5 sample LinkedIn invitation messages (and the perfect LinkedIn connection request message)… Here’s what you need to stop stressing about clicking “Connect”. 🚀
We know, sending an invitation on LinkedIn may seem trivial, but it’s actually the very first impression you leave with your future contact. And just like in real life, it can change everything.
In this article, I’m going to share some concrete examples and tried-and-tested best practices to help you :
Increase your acceptance rates. ✅
Create quality connections. 👥
Lay the foundations for a true pro relationship. 🤝
Why send a LinkedIn invitation message?
Sending an invitation on LinkedIn without adding anything is a bit like shaking someone’s hand… without saying a word. 🤐 It passes, but it’s not exactly memorable. An invitation message allows you to 👇🏻 :
Lay the foundations for a professional relationship.
Show that you’re genuinely interested in the person,
Explain quickly why you want to get in touch.
LinkedIn invitation note vs. invitation message: what’s the difference?
The LinkedIn invitation note is the little text (300 characters max) you can add when you click on “Connect”. Short, to the point, but limited in space. ✍️
The invitation message, it’s sent after the person has accepted your request. You have more freedom to introduce yourself, bring value and start the conversation.💬
But then what to do?
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According to our study of over 10,000 LinkedIn invitations , the results are clear: – Requests without notes work best, with an acceptance rate of around 38%. – Conversely, notes that are too long or contain an external link scare off your prospects: the rate drops to 26%. A short, clear and personalized note remains an excellent way of standing out from the crowd and showing that your approach is genuine. 💡
And yet, it’s decisive when it comes to getting in touch with your prospect: if he turns you down, you won’t get a second chance. 🥲 Hence the importance of sending original invitation messages on LinkedIn.
You’ve probably already received this kind of invitation message:
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Hello, I’m Toinon from the Waalaxy company. We help companies like yours generate new leads on LinkedIn. I think you might be interested. Let’s get in touch.
Obviously, that’s not what I’m proposing in this article (too classic). 🤷🏻♀️ This approach may work, but :
It requires an exceptional product-market fit and a highly optimized LinkedIn profile.
It offers very low conversion rates, response rates and connection rates on LinkedIn. For customer acquisition and prospecting, LinkedIn is irrelevant.
❌ So avoid these types of LinkedIn invitation message samples.
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Attract potential customers via LinkedIn and to your website.
Benefit from qualified marketing targeting in a precise sector of activity.
Benefit from a higher conversion rate on your landing pages.
Boost marketing awareness and personal branding in your industry.
Prospect for new customers and bring them into your buying tunnel.
Fill your CRM/email list with prospects to build loyalty.
🎯 Users group themselves around centers of interest, which you can use to target them. We’ve already written about the method that helped us to get a 51% acceptance rate.
I’ll summarize the basic principle here, at example👇🏼 :
You want to approach marketing managers.
Join groups around marketing from a search.
Then use the import functionality of group members via the Waalaxy LinkedIn automation tool, or via a filter on LinkedIn Sales Navigator (if you have the Premium option).
And finally, configure your LinkedIn campaigns to automatically send personalized LinkedIn invitations, messages and notes. 👽
📣 In this way, you can try the following approach:
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Hello {{first name}}, We are both LinkedIn members of the {group name}} group. As a member of this group on {{group topic}}, what do you think about {{problem you’re solving}}? I’m working on it, and it would be a pleasure to talk to you about it.
Please note ⚠️: LinkedIn Groups can bring together several nationalities and languages. If you don’t have Sales Navigator to filter your search, use English.
#2 LinkedIn invitation message example – Training courses
📚 If you’ve been to a university, school or other training institution with a large alumni network, this LinkedIn invitation message example is a nugget.
The idea is to contact former members or alumni who are part of your marketing targeting group, highlighting your shared background.
You can use two methods: direct or follow-up messages (which you can automate using the Waalaxy 👽 marketing automation tool).
LinkedIn invitation message example : With direct approach
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We both went to {{name of school}}. We weren’t in the same class, but I thought we could talk about our respective activities, or even if we could help each other. For my part, I’m working on {{product}}. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.
Obviously, this requires your school’s alumni to be an interesting target. 🤔
💪🏼 However, don’t overlook the power of alumni: they can be an asset to your reputation (word-of-mouth, support from the people in charge at their company…).
LinkedIn invitation message example : With follow-up approach
👉🏼 Message #1:
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Hi {{first name}}, We both went to {{name of school}}. It wasn’t the same class, but I thought we could get in touch.
