Connection requests are the foundation of LinkedIn outreach — you generally need to be connected before you can message someone.
Add a connection request
In your campaign sequence, click Add Step.
Choose Send LinkedIn Connection Request.
Optionally write a connection note.
Set the delay.
The connection note
Notes are limited to 300 characters. You can also send an invite with no note at all.
With or without a note? Both work. A short, specific note usually performs better with senior prospects, while no-note invites can perform surprisingly well at volume. Test both on your audience.
If you do write one, make it specific:
Hi {{firstName}}, I saw your post about scaling outbound at {{companyName}} — the point about rep onboarding really landed. Would love to connect.
Avoid pitching in the invite. The note's only job is to get the invite accepted.
Personalization variables
Use camelCase variables:
{{firstName}}{{lastName}}{{companyName}}{{jobTitle}}
Variable names are case-sensitive. {{firstName}} works; {{first_name}} does not and will be sent as literal text. See How to Use Personalization & Variables.
Connection statuses
Status | Meaning |
Pending | Invite sent, not yet actioned |
Accepted | They accepted — messaging steps can now run |
Withdrawn | The invite was automatically withdrawn after sitting pending too long |
Automatic withdrawal
Invites that stay pending are withdrawn automatically after 14 days.
This matters more than it sounds. LinkedIn counts your outstanding pending invitations, and a large backlog of ignored invites damages your standing. Automatic withdrawal keeps that queue clean.
Keeping your acceptance rate healthy
Aim to stay above 30% — below that, your daily limits get cut automatically.
Target people who'd plausibly know why you're contacting them. Relevance beats volume.
Complete your own profile. People check who's inviting them; a thin profile gets ignored.
Warm up first. A profile view or post like before the invite makes your name familiar.
Keep daily volume conservative, especially on a new account.