AudyenseLinkedIn connection request messages: 15 examples under the character limit
Fifteen LinkedIn connection notes for B2B outreach, each with its exact character count, plus the 200 and 300 character limits and what gets a note accepted.
October 12, 2026 · 5 min read
A LinkedIn connection note is the shortest sales message you'll ever write. On a free account you get 200 characters; on Premium or Sales Navigator, 300. That's two sentences. Done well, it's enough to give a reason and get accepted. Done badly, it's a pitch squeezed into a text box, and it gets ignored.
Below are 15 examples for common situations, each with its exact character count. To check your own as you write, use the free LinkedIn character counter.
What a good connection note does
- Uses their name. It's the cheapest way to show this isn't a mass invite.
- Gives one reason for writing now. A hire, a launch, a post they wrote, a group you share.
- Says who you are in a few words. Not your company history.
- Asks for nothing big. The ask is to connect. The meeting comes later.
- Has no links. They waste characters and look automated.
15 examples
| Situation | Note | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| They're hiring for the role you support | Hi Maya, saw Northwind is hiring its first SDR. We help teams that size find accounts already showing a reason to buy, so the new rep starts with a list. Glad to connect. | 170 |
| New in their role | Hi Daniel, congrats on the new role at Brightline. I work with sales leaders in their first 90 days at B2B software companies. Would be good to connect. | 152 |
| They raised a round | Hi Ana, congrats on the seed round. Most teams start hiring sales right after, and I've seen what helps the first rep ramp. Happy to connect. | 141 |
| They posted about a problem | Hi Leo, your post on cold lists that never reply was spot on, especially the part about timing. I work on exactly that. Would love to connect. | 142 |
| They asked for a recommendation | Hi Raj, saw your question in RevOps Co-op about outbound tooling. I wrote down how 3 small teams handle it; happy to share. Glad to connect. | 140 |
| Same community or event | Hi Priya, we're both in the B2B SaaS Founders group. I'm building a prospecting tool for small teams and would value your view. Let's connect. | 142 |
| Mutual connection | Hi Tom, Sarah Lee suggested I reach out. I help founders find companies with a reason to buy now. Would be good to connect. | 123 |
| You used their product | Hi Elena, we've used Tessel for invoicing for a year and it saves us hours. I'm a founder in sales tooling; would be glad to connect. | 133 |
| They're a founder selling alone | Hi Sam, looks like you're running sales yourself at Corvid. I'm a founder doing the same and building a tool for it. Glad to connect. | 133 |
| Launch | Hi Mia, congrats on launching Fernway's team plan last week. Finding the first team buyers is a fun problem; I work on it daily. Let's connect. | 143 |
| New market | Hi Jonas, saw Acme is opening in the UK. I help B2B software companies find their first customers in a new market. Happy to connect. | 132 |
| Follow-up after an email | Hi Grace, I emailed last week about Lumen's new SDR role. Didn't want to land in your inbox twice, so connecting here instead. | 126 |
| Low-key, no reason (use sparingly) | Hi Chris, I follow your posts on pricing and learn from them. I'm building in B2B sales tools. Would be glad to connect. | 120 |
| To a CEO | Hi Olivia, saw Halo hired a VP Sales this month. CEOs I talk to want that first quarter to show results fast. Worth connecting? | 127 |
| Free account, under 200 | Hi Ben, saw Orbit is hiring an AE. I help small teams find buyers with a reason to act now. Glad to connect. | 108 |
Copy the shape, not the words. The examples work because each reason is real and specific; a note that borrows their wording without a real reason will read as a template.
The character limits
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Connection note, free account | 200 characters (and only a few personalized notes a month) |
| Connection note, Premium or Sales Navigator | 300 characters |
| InMail subject | 200 characters |
| InMail body | 1,900 characters |
| Message to an existing connection | 8,000 characters |
Spaces, punctuation and line breaks all count, and emoji count as two. LinkedIn changes these from time to time, so treat the counter in LinkedIn's own box as final. Checked October 2026.
Mistakes that get notes ignored
- Pitching in the note. "We help companies like yours increase revenue by 30%" tells them you'll pitch again after they accept.
- "I'd like to add you to my network." It's the default text, and everyone knows it.
- Fake familiarity. "Loved your recent post!" with no detail is easy to spot.
- Asking for a meeting straight away. You haven't earned it yet.
- Sending notes to people who don't fit. A great note to the wrong person is still wasted.
After they accept
Wait a day, then send a short message that picks up where the note left off. Lead with something useful (a list, an example, an answer), then ask one question. If you also email the same person, space the two out and say so; multichannel outreach covers the order.
Where the reason comes from
The hardest part of a good note is the reason, not the writing. Sales trigger events lists 15 reasons with where to find each one. Audyense finds them for you: it looks for companies with a dated buying signal, picks the right person, and drafts a connection note under the limit that cites the reason. You approve it and it's sent from your own LinkedIn account.
Questions people ask
What should I write in a LinkedIn connection request?
Their name, one specific reason you're writing now, a few words on who you are, and a light close like "glad to connect". No pitch and no links.
What is the LinkedIn connection request character limit?
200 characters on a free account and 300 on Premium or Sales Navigator, as of October 2026. Spaces and punctuation count.
Should I send a connection request without a note?
If you have no real reason to give, a blank request is better than a generic note. If you have a reason, a note helps.
How do I write a connection request to a CEO?
Be even shorter and more specific. Name something that happened at their company and why it matters at their level, such as a new sales leader starting.
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