How to Send a LinkedIn Connection Request? (2026)

As of 2026, LinkedIn is one of the most critical digital channels for professional networking. However, sending a connection request is not just about clicking the “Connect” button. The algorithm filters your connection requests based on your profile quality, how you send the request, and your level of personalization, shaping how the request appears to the recipient.

Especially recruiters, decision-makers, and potential clients carefully review every incoming connection request. Therefore, random and impersonal requests—especially those without explanations—have much lower acceptance rates. In this guide, you will find how to send LinkedIn connection requests both on mobile and desktop, along with message templates and strategies to increase acceptance rates.

At Sepetbayım, just as we advocate a “targeted and data-driven approach” for social media growth, the same discipline is essential for LinkedIn connection strategies. Just as segmenting your audience and planning your moves is effective on Instagram or TikTok, the same applies to LinkedIn.

We have previously shared audience growth and engagement tips for Instagram, TikTok, and X (Twitter) in separate guides; you can access these on your blog page. Similarly, by following a step-by-step strategy for LinkedIn, you can clearly improve the quality of your network within a few months.

Types of Connections: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degree Connections

LinkedIn shows the distance between users through connection degrees:

• 1st degree — You are directly connected. You can send direct messages.
• 2nd degree — You have mutual connections but are not directly connected yet.
• 3rd degree and beyond — There are multiple connection layers in between.

Your degree is an important signal to determine your message and strategy when sending connection requests. 2nd degree connections generally have a relatively higher chance of acceptance.

Algorithm and Quota Limits

LinkedIn restricts aggressive connection request behavior. You have a weekly quota for connection requests, and sending many requests that are rejected or ignored in a short time can increase your account’s risk score. This may reduce your account’s visibility and even lead to temporary connection request restrictions.

Therefore, you should base your LinkedIn connection request strategy on the principle of “quality over quantity”. In the following sections, we will clarify the steps for both desktop and mobile, then move on to message examples that increase acceptance rates.

Sending LinkedIn connection requests from a computer allows for a more detailed profile review compared to the mobile app. Especially for professional business communications, using desktop offers advantages in both speed and focus.

Step-by-step: Sending a Connection Request from a Profile

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account — Access linkedin.com via your browser and log in.
2. Use the search bar — Type the person’s name, company, or title in the search bar at the top of the page.
3. Open the relevant profile — Click on the profile of the person you want to connect with from the search results.
4. Click the “Connect” button — Select the “Connect” button next to their profile photo and headline.
5. Add a personal note — In the pop-up window, be sure to click “Add a note” and write a brief introduction/context note within 200 characters.
6. Click the “Send” button — After reviewing your message, send the request.

Quick Connection Request from Search Results

The “Connect” shortcut next to each profile card in the search results saves time. However, using this method usually does not allow you to add a personal note. To increase acceptance rates, it’s healthier to visit the profile page and send a connection request with a note.

Especially for job opportunities, collaborations, and sales-focused connections, requests with personal notes have 3–5 times higher acceptance rates than those without explanations. While solutions like our free Instagram likes tool work for quick engagement on other social networks, on LinkedIn, taking the time to personalize is critical.

Sending Connection Requests from Groups and Company Pages

When visiting a company page or a LinkedIn group you belong to, you can explore potential connections by entering the members list. This is especially effective in scenarios like:

• Professionals working in the same industry
• Alumni of the same university
• People working in the position you are interested in

In this case, be sure to add the “Shared group/company” context to your message. This way, the request is perceived not as spam but as a natural connection request with shared context.

The LinkedIn mobile app is very useful for instantly sending connection requests to people you meet at events, fairs, or conferences. In 2026, the iOS and Android interfaces are quite similar; the steps are almost the same.

Sending a Connection Request from a Profile Page

1. Open the LinkedIn app — Launch the app on your iOS or Android device and log in.
2. Tap the search icon — Tap the magnifying glass icon at the top to open the search field.
3. Search for the person or company — Filter by name, title, or company name.
4. Tap the profile card — Enter the profile of the person you want to connect with.
5. Tap the “Connect” button — Tap the “Connect” button located below or beside the profile photo.
6. Open the “Add a note” option — Before sending the request on both iOS and Android, tap the “Add a note” link to write a personal message.

Quick Connection via QR Code

One method replacing business card exchanges at events is LinkedIn’s QR code feature. By tapping the small QR icon next to the search bar in the app, you can:

• Show your own profile’s QR code,
• Scan the other person’s QR code to instantly open their profile.

After opening the profile, following the “Connect → Add a note” path and writing a brief message reminding where you met and what you discussed significantly increases your acceptance rate.

Adding Connections from Notifications and Suggestions

When you enter the “My Network” tab in the mobile app, you see LinkedIn’s “People You May Know” suggestions. Points to consider when adding connections from here:

• Whenever possible, visit the profile page and send requests with a personal note.
• Do not send bulk requests to profiles with very empty photos, headlines, or about sections.
• Do not send connection requests to too many people in a short time.

