On LinkedIn, you often connect with people you have never met in real life. This can be off-putting, but it’s quickly become the norm in many business circles. Still, there are certain aspects of the process to keep in mind when reaching out to a new contact
Don’t comment on their photo
It’s best to stay focused on the business side of things and not the physical appearance of the person you are trying to reach out to
- LinkedIn is not the platform for complimenting someone’s appearance, even if it is intended
Make contacting you easy and accessible
Provide multiple avenues of contact on your LinkedIn profile
- Listing your email, phone number, etc., on your profile increases the chance your requests are accepted.
- In addition, it adds legitimacy that you are a real person who is open to business opportunities.
Remember your visibility
Fine-tune your profile and post history to ensure everything listed is accurate and relevant to your current goals.
- By tidying up your posts and profile before you request connections, you can rest easy that when the potential contact reads your profile, it portrays you in an ideal light that will lead to an accepted request.
Be Personal With Your Approach
Craft Quality Messages
- Read their profile and spend enough time crafting your message so they know you are a human.
- Be mindful not to send too many requests in a day
- LinkedIn might notice if you send more than 30 connections per day
It’s best to give before taking
Give something free to start your outreach, you display an unselfish spirit that is sure to stand out from the pack
- Take the time to research the connection and see the need you can fulfill for them
- Once you do, your connection will make far more sense for both sides
Be specific and honest about your intent
Be direct and let the contact know who you are and what you are looking for right out the gate. This shows respect and transparency and will pay dividends down the line for both your immediate connection success rate and long-term reputation in the industry.
