Due to COVID-19 and the lack of physical interaction the “virtual coffee chat” has become a thing. I receive 2-3 LinkedIn messages per day asking to schedule a call so that I can share my personal experience in consulting, answer recruiting-related questions, and sometimes even review a resume on the spot. However, due my busy schedule there is only a handful of requests that I can reply and offer to help. In other words, I’ve become more selective, and it’s not always those with great work experience, education, or extracurriculars who stand out. In fact, it’s those who make a tailored message that is crisp, short and to the point.
So, what’s the key to getting people to connect with you and your brand on LinkedIn?
In this post, I’ll walk you through the secret formula for writing an irresistible LinkedIn connection request, getting your message read, and then scheduling that coffee chat.
To give you a quick summary, here are six reasons why nobody has replied to your messages:
- Extremely long – I’m sorry but no one has time for it
- Zero attention to detail – Spelling my name wrong, naming a company that I don’t work at
- Little research is done before the outreach – This makes your message look unappealing
- No specific call to action – Do you want to get on a call or just say hi? Be clear
- Lacking credibility – Underdeveloped LinkedIn profile with no profile photo
- Using the 11 most boring words in the English language – “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”
In order to start sending messages on LinkedIn that get positive responses, there are three (3) simple steps that you can follow.
Step 1: Use a compelling subject line
Before you write the message, ask yourself: How do I know this person, and why am I reaching out to him or her?
- Is this someone you know and need advice from?
- Someone you share a contact with?
- Someone you came across at an event/conference and want to know more about?
- A stranger with whom you’re hoping to connect for the first time?
Reference common interests or speak directly to one of the prospect’s professional challenges.
Use that information, make it unique, and craft a specific subject line. You’re trying to capture attention. “Following Up from Last Night’s Event” is much more likely to be read than “Following Up.” “Fellow Mathematics Student interested in Consulting” is far better than “Great to meet you.”
Step 2: Make your introduction first
A two-way dialogue is important, just as in any real-world conversation.
To get the ball rolling, start with a one or two sentence background about yourself. “Hi I’m Jason, a 3rd year University of Waterloo student studying math and I recently came across your blog, which spurred my interest in consulting.”
Don’t skip this step on LinkedIn. You should never assume that the person will just click on over to your profile to learn about you or see how you’re connected – be proactive (and respectful of the other person’s time) and write a quick intro.
Whether you use this intro to mention a mutual contact, where you’ve met, or your shared background, tailoring your message is important because it shows that you’re serious about making a connection.
Step 3: Make it short and clearly state your objective
When it comes to LinkedIn messages, the shorter the better (imagine the receiver scrolling through the message on their phone). People are time-crunched, and you can lose their interest just as quickly as you got it.
Keep this in mind as you craft your second paragraph, the meat of your message, where you dive in to why you’re writing. Why do you want to connect? Do you love this person’s updates or posts? Do you want to ask this person questions about his company or background? Do you want to schedule a mock interview?
Let your topic sentence guide the substance of this second paragraph where you get into a few details. “I’m reaching out because I need advice. I’m in the midst of recruiting and have some questions about company X. I would greatly appreciate if we can schedule a short 30-minute call”.
Final thoughts
Wrap it up with a courteous message. Remember that you’re asking a favor of someone you presumably don’t know well enough to call or email, so signing off with a polite thank you is crucial.
To add one more bit of color, I usually accept personalized connection requests but do not answer back until the sender follows up with another message. Since everything is done virtually, this little bit of effort makes all the difference.
LinkedIn offers a huge opportunity to connect with a massive professional population. By following the three simple steps laid out above, you will greatly increase your chances of benefiting from this opportunity by making connections and getting the results.
Jason Oh is a Senior Consultant, Strategy & Customer at EY with project experiences in commercial due diligence and corporate strategy planning. Previously, he was a Management Consultant at Novantas with a focus on the financial services sector, where he advised on pricing, marketing, channel distribution, digital transformation and due diligence.
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