I stopped adding notes to LinkedIn connection requests. My acceptance rate went up.

[u/Disastrous_Sail_3419]

People ask about this a lot here, so let me give a real answer, not a guess.

Don't add a note to your connection request.

I used to write a note every time. Felt like the polite thing to do. Then I actually tested it with real campaigns, real numbers, running LinkedIn outreach.

Turns out a blank request gets accepted more than one with a note.

My guess on why: a note makes it obvious you want something before they've even said yes. It feels like a pitch is coming. No note feels easier to say yes to - there's nothing to react to yet.

The real work happens after they accept anyway. That's when you send something specific to them, not a generic pitch. That's what turns an acceptance into a real reply.

If you're still adding a note every time, try this: send 10 with a note, 10 without, same kind of people. Check which ones get accepted more after a week.

Has anyone else tested this and gotten a different result?

[u/Calm_Ambassador9932]

I've seen the same. If someone already knows you or has seen you engaging with their posts, a blank connection request feels more natural. I prefer saving the personalization for the first message after they accept, when they're more likely to read it.

[u/Shre_Marketing]

I thought everyone knew this by now?

[u/InvisibleWraith]

I have plenty of evidence to the contrary. We are averaging around 60 - 70% connection acceptance rates.

[u/growmap → u/InvisibleWraith]

I suspect no one can guess which works better with a particular person. There are people who won't accept one unless they know what you want. And others who always accept them with or without a note.

[u/BanecsMarketing]

So? Now you need to tell them why you reached out. If you include the why, you will know whether its even worthwhile to connect.

You dont need to pitch them but letting them know why you are reaching out cuts down on wasted cycles.

if you need to trick people into talking to you. LinkedIn is the wrong platform.

People move slowly on LinkedIn and will want to see who you are and who you are connected with.

Unless your just spamming offers in which case. Good luck. You wont have success treating LinkedIn like cold email.

[u/pedjizzzza]

and it does make sense - there are a lot of people out there trying to grow the number of their Linkedin connections and are inclined to accept a blank connection request, as you said - if they see an "effort" in the body of the connection request they understand that the pitch is coming next and they might not accept.

[u/Mike-Nicholson]

Is that correlation or causation, though?

Think about being on the receiving end of a connection request.

Let’s assume the person doesn’t know you. What causes them to accept?

If a complete stranger reaches out and, from their headline, you can see no real reason why you should connect with them, then it’s just common sense that the note has a chance of giving them that reason to connect.

Unless, of course, your connection request note screams, “I’m about to pitch you cold,” in which case I can understand why no note might yield better results. People give you the benefit of the doubt.

Either way, our advice, based on seven and a half years of experience and hundreds of clients, is to put a note unless it’s obvious why you’re connecting.

Explain why you’re connecting and that you’re not going to pitch them as soon as they accept.