Most LinkedIn connection requests get ignored because they ask for something before they give a reason. The fix is simple. Lead with why you are reaching out, add one specific detail, and leave the pitch for later. Below are eight templates you can copy, plus the rules that keep your acceptance rate high.
What makes a connection request work
A connection request is not the place to sell. It is the place to earn a reply. The notes that get accepted tend to do four things:
- Give a clear reason to connect, in the first line.
- Name one specific detail about the person or their work.
- Stay short. LinkedIn caps the note at 300 characters, so one or two sentences is plenty.
- Ask for nothing. No demo, no call, no link.
The fastest way to get ignored is the default line, "I'd like to add you to my professional network." It tells the reader nothing, so it gives them no reason to say yes.
8 connection request templates to copy
Swap the words in braces for your own. Keep the structure, change the detail.
- Mutual connection. Hi {First name}, we are both connected to {Mutual} and I really rate their work. Would be great to add you to my network and follow what you are building at {Company}.
- Same role or industry. Hi {First name}, I work with a lot of {role}s in {industry} and like connecting with people doing it well. Hope to have you in my network.
- They posted something good. Hi {First name}, your post on {topic} landed with me, especially the point about {detail}. Following your work and would love to connect.
- Same event or webinar. Hi {First name}, we both joined {event} this week. I enjoyed {session} and thought I would connect with others who were there.
- Cold, but a clear fit. Hi {First name}, I help {who you help} with {outcome} and came across your work at {Company}. No pitch, I just like to connect with people in the space.
- Shared background. Hi {First name}, fellow {school or past company} here. Always good to connect with people from the {community}. Hope things are going well at {Company}.
- Re-engaging an old lead. Hi {First name}, we spoke briefly about {topic} a while back. I would love to stay connected and keep sharing useful {industry} ideas.
- After they viewed your profile. Hi {First name}, I saw you stopped by my profile. If {topic} is on your radar at {Company}, happy to connect and trade notes.
How to personalise at scale without sounding like a bot
One great request takes two minutes. Two hundred of them takes your week. This is where most teams give up and send the same generic line to everyone, which is exactly what kills acceptance rates.
Flow AI closes that gap. You connect Flow AI to Claude or Cursor, point it at a list, and it drafts a personalised note for each person using their role, company and recent activity. You approve the ones you like, and Flow AI sends them at a safe, human-like pace. The research effort stays visible in every message, but you are not writing each one by hand.
- Build a targeted list from Flow AI's database of 300M+ contacts, or import your own.
- Let the co-pilot draft a personalised request per person, ready for you to approve.
- Send across your whole team from one place, each account within its own limits.
Stay within safe connection limits
Volume is not the goal, accepted requests are. Sending too many too fast is the quickest way to get your account restricted, so pace matters as much as the message.
- Most accounts can send roughly 20 to 30 requests a day without trouble.
- Spread them across the day rather than in one burst.
- Withdraw old pending requests so your acceptance ratio stays healthy.
Flow AI keeps every account within safe daily limits and sends at natural times, so you can run this at scale without putting your profile at risk. For the full breakdown, see our guide to LinkedIn connection limits.
Start with the eight templates, personalise one line each, and keep your pace sensible. That alone will lift your acceptance rate. When the volume gets too big to do by hand, let Flow AI draft and send the personalised requests for you.