Successful LinkedIn networking starts with a clear professional reason to contact someone—not a target number of new connections. Identify your shared context, choose a low-pressure way to approach the person, and make any request concise and specific. That helps the other person understand why you reached out and what, if anything, you are asking of them.
How do I network on LinkedIn?
Begin with the relationship you want to build, not the connection count. LinkedIn recommends reaching out when you have a clear professional reason—for example, you worked or studied together, met at an event, or want to continue a conversation. LinkedIn’s guidance on ways to connect frames connection as a trust decision: an accepted invitation makes you first-degree connections, affecting messaging and access to profile information.
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Choose someone for a specific reason
Before contacting someone, be able to answer two questions: What is the professional context between us, and why is reaching out useful now? The context might be a shared project, a mutual field of study, a post that raised a relevant question, or a career path you are trying to understand. If you cannot name a genuine point of connection or a relevant reason, wait until you have one or use a less direct route.
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Pick the level of contact that fits
| Route | Context and likely comfort | Access and commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Send a connection request | Best when you can name a recognizable shared context or professional reason. | Direct invitation; acceptance creates a first-degree connection. |
| Follow or engage with public posts | Lower pressure when you do not yet know the person or have a natural opening. | Does not ask the person to accept a connection; interaction depends on their post and settings. |
| Join a relevant group | Useful when you share a professional interest or field but lack a personal introduction. | Creates a shared setting for discussion; participation is less direct than a private request. |
| Use InMail | May suit a direct message when a connection request is premature. | Availability depends on account and recipient settings. |
| Ask for an informational interview | Appropriate when you have a focused question about a person’s career path or professional goals. | Asks for more time than a connection; keep the proposed conversation modest and purposeful. |
LinkedIn presents following, participating in relevant groups, and InMail as alternatives to inviting someone to connect. See LinkedIn’s alternatives to connection invitations. A direct invitation is not automatically the best choice just because it is available.
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What should I say in a LinkedIn connection request?
Write a short note that identifies you, establishes the context, and explains why you want to connect. LinkedIn says a thoughtful message helps explain who you are and why you are reaching out. Its invitation-personalization guidance supports a simple structure: greeting, shared context, reason for reaching out, and a polite close.
A practical message structure
- Greet the person. Use their name and a professional, natural tone.
- Identify yourself and the connection. Mention where you met, what you worked on together, the relevant group or event, or the specific professional context.
- State why you are reaching out now. Make the reason concrete, such as continuing a conversation or learning more about a relevant area of work.
- Close without pressure. A brief expression of interest is enough; do not imply that the recipient owes you a reply.
Example: shared event
“Hi Maya, I enjoyed your comments about accessible design at the product meetup last week. I work on UX research and would be glad to stay in touch and follow your work.”
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Example: a person you do not know
“Hello Jordan, I found your profile through your post on urban planning careers. I’m a graduate student exploring transportation policy, and your work on transit projects is relevant to a question I’m researching. I’d be glad to connect.”
These examples work because they tell the recipient how the sender found them and why the contact is relevant. Avoid generic praise, a copied pitch, or a long biography that makes the purpose hard to find. LinkedIn’s 2014 business guide also recommends a salutation, a reminder of how you know the person, and a relevant personal or business reference; that remains useful writing advice, but its old interface directions should not be treated as current instructions.
Check the current note allowance
LinkedIn Help’s page surfaced in an October 7, 2026 search states that non-Premium members can add a personalized note to up to three connection requests per month, with a 200-character limit per note. It says Premium members can personalize all requests, subject to invitation limits. These platform rules can change; check the live personalized invitation help page before relying on the allowance.
How do I reach out to someone on LinkedIn I don’t know?
Do not treat a public profile as an invitation to send an immediate pitch. First look for a relevant point of contact: a post, shared professional group, event, area of work, or specific question. If there is no natural reason to request a connection yet, follow the person or participate constructively in a relevant discussion. That allows a professional context to develop without asking for a connection up front.
When a direct request makes sense
- You can clearly explain how you found the person and why their work is relevant.
- Your note asks only for a connection, rather than bundling it with a job referral, sales pitch, or substantial favor.
- You are comfortable with no response or a declined invitation.
When to use a lower-pressure route
- You have no shared context beyond wanting access to the person.
- You want to understand their work but have not yet identified a focused question.
- Your first message would require them to review materials, make an introduction, or spend significant time.
Following, group participation, and InMail each have different levels of directness and availability. Use the option that fits both your relationship and the commitment you are asking for.
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An informational interview is a request for someone’s time, so make the purpose narrow and the proposed commitment easy to assess. LinkedIn’s networking tip sheet describes asking to learn about a person’s career path or get advice on professional goals. Ask about one topic rather than requesting broad career guidance, and offer a brief conversation without assuming the person is available.
Example message
“Hi Priya, I’m exploring a move from customer support into product operations and came across your work in that area. If you have time, would you be open to a 15-minute conversation about how you made that transition? I’m especially interested in which skills helped most. No worries if your schedule is full.”
Send this kind of request when the person has a clear reason to be useful to your question, not simply because they have a senior title. If they agree, arrive prepared, respect the time you proposed, and keep the conversation focused on learning rather than turning it into an unannounced job or sales pitch.
How do I follow up after connecting on LinkedIn?
After a conversation or informational interview, send a brief thank-you that refers to one specific point you found helpful. If there is a natural next step, state it clearly and keep it proportionate—for example, sharing a resource you promised or saying you will apply the advice to a project. The reviewed LinkedIn guidance supports purposeful contact, but does not establish a universal follow-up timetable; respond in a way that fits the conversation rather than following an arbitrary schedule.
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Be selective. LinkedIn recommends connecting with people you know and trust, and warns that unwanted invitations or spam reports may temporarily restrict your ability to send invitations. Sending fewer, more relevant requests is safer than contacting people indiscriminately; LinkedIn also says a member can have up to 30,000 first-degree connections, a platform cap rather than a measure of networking success. LinkedIn’s connection guidance explains the trust and invitation context.
- Do not send the same generic message to a large list of people.
- Do not disguise a sales pitch or job request as a friendly connection note.
- Do not repeatedly pursue someone who has not responded.
- Make the reason for contact clear before asking for time, an introduction, or assistance.
LinkedIn Help says pending invitations expire after six months, and a sender can withdraw an invitation before it is accepted. See LinkedIn’s invitation FAQ for current invitation details.
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