LinkedIn Connection Message Templates: 25 Notes Under 200 Characters (2026)

A good LinkedIn connection message is one or two sentences: why this person, who you are, and a soft close, with no pitch. Keep it under 200 characters. That is the limit for free accounts, and LinkedIn's Help Center (2026) says free members can add a note to only three connection requests per month, while Premium members can add one to every request. Below are 25 connection note templates sorted by situation, all short enough to fit.

LinkedIn connection note rules in 2026

LinkedIn has limited personalized notes on free accounts since 2023, and the allowance has shrunk over time. Here is what applies as of October 2026:

Sources: Personalize invitations to connect and InMail vs. personalized invitations on LinkedIn Help. Some older LinkedIn help pages still say five free notes per month; the main help article, updated in 2026, says three. LinkedIn doesn't publish its weekly invitation cap. We cover what users actually see in how many LinkedIn invites you can send per week.

How to add a note to a connection request

On desktop:

1. Open the person's profile.
2. Click Connect in the introduction section. If you only see Follow, click More and then Connect.
3. Click Add a note.
4. Type your message (up to 200 characters on a free account).
5. Click Send invitation.

On the mobile app, tap the More icon on the profile, then Personalize Invite, write your note and tap Send Invitation. Invitations sent from People You May Know on mobile can't be personalized.

What makes a connection note work

Most people decide in two seconds, from the note and your headline. The notes that get accepted share three traits:

• A specific reason. "Your post on pricing pages" beats "your impressive profile". Point to something real: an event, a post, a shared employer, a mutual connection, a job they posted.
• Who you are, in a few words. Role and company, or what you work on. Your LinkedIn headline does the rest of the job, so make sure it's clear.
• No ask. Don't pitch, don't attach a calendar link, don't ask for a call. The invitation is the ask. Sell later, if ever, in a real conversation.

What gets ignored: flattery that could apply to anyone ("I'm impressed by your background"), fake familiarity, pitches squeezed into 200 characters, and copy-pasted text the person has already received from three other people this week.

25 LinkedIn connection message templates

Replace the brackets and cut anything that doesn't apply. Each template is 105 to 150 characters before you fill in the brackets, so it stays under 200 with typical names and company names.

Someone you met at an event

1. Hi [Name], great talking with you at [event] about [topic]. I'd like to stay in touch here and see how [project] turns out.

2. Hi [Name], I was at your talk at [event]. Your point on [detail] changed how I think about [topic]. Would be glad to connect.

After a post, comment or newsletter

3. Hi [Name], your post on [topic] was the clearest take I've read on it, especially [detail]. I work on [area] at [Company]. Happy to connect.

4. Hi [Name], I've been reading your comments on [topic] for a while and agree on [point]. I'd like to follow your work more closely. Open to connecting?

Mutual connection

5. Hi [Name], [Mutual] suggested I reach out since we both work on [topic]. I'd be glad to connect and compare notes sometime.

6. Hi [Name], I see we both know [Mutual] from [context]. I'm [role] at [Company], working on [area]. Would be good to connect.

Peer in your industry

7. Hi [Name], fellow [job title] here. I like swapping ideas with people solving [problem] at [type of company]. Glad to connect.

8. Hi [Name], we both work in [industry] in [city]. I'm trying to know more people doing [function] locally. Open to connecting?

Alumni and former employers

9. Hi [Name], fellow [school] alum here. I saw you moved into [field], which is where I'm heading too. Would love to connect.

10. Hi [Name], I also spent a few years at [Company] ([team]). Always nice to connect with former [Company] people. How's [current company]?

Prospects (sales, without the pitch)

11. Hi [Name], I work with [role]s at [type of company] on [problem]. Your post about [topic] stood out. Happy to connect.

12. Hi [Name], I saw [Company] is hiring [role]s, usually a sign [area] is growing. I talk to a lot of teams at that stage. Glad to connect.

13. Hi [Name], congrats on [funding / launch / new role]. I follow [industry] closely and would like to keep up with what [Company] does next.

14. Hi [Name], I emailed you last week about [topic]. Connecting here too, in case LinkedIn is easier for you.

Recruiters and hiring managers

15. Hi [Name], I just applied for the [job title] role at [Company]. I have [X] years in [skill] and would be glad to connect if you have questions.

16. Hi [Name], I'm a [job title] focused on [skill]. I see you recruit for [team] at [Company] and would like to be on your radar for future roles.

17. Hi [Name], I saw you're hiring a [job title]. Last year I [one concrete result]. Open to connecting so I can share more?

More examples for job seekers, including InMail and follow-ups, are in our guide on how to message a recruiter on LinkedIn.

Employees at a company you'd like to join

18. Hi [Name], I'm exploring [role] positions and [Company] is high on my list. Would you be open to connecting? I'd value your view on the team.