👉🏼 Dunning or message #2:
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Hi, thanks for accepting me into your {{first name}} network on LinkedIn, I work for {{company name}}, I don’t know if this speaks to you, but we’re developing {{product}}. Is this something that might interest people in your company? If you ever want to know more, I’ll give you the link: {{website link}}.
#3 LinkedIn invitation message example for recruiting
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Hey {{first name}} Your profile crossed my path during my daily wanderings in the depths of LinkedIn. Your position and rank interest me: I’m trying to solve the problems of other lords of your profession around the {{subject}}. What do you say to a chat about it?”
Obviously, this approach doesn’t apply to all prospects on LinkedIn: if you’re targeting CAC40 CEOs or accountants, you’re going to wipe the floor with them. 😩
Favor this note for an audience of young candidates or if you want to give that relaxed, fun image, standing out from more conventional approaches.
For candidates, here’s an article on how to message a recruiter on LinkedIn, without being turned down and with sample LinkedIn messages for effective prospecting (to use)! 🤗.
#4 LinkedIn invitation message example : Focus on the issue
🧠 Would you like to establish a real customer relationship with your prospect and fully understand their needs? This type of note and/or personalized message is for you:
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Hello {{first name}}, I saw you were in {{sector}} OR I saw that you were {{title}}. I’m trying to understand the needs of the sector so that I can propose a suitable solution. In your opinion, what are the 3 most important issues in {{subject}}? I look forward to discussing them with you.
🚨 Don’t forget to keep in touch with your prospects, by sending them regular messages (for example: about your company news, mutual connections, a new product/service launch, an exclusive content publication, etc.).
#5 LinkedIn invitation message example : to ask for advice
Ideal if you have a blog, this LinkedIn invitation message example is 2 in 1 : generate leads (LinkedIn lead generation) and accumulate content on LinkedIn to then distribute. 📲
The idea is to ask for advice on a subject and offer visibility by sending to your site.
OR :
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Hello {{first name}}, I’m writing a LinkedIn article on {{topic}} and I’m looking to incorporate some expert advice. As {{title}}, what advice would you have for {{question}}? Website link: {{link}}. I look forward to hearing from you.
💭 These LinkedIn invitation message samples and templates for LinkedIn are just ideas to inspire you to write your own.
You can also choose not to send a invitation or connection note and use only direct messages and follow-ups. To find out more, discover our study on “LinkedIn Invitation message“.
Also keep in mind that your LinkedIn requesttemplate and message need to be relevant: addressed to your targets, using the right keywords if you wanted to reach the right audience, and having a quality professional network. ✅
How to write a good LinkedIn invitation message?
Writing a LinkedIn invitation message may seem trivial… but it’s often what makes the difference between a successful application ✅ and an ignored one ❌. The good news? You don’t have to be a copywriting whiz to succeed: just apply a few simple, effective rules.
1. Prepare the ground before writing
Even a short message will be much more powerful if your profile is already optimized. Think about :
Clarify your title and summary so that people immediately understand what you do.
Next, define your target audience:
Who do you want to talk to? 👤
What do you have to offer (expertise, content, opportunity, exchange…).
Without that, even the best message risks going by the wayside. 🥲
2. Get inspired by the A.I.D.A method
You may have heard of this method in marketing. It also works for your LinkedIn invitations 👇🏻:
Caution: catch the eye with a simple hook. “We’re part of the same LinkedIn group” or “I read your latest LinkedIn Pulse“.👀
Interest: show that you have something in common or that you’re interested in their business.😇
Desire: make them want to connect by highlighting what it can bring them (sharing ideas, networking, pro opportunity).🤓
Action: end with a clear call! ☎️
3 – Take care with your teasers
The teaser is the heart of your invitation. It’s the first thing your prospect reads, and often what determines whether or not they accept. Here are a few best practices from our tests 👇🏻 :
✅ The shortest messages are often the most effective. There’s no need to tell your whole story.
❌ Don’t try to sell from the start. LinkedIn is not door-to-door canvassing.
✅ Create a link: a common interest, an activity, content read or commented on.
✅ Show interest in the person or their business.
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For example: “Hello {{firstname}}, I discovered your content on {{topic}} and would love to talk to you about it. Can I add you to my network?”
