Sending someone a “Connect” invite on LinkedIn?

Chances are they have very little time to check their LinkedIn “Connection” Requests (they likely have many of them), and if they don’t THINK they know you, don’t remember you, or don’t immediately see the relevance to connecting with you, they may very well overlook or delete your request entirely.

And you want to make LinkedIn work FOR you, right?

That’s why you need to make your invite MATTER.

Here’s how to double your chances of getting your invites accepted….

Assuming you do already know the person (you have a pre-established relationship, or recently met them), be sure to check the proper association of which you know them by when you are sending your Connection Request (LinkedIn gives you a number of options, i.e. ‘Colleague’, ‘Classmate’, ‘We’ve done business together’, ‘Friend’, etc.).

For extra impact, include a brief personal note with your Connection Request, (LinkedIn gives you that option), with a courteous, friendly greeting and reminder of how you know/met them.

This adds an extra ‘personal touch’ to your request and can make a real difference, showing them that you took time to specifically reach out to THEM, and that your connection has genuine intentions and can mutually benefit each other (especially if you do not know them that well).

If you don’t know the person already, take heed, as this is where LinkedIn, out of concern for the privacy of its members, gets tricky. Do NOT click an improper association (i.e. “Friend” or “We’ve done business together”) if you are not a Colleague, Classmate, Friend or haven’t done business with them. Many recruiters/headhunters and/or impatient people do this, and it ticks people off (including myself). Your best bet is to find a common connection within your extended network on LinkedIn who can make an Introduction to that person on your behalf.

In a NUTSHELL: Do the right thing by ‘taking the high road’ with as courteous and professional a first impression (and personal brand!) as possible.

Now, go make some rockin’ career connections!

Did you dig today’s LinkedIn Super Secret? This is only the TIP of the iceberg!

Get even more juicy and immediately actionable insider secrets on how LinkedIn can help ROCK your career in my LinkedIn how-to guide: Headhunter LinkedIn Super Secrets: 21 Simple Steps to Become Absolutely Irresistible to Employers! (aka Get Noticed or Get LOST!)