Someone who viewed your profile

19. Hi [Name], thanks for stopping by my profile. I'm [role] at [Company], working on [area]. Happy to connect if it's useful.

Former colleagues

20. Hi [Name], it's been a while since [company / project]! I'd love to reconnect and hear what you've been up to at [current company].

21. Hi [Name], I was just thinking about our [project] days. Looks like things are going well at [Company]. Let's reconnect here.

Speakers, creators and experts

22. Hi [Name], I listened to your episode on [topic]. The part about [detail] helped with my work on [area]. I'd be glad to connect.

Partners, agencies and investors

23. Hi [Name], I run [Company]; we help [audience] with [result]. I think our clients overlap with yours. Open to connecting?

24. Hi [Name], I'm building [Company] in [space] and saw you backed [portfolio company]. I'd like to connect and keep you posted.

When you have no hook at all

25. Hi [Name], I'm [role] at [Company] and I'm growing my network among [role]s in [industry]. Would be glad to connect.

If you're on a free account and only get three notes a month, save them for the people who matter most (a recruiter for a role you want, a dream client, a speaker you just met) and send the rest without a note.

Should you send a connection request without a note?

Often, yes. With three notes per month on a free account, most of your invitations will go out blank anyway. A blank invitation does fine when:

• your headline and photo make it obvious who you are and why you'd connect;
• you're a 2nd-degree connection with mutual contacts in common;
• you plan to start the conversation after they accept.

Use a note when the person has no reason to recognize you: a cold prospect outside your network, a senior executive, a recruiter you're writing to about a specific job. LinkedIn's own help page says a short note "can help the recipient decide whether to accept your request", and that has matched our experience.

What to send after they accept

The note gets you in. The first message decides whether a conversation starts. Send it within a day or two, keep it short and ask one easy question:

Thanks for connecting, [Name]. Quick question since you run [team]: how are you handling [problem] these days? Curious how other teams approach it.

Thanks for accepting, [Name]. I put together [resource] on [topic] for [role]s. Want me to send it over?

Thanks for connecting, [Name]. I applied for [role] on [date]. Happy to share more about [project] if it helps with your review.

If they don't reply, one follow-up a week later is enough. When conversations pile up, our guide to managing your LinkedIn inbox covers filters, Focused Inbox and the tools that help.

Mistakes that get invitations ignored (or your account restricted)

• Pitching in the note. "Hi, we help companies like yours increase revenue by 30%" reads like spam, and recipients can report it.
• Sending too many invitations to strangers. LinkedIn may temporarily restrict you if many invitations are ignored, left pending or marked as spam (LinkedIn Help).
• Letting pending invitations pile up. Withdraw old ones now and then. Note that after you withdraw an invitation, you can't invite the same person again for up to three weeks.
• Identical notes at scale. If you send a lot of invitations, at least vary the reason for connecting. If you use a tool to send them, read our guide on automating LinkedIn connection requests safely first.
• Connecting before your profile is ready. No photo, a vague headline and an empty About section make even a great note look suspicious.

If you're restricted anyway, here's how to get a restricted LinkedIn account back.

Writing notes at scale with useArtemis

If you send connection requests every week as part of prospecting, writing each note by hand gets slow. useArtemis builds multichannel sequences that combine LinkedIn invitations, messages, profile visits and email steps, and writes a personalized note for each prospect with AI, based on their profile and your brief. Sending stays within safe daily limits at a human-like pace, and replies from LinkedIn and email land in one inbox. You can create an account here.

FAQ

What is a good message to connect on LinkedIn?

A good connection message is short and specific: one line on why you're reaching out to this person (an event, a post, a mutual contact, a job), one line on who you are, and a soft close like "Glad to connect." Keep it under 200 characters and leave out any pitch or link.

How many characters can a LinkedIn connection note have?

On a free account, a connection note can be up to 200 characters. LinkedIn's help pages give Premium members a 300-character limit. Writing for 200 characters works on any plan, and shorter notes tend to read better anyway.

How many personalized connection requests can I send on a free account?

LinkedIn's main help article (updated in 2026) says free members can add a personalized note to up to three connection requests per month. Some older LinkedIn help pages still say five. Premium members can add a note to every request, but weekly invitation limits still apply to everyone.

Is it better to send a LinkedIn connection request without a note?

It depends on how well the person can place you. Peers, 2nd-degree connections and people you've met can accept a blank request from a clear profile. Cold prospects, senior people and recruiters are more likely to accept with a short note that gives a real reason.

What should I write after someone accepts my connection request?

Thank them briefly, then ask one easy, relevant question or offer something useful, such as a resource or an introduction. Don't send a sales pitch right after they accept. If there's no reply, send one short follow-up about a week later.