To quickly grow your audience on Instagram, TikTok, or X (Twitter), you can use our free tools like free Instagram followers, free TikTok followers, and free Twitter followers. However, since LinkedIn is a slower and quality-focused platform, you should adopt a “targeted and limited” approach rather than a “rapid and random” one during connection requests.

One of the most important factors determining whether a LinkedIn connection request is accepted is the personal note you add. Blank requests often get lost in the inboxes of busy professionals or are directly rejected.

4 Golden Rules of a Good Connection Note

• Be short and clear — 2–3 sentences are enough. Avoid long paragraphs.
• Provide context — Mention where you saw them and why you want to connect.
• Don’t sell — Avoid aggressive requests like product/service sales or meeting demands in the first message.
• Emphasize common ground — Connect through shared university, company, event, industry, or content.

Message Templates: Examples for Different Scenarios

You can adapt the following message templates to fit your situation:

• To a professional in the same industry
  “Hello [Name], I often see your posts in the [Industry] field. Your writings on [topic] have been very helpful. As someone working in the same area, I’d like to have you in my network.”
• To an HR specialist/recruiter posting a job
  “Hello [Name], I saw the [Position] job posting you opened for [Company]. I have been working in [field] for [X years]. I am applying and would like to have you in my network to learn more about your company culture.”
• To someone you met at an event
  “Hello [Name], we had a brief chance to chat today at [Event name]. Thank you again for your suggestions about [topic discussed]. I’d like to stay connected on LinkedIn as well.”
• Shared university alumni connection
  “Hello [Name], I saw on your profile that you graduated from [University/department]. You finished the same department [x years] before me. I’d like to grow our alumni network and it would be great to have you in my network.”

Which Messages Should You Avoid?

The following types of messages are perceived as spam or aggressive sales attempts by most Turkish users:

• “I have an amazing opportunity for you, can you spare just 15 minutes?”
• “I have a special offer for you, let’s schedule a meeting immediately.”
• “Would you like to get services from us? I’m sending our price list.”

Advice: A LinkedIn connection request is not the first step in the sales process but the relationship-building step. To move to sales, you first need trust, then alignment of needs and timing. Do not force any of these during the connection request stage.

Sending connection requests to everyone you see on LinkedIn both strains your quota limits and makes your account appear risky to the algorithm. Instead, you need to create a targeted and segmented connection list.

Groups You Should Prioritize Adding

• Professionals working in the same industry — For both knowledge sharing and potential job opportunities.
• People working in your target companies — Especially those in the same department or position group.
• Your university/alumni network — Alumni connections work strongly in references and recommendations.
• Former colleagues and managers — Valuable for references and networking.
• Experts whose content you regularly follow — For idea exchange and visibility.

Connections You Should Approach Cautiously

The table below summarizes who you should be careful about adding:

Adjust Your Connection Strategy According to Your Career Goals

If you work in social media, digital marketing, or content creation, consider your LinkedIn connections in harmony with your other social network strategies. For example:

• While reading interaction increase guides for Instagram, also follow experts in that field on LinkedIn.
• If you focus on growth on Twitter (X), add profiles that will represent your brand on LinkedIn in line with follower growth tactics.
• If you focus on YouTube, support the content strategy recommended in YouTube channel growth articles with professional content you share on LinkedIn.

Although Sepetbayım’s tools for other social networks do not directly work on LinkedIn, transferring the audience reading and engagement analysis reflex you gain to your LinkedIn strategy helps you grow your network much more healthily.

Everyone sometimes sends a connection request to the wrong person, with the wrong message, or in a hurry. LinkedIn allows you to withdraw sent requests and manage pending ones. Using this section regularly prevents your account from appearing as “spam.”

Canceling Sent Connection Requests on Desktop

1. Click the “My Network” tab — Enter the “My Network” section in the top menu.
2. Click “Manage invitations” — You will see a “Manage” link in the section where your incoming invitations are.
3. Select “Sent” — The page has “Received” and “Sent” tabs. Switch to “Sent.”
4. Find the request you want to cancel — Find the person in the list and click the “Withdraw” option next to it.

Canceling Sent Requests on Mobile App

1. Go to the “My Network” tab — Tap the “My Network” icon in the bottom menu.
2. Open “Manage invitations” — On the incoming invitations screen, usually tap the “Manage” or gear icon at the top right.
3. Switch to the “Sent” tab — You will see your pending invitations here.
4. Tap the “Withdraw” button for each request — Withdraw unnecessary or mistaken requests one by one.

Why Should You Clean Up Pending Invitations?

Too many unanswered and long-pending connection invitations can be a negative signal to LinkedIn. This situation:

• Reduces your acceptance rate,
• May cause the algorithm to label you as an “aggressive connection requester,”
• Can gradually narrow your weekly connection request quota.

