LinkedIn Connection Message Generator
A connection note works when it says, in one specific sentence, why you want to connect. Choose your situation, add their name and one real detail, and get notes you can send right away, with a live count against the 200 character limit for free accounts.
Runs in your browser · nothing is sent or stored · see all templates
Hi {firstName}, I work with {industry} teams on {problem}. Your post on {topic} made a point I keep hearing from customers. Would be glad to connect and follow your work.
Hi {firstName}, fellow founder in {industry} here. I like how {company} approaches {topic}. Would love to connect and swap notes sometime.
Hi {firstName}, your {content type} on {topic} was the most useful thing I read this week. I write about {my topic} too and would love to connect.
Hi {firstName}, I help {audience} with {service}. I noticed {company} is {observation}. No pitch, just keen to connect with people doing great work in {industry}.
Hi {firstName}, I coach {audience} on {topic}. Your post about {detail} resonated. Would love to connect.
Hi {firstName}, I am a {role} working with {technology}. I learned a lot from your write-up on {topic} and would like to connect.
Rate this tool
Writing the note in under a minute
- 01
Choose the situation
Cold, warm intro, after an event, alumni, same industry or recruiter.
- 02
Add one real detail
Their first name plus something you noticed: a post they wrote, their company, or where you met.
- 03
Check the count and send
Make sure the note fits, copy it, and send the request yourself from their profile.
Ignored vs accepted
| Situation | Ignored | Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Cold | I would like to add you to my professional network. | Hi Dana, your post on activation made a point I keep hearing from customers. Would be glad to connect. |
| After an event | Nice to meet you. | Hi Morgan, great to meet you at SaaStr. I enjoyed our chat about pricing pages. Let's stay in touch here. |
| Alumni | Can you help me get a job? | Hi Riley, fellow UT Austin grad here. I am exploring product management and would love to learn from your path. |
| Same industry | Let's connect! | Hi Sam, we both work on hospital billing software. I would like to follow what you share about payer rules. |
Name, reason, small ask
Use their first name, give one specific reason you are reaching out, and keep the ask to connecting. If there is ever a pitch, it comes much later, inside a real conversation.
Tips that work
- Do mention something you actually saw on their profile or in their posts.
- Do leave a comfortable margin under the limit.
- Do send fewer requests and spend the saved time on the notes.
- Don't pitch a product or ask for a call in the first note.
- Don't send the same note to everyone at one company.
- Don't open with "I hope this finds you well"; it eats characters and says nothing.
What the person on the other end is wondering
Someone who gets a request from a stranger has one question: why is this person reaching out to me? A blank request gives them nothing to go on. A pitch gives them a reason to click Ignore. A short note with a real reason answers the question and makes accepting easy.
It also sets the tone for whatever comes next. When the first message shows you paid attention, the follow-up conversation starts warmer, whether you are after advice, a job lead or, much later, business.
The six situations, and what each note needs
Cold: you have never met, so the reason has to be about them specifically, such as a post or a project. Warm intro: name the mutual connection or the conversation that led here. After an event: send it within a day or two and mention what you talked about.
Alumni: the shared school opens the door, but say what you want to learn. Same industry: name the specific corner of the field you share. Recruiter: name the role or the kind of people you hire, so the person knows it is not spam.
Every note is short on purpose. LinkedIn allows 200 characters in a connection note on a free account and 300 with Premium, so the composer counts against 200 as you type and warns you before a note gets too long.
After they accept
Wait for the accept before you write again. Then thank them briefly and start a real conversation: a question about their work, or something useful to them. Do not paste a pitch into the first message after accepting; it undoes all the goodwill the note earned.
If they never accept, let it go. Do not resend or chase them on another channel. Put the effort into people where you have a clearer reason to connect. The follow-up message generator has openers for the first message after an accept.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a LinkedIn connection note be?
200 characters on a free account and 300 with Premium. Free accounts can also send only a few personalized notes each month, so make each one count.
Should I always add a note?
For people you do not know well, yes. For close colleagues or friends, a request without a note is fine.
Does this tool send requests for me?
No. We never automate actions on LinkedIn. You copy the note and send the request yourself.
Are my details stored?
No. Everything you type stays in your browser and is never sent to us.
Where can I see all the templates?
The connection request template library has every template with examples, filters and a "fill my details" option.
What if they do not accept?
Let it go. Do not resend or message them elsewhere; focus on people where you have a clearer reason to connect.
Can I connect with someone I only know from their posts?
Yes. Mention the specific post and what it made you think. That is one of the most natural reasons there is.
Key terms
- Connection degrees:
- Connection degrees show how close a LinkedIn member is to you: 1st means directly connected, 2nd means connected to one of your connections, 3rd means one step further out.
- Followers vs connections:
- A connection is a two-way link both members agree to, while a follower is someone who sees your public posts in their feed without you needing to accept them.
- LinkedIn Groups:
- LinkedIn Groups are communities inside LinkedIn where members with a shared profession, industry or interest can post, comment and discuss topics together.
- Mutual connections:
- Mutual connections are the 1st-degree LinkedIn connections you share with another member, shown on their profile as people you both know.
- Pending invitations:
- A pending invitation is a LinkedIn connection request that has been sent but not yet accepted or ignored by the person who received it.
Keep the conversation going
- TEMPLATES
Connection Request Templates
Every template, with filters.
- TOOL
Follow-up Message Generator
What to send after they accept.
- TOOL
Character Counter
Check any field against its limit.
- GUIDE
How to Write a LinkedIn Connection Request
The full guide.
More outreach tools and guides: LinkedIn Outreach: From First Note to Real Conversation.
Last updated · Written and reviewed by the [Brand] team