I love connecting with people on LinkedIn.
I believe this powerful channel is best used when you deepen relationships with your network.
I highly recommend ALWAYS sending a personalized note with connection request (or following up with a note whenever possible).
But there are a ton of people who don’t know this etiquette. So how do you respond if someone sends you a standardized request?
You know, the one that reads: I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn?
Send a reply without accepting the connection, saying
Thanks for the invitation to connect. Can you refresh my memory as to how we know each other?
You don’t want to just collect “business cards”. You want to get to know or deepen your relationships.
We don’t buy or refer business unless we know, like & trust them. So your goal should be to get to know your connections better.
Here are the steps you can take to reply without accepting the connection request:
Let me know if you found this tip helpful!
Do you have other tips and etiquette about responding to LinkedIn connection requests?
About Leslie Hughes
Leslie Hughes is a LinkedIn Optimization Specialist, LinkedIn Top Voice, and Corporate Trainer with over 25 years of experience in digital marketing and LinkedIn profile writing.
As the Principal of PUNCH!media and author of "CREATE. CONNECT. CONVERT," Leslie helps executives and professionals optimize their LinkedIn profiles, generate leads, and attract higher-paying clients.
Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice—an exclusive honor from LinkedIn—Leslie is a trusted authority on LinkedIn profile optimization, AI-driven marketing strategies, and digital identity management.
Her expertise has been featured on CBC Radio, where she was called a "Social Media Guru," and on CTV’s "The Social," where she shared strategies for managing digital identity.
Leslie empowers professionals to leverage generative AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance marketing strategies, boost efficiency, and create impactful content that converts. She helps businesses understand how to use LinkedIn for lead generation and how AI can revolutionize their digital marketing efforts.
Leslie has worked with top organizations like Investment Planning Counsel, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, JLL, and Franklin Templeton, optimizing LinkedIn profiles and providing corporate training that delivers measurable results.
Leslie is a former college professor and co-lead instructor for Ontario Tech University’s Social Media Marketing and Digital Management Certificate.
Whether you need a LinkedIn profile writer, corporate trainer, or AI marketing specialist, Leslie Hughes can help you elevate your digital presence and transform your marketing strategy.
Ready to take your LinkedIn profile and corporate training to the next level?
Learn more at www.punchmedia.ca.
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