Connecting with people on LinkedIn is a great way to initiate conversations with people who work at your target companies or who work in your field. However, there’s one thing that so many people forget to do when they hit the “Connect” button on LinkedIn - and it’s truly one of the most important things you can do when building your LinkedIn network. So, what is it?
Writing a customized message using the "Add Note" feature.
LinkedIn is a great tool for connecting with strangers who might work at your favorite companies or in your field. However, it’s important to remember that these people are STRANGERS and they might not be interested in connecting with you unless they have an idea of who you are and what you want.
So, next time you ask someone to connect on LinkedIn, be sure to take the time to write a customized message using the “Add Note” feature. This increases your chances of getting the other person to accept your request.
What do you write in this message? You should get the following points across in a concise paragraph:
- Who you are
- If you’ve met before
- Why you’re looking to connect
For example, you could say something like this:
Hi Jan! My name is Ariella Coombs and I’m a marketing student at Longwood University. We haven’t met before, but I noticed you were a digital marketer and I was hoping to ask you a few questions about the work. Can we connect?
This will not only tell them who you are and why you want to connect, but it will also act as a conversation starter. So many wins!
If you need more help with your LinkedIn strategy, book an appointment with Longwood University Career Services.
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