connection Messages After an Event
Events give you the strongest reason to connect. Send within a few days, and be honest about whether you actually met.
8. You met in person
Hi [Name], good to meet you at [Event] after [session].
Enjoyed our chat about [topic]. Let's stay in touch.
9. You attended the same session
Hi [Name], I was at [Event] too. [Speaker]'s point on [topic]
stuck with me. Would be glad to connect.
10. You saw their talk
Hi [Name], caught your talk at [Event] on [topic]. The part about
[specific point] was really useful. Would be glad to connect.
Connection Messages After an Email or Call
If you've already emailed or called, the note should connect the dots without repeating the pitch. It's the second touch in the same story, and the LinkedIn and email outreach guide covers how to space the two.
11. After an email
Hi [Name], I sent you a short note about [topic] on [day].
Connecting here too in case LinkedIn is easier for you.
12. After a call
Hi [Name], thanks for the call earlier. Connecting so you have
my details. I'll send over [what you promised] today.
Keep the channels in step. If your email sequence is running, time the note between touches rather than on the same day. See the cold email follow-up sequence for where it fits.
When They Viewed Your Profile
A profile view is a weak signal and a slightly awkward one. Opening with "I saw you viewed my profile" on its own can feel like surveillance, so pair it with a real reason.
13. The crossed-paths note
Hi [Name], noticed we crossed paths on LinkedIn. I work with [peer type]
on [topic], close to what [Account] does. Happy to connect.
14. The thanks-for-visiting note
Hi [Name], thanks for visiting my profile. If [topic] is on your radar
at [Account], happy to share what I'm seeing. Glad to connect.
After They Accept
Acceptance isn't a meeting. It's permission to send one useful message, so wait a day and then send something about them, not a pitch. For timing and templates, see the LinkedIn follow-up message guide.
Clear out stale requests. If a request sits unanswered for a few weeks, withdraw it and reach the person by email or phone instead. A long list of pending invitations helps no one, and the person may simply not use LinkedIn much.
Research once, reuse it. The same signal you used in your note should lead your first message and your email. If you're writing notes for many prospects, the Edithly LinkedIn message generator writes a connection note for each one alongside the emails, from the same research on their company's website. You send it from LinkedIn yourself.
How Edithly does it
Get a LinkedIn connection note for any prospect
Edithly's Email Outreach writes a LinkedIn connection note for each prospect alongside the emails, from the same research on their website, so your note and your email tell one story. You send it from LinkedIn yourself.
- 1
Click the Email Outreach tile
Open Home and pick Email Outreach. Your pitch and positioning are already in your playbook, pulled from your website when you added your product.
- 2
Add the prospect and their LinkedIn
Enter the company name and website, plus the contact's name and LinkedIn URL. Add context in Notes, like the event where you met.
- 3
Generate and copy the note
Click Generate email outreach, copy the LinkedIn note with its copy button and paste it into your connection request on LinkedIn.
Website
Ready
- Variant A · Hiring angle
- Subject lines
- Body
- Follow-ups · Day +3, +7
- LinkedIn note
- Do not say
- By hand
- 5 to 10 minutes per person to research and write a good note
- With Edithly
- A couple of minutes per prospect, emails included
Frequently asked questions
What should I write in a LinkedIn connection message?
One specific reason for connecting and nothing else: a shared event, group or industry, or a post of theirs you found useful. Use their first name, keep it to one or two sentences and skip the pitch. 'Hi Maya, enjoyed your take on spot pricing at the FreightTech panel. Would be glad to connect.' is enough.
What is the character limit for a LinkedIn connection note?
LinkedIn's Help Center, checked in October 2026, says each personalized note can be up to 200 characters, and that free accounts can personalize up to three invitations per month, while Premium members can personalize unlimited invitations. Some Premium users report a longer limit. LinkedIn changes these rules, so trust the counter in your own invite box.
Should you send a LinkedIn connection request without a note?
Sometimes. With strong shared context, like several mutual connections in a niche industry, a blank request can be accepted on your profile alone. For prospects who don't know you, a short note with a real reason usually helps. On a free account, save your limited notes for the people who matter most.
Is it okay to pitch in a LinkedIn connection message?
It's best not to. A pitch in the connection note signals that the connection is just a route to a sale, and many people decline those. Connect on a genuine reason first, then send a useful first message after they accept. Pitch only once there's reason to believe it's relevant.
Can Edithly write LinkedIn connection messages?
Yes. Edithly's Email Outreach includes a LinkedIn connection note for each prospect, written from the same research as the emails, with a copy button. Edithly doesn't send messages or automate LinkedIn. You paste the note into your connection request and send it yourself, so you stay in control of your account.