4. Customize… but smartly
Everyone will tell you “personalize your messages”, but nobody has the time to do it all by hand. The key is intelligent personalization:
Segment your campaigns (by sector, position, areas of interest). 📊
Add a little personal touch (name, company, common topic).✨
And for the rest… leave it to an automation tool like Waalaxy. 🚀
You’ll save time without looking like a robot.🤖
5. Test, analyze, improve
There’s no such thing as a miracle message that works for everyone. What works for a CEO won’t necessarily work for a student or a salesperson 😅
A/B testing! Send two different versions and compare your acceptance rates. 📈
LinkedIn invitation note: useful or not?
Big question: should you add a note to your LinkedIn invitations… or click directly on “Connect” and send a message once accepted? 🤔
Many people think that a little personalized note increases the chances of acceptance. Yet our figures tell a different story.
We tested several approaches with different profiles and here’s what we found 👇🏻 :
No note: highest acceptance rate: approx. 38%.
Generic note (“Hi, I’d like to join your network.”): 36%.
Personalized note with first name: only 33%.
Complete note without link: falls to 32%.
Rating with external link: disaster: 26%. 🚫
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👉 If your only objective is to increase your acceptance rate, it’s best not to write anything.
So, should we banish the invitation note? Not necessarily. It all depends on your objective.
If your priority is to expand your network quickly, the best strategy is to write nothing. 🫥
On the other hand, if you’re looking to attract really qualified prospects, a short, clear and personalized note can be a good filter: fewer acceptances but more interesting connections. ✨ It shows you’re making the effort to connect with someone for the right reasons, which often opens the door to new opportunities. 🌟
Use Waalaxy for your LinkedIn invitations
Sending LinkedIn invitations one by one can quickly become a time-consuming process. What if you could automate part of the process, while retaining a personalized touch? That’s exactly what Waalaxy offers . 🚀
With Waalaxy, you can create automatic sequences that manage the entire invitation cycle for you 👇🏻 :
Day 1: the invitation is sent, with or without a note depending on your marketing strategy.
Day 3 : if the person accepts, a welcome message is sent automatically.
Day 7 : you can add a second, more valuable message (e.g. share an article, white paper, etc.).
Day 14 : a final reminder, to keep in touch and turn the connection into a real conversation.
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👉 Result: your prospects receive consistent, progressive messages, you save time, you don’t miss any more opportunities.
In just one click, Waami generates a customized invitation or prospecting message, ready to use. No more searching for inspiration or wasting time on wording… ⏳
How about a recap?
As you’ve seen, sending a LinkedIn invitation message isn’t just a detail… it’s your first step towards a successful professional relationship. 🤝
Remember 3 key points 👇🏻 :
A short, clear message is better than a generic cut-and-paste. 🎯
The invitation note is not mandatory: without note = more acceptances, with note = less volume but more qualified contacts. 💡
And to save time without sacrificing personalization, Waalaxy and its Waami artificial intelligence are your best allies. 🚀
So next time you send a connection request, don’t just hope for the best — craft something simple and authentic. A quick “would love to connect” can often work better than overthinking it.
Clearly, the goal isn’t to multiply connections on LinkedIn just to inflate your numbers, but to create useful, lasting relationships. With the right approach, your LinkedIn invitations will never be ignored again. 🌟
Frequently asked questions
Should I always personalize my LinkedIn messages?
Yes and no. 💥
Of course you have to personalize your prospecting. If you send a generic message, all your prospects will see that you’re using a robot. What’s more, automation tools are increasingly present on the social network, so users are aware of these practices. ☀️
So your best weapon is to segment and automate, but intelligently! 🧠
If you personalize each of your messages by hand, you’ll waste a lot of time and your prospecting action won’t be profitable.
A/B test messages to see which ones work best for your audience.
How do I view pending LinkedIn invitations?
There are two answers to this question:
❌ If you’re not using an automation tool. Then you need to manually go to the person’s profile and look at the invitation status.
✅ If you use Waalaxy: Tab « List »; « List X »; Filter « Did not respond ».
How do I cancel a LinkedIn invitation request?
❌ If you’re not using an automation tool. Then you need to manually go to the person’s profile and delete the invitation request. You can also go to “Network” then “Manage invitations” and “Sent”. You will then be able to remove the invitations of your choice.
✅ If you use Waalaxy: people who haven’t replied after a set time (you choose the duration), then they automatically exit the message sequence. You don’t have to do anything. ✨
With our 5 LinkedIn invitation message examples, you know how to contact your future customer!