Especially reviewing pending invitations every month and canceling those unanswered for more than 3–6 months keeps your account on a healthier track. This habit is very similar to the regular analysis and measurement discipline on Instagram or TikTok—regular maintenance makes the biggest difference in the long run.

Like other social networks, LinkedIn has clear rules to protect users’ security and professional experience. Violating these rules can result in connection request restrictions, reduced content visibility, and in severe cases, permanent account closure.

Main Principles of LinkedIn Community Guidelines

The platform operates with near-zero tolerance on hate speech, harassment, spam, misleading information, and fake identities. Official guides from other networks provide good references; for example, Instagram’s rules can be found at the official help center, and TikTok’s Community Guidelines page. LinkedIn applies similar principles:

• Mass and automated connection requests — Using bots and automation violates terms of use.
• Fake identity and work experience — Creating profiles with false information is a serious violation.
• Excessively aggressive sales/message traffic — Can lead to account restrictions due to user complaints.

KVKK and Personal Data

In Turkey, the processing of personal data is regulated by Law No. 6698. Official details are available through the KVKK institution. On your LinkedIn profile:

• Keep information like phone numbers and personal emails limited to your connections rather than public.
• Never share sensitive data such as home address or identity numbers.
• Do not use confidential workplace information (customer lists, financial data, etc.) in your profile or posts.

Sepetbayım’s Security Approach

Sepetbayım’s Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter tools operate on a model fully funded by advertising revenue without requesting passwords; that is, they do not charge users. When adapting the same approach to platforms like LinkedIn that provide critical account access, the most important principle should be not compromising account security. Do not share your LinkedIn login credentials with third-party automation services.

On privacy and data security, it is also important to transparently create your own site policies; similar examples can be seen on the KVKK disclosure text and privacy policy pages.

A LinkedIn connection request is not an end in itself; it is a tool that supports your personal brand, sales funnel, or career journey. In 2026, LinkedIn remains a platform characterized by “low noise, high intent” for both B2B sales professionals and individual content creators.

Link the Connection Request to Your Personal Brand Strategy

What will the person see when they visit your profile after receiving your connection request? Clarify the following:

• Your profile headline — Instead of just listing your position, use a phrase that explains who you add value to and how.
• Your About section — Summarize your areas of expertise and the types of people/companies you work with in 3–4 paragraphs.
• Your content schedule — Share insights, experiences, or analyses related to your industry at least 1–2 times a week.

If the other party sees a clear value proposition on your profile after accepting your connection request, they will position you not just as a “number of connections” but as a “source of knowledge and opportunities.”

The Place of Connection Requests in the Sales Funnel

Especially in B2B sales and consulting, you can think of LinkedIn connection requests within a 3-stage structure:

1. Awareness — Identify your target audience and include them in your network with connection requests.
2. Warming up period — Ensure your profile appears in their feed regularly with valuable content.
3. Starting a conversation — After establishing a natural connection, communicate politely and need-focused at the right time.

In the first step of this process, not only “what you write when sending a connection request” but also “how often and to whom you send it” is important. Sending connection requests indiscriminately to very broad audiences damages your reputation in the long term.

While using Sepetbayım’s free Instagram views, free TikTok views, or free Twitter views solutions to increase your visibility and reach on other social networks, consciously avoiding the same aggressiveness on LinkedIn helps you act in line with the platform’s nature.

Small mistakes when sending LinkedIn connection requests can seriously reduce your acceptance rate and long-term network quality. You can use this section as a checklist to quickly review.

7 Most Common Mistakes

• Sending connection requests without explanations — Especially sending requests without notes to people you don’t know.
• Trying to sell products/services in the first message — Receiving offers before even viewing your profile is off-putting for most people.
• Pushing quota and speed limits — Sending too many requests in a short time can lead to account restrictions.
• Sending bulk requests to irrelevant profiles — People with no connection to your industry, geography, or goals.
• Sending connection requests without preparing your profile — A poorly filled or outdated profile damages your professional impression.
• Not cleaning up pending invitations — Hundreds of requests pending for months can lower your reputation score.
• Using aggressive or overly familiar tone — Language contrary to the platform’s professional tone increases rejection risk.

2026 LinkedIn Connection Request Checklist

Before sending a connection request, quickly ask yourself these questions:

1. Is my profile photo current and professional?
2. Does my headline clearly show what I do and who I add value to?
3. Does my About section reflect my status in the last year?
4. Why am I sending a connection request to this person? (Do I have a clear answer?)
5. Does my message explain the context in 2–3 sentences?
6. Am I avoiding sales attempts in the first message?
7. Have I cleaned up my pending invitations in the last month?

If you can answer “Yes” to most of these questions, it’s time to send your connection request. Remember—unlike fast-consumed content on social media, LinkedIn is a platform built on relationships and trust. Using the analysis and strategy reflex you gain from Sepetbayım’s growth tools for other platforms to build slower but deeper connections on LinkedIn will directly benefit your career in the long run.