Come the new year, LinkedIn is rolling out new limitations to safeguard its platform and make it an even better channel for networking.
We rounded up these new changes, as well as how marketers can leverage for an effective marketing strategy.
Contents
What’s new?
LinkedIn has once again experimented with its weekly invitation limits by restricting the maximum number of invites that a LinkedIn account can send out per week. Currently, you can only send 100 invites weekly, or about 20 to 25 daily–and this is regardless of your subscription to Sales Navigator.
As LinkedIn has established from the get-go, it has always prioritized genuine conversations on the platform, so expect that all of these changes will always be geared towards discouraging autopilot strategies.
Here’s what we know so far from people who’ve noticed the new LinkedIn restrictions:
- LinkedIn accounts perform better when these are warmed up for social selling before you start reaching out to prospects.
- Acceptance rate for LinkedIn connection requests falls less than 70%.
- If you reach 700 and above invites, LinkedIn will have you withdraw some of your LinkedIn connection requests. It must be kept under 700.
Old and new LinkedIn weekly invitation limits are always easy to overcome if you take the right steps to ensure that your LinkedIn profiles are optimised.
How to warm up your business account
Better safe than sorry! Warming up your LinkedIn account will help you avoid penalties and inconveniences on the platform.
If you send LinkedIn connections requests that gradually increase over time, your LinkedIn weekly invitation limit will slowly increase. This means slow and steady will get you more connection request capabilities weekly.
But watch out for negative responses—slow or no replies from other users, invite rejection—these will bring your LinkedIn connections limit lower.
The best practice is to start by sending 5 requests per day, and slowly move your way up to 10, 15, etc. per week.
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You can’t go wrong with LinkedIn InMails
It may be pricier, but LinkedIn InMails will get you replies and call bookings faster than organic strategies and direct messages – it’s an investment, indeed, even for a LinkedIn recruiter.
Out of all prospects, around 50% of these users open their InMails, which is a good number especially for marketers who do cold messaging on the platform. Find a LinkedIn group, LinkedIn members, or an event within your industry (or the industry where you’re searching for leads), and start reaching out to these accounts. One advantage of InMails over a connection request is that you’re not limited to 100 per week, so you can go ahead and maximize your pitch.
The Dos and Don’ts of Sending LinkedIn Invites for Lead Generation
In today’s digital age, LinkedIn has become a powerful tool for prospecting networking. With over 700 million users worldwide, it provides a platform for professionals to connect and build meaningful business relationships. However, sending LinkedIn invites without a proper strategy can lead to missed opportunities and potential damage to your professional reputation.
With limitations set on invites you can send weekly, here are some dos and don’ts to help you maximize the credits you have.
The Dos
1. Personalize your invitation
When sending a LinkedIn invite, take the time to personalize it by mentioning why you want to connect with the recipient. This personal touch shows that you have taken a genuine interest in their LinkedIn profile and increases the chances of your invitation being accepted. Mentioning a common interest, a mutual connection, or highlighting how you can provide value to the recipient can greatly enhance your invitation’s effectiveness.
2. Clearly state your purpose
Be upfront and transparent about your intention for connecting. Clearly state the reason for your invitation, whether it’s to discuss potential business opportunities, explore synergies, or request a meeting. By being direct, you set expectations from the start and show professionalism.
3. Research the recipient
Before sending an invitation, take the time to research the recipient’s LinkedIn profile. Familiarize yourself with their background, experience, and achievements. This research will not only help you tailor your invitation but also give you insights to start a meaningful conversation once your connection request is accepted. Demonstrating that you have done your homework will help you come across as genuine and establish a solid foundation for future interactions.
4. Engage with their content
Engaging with the recipient’s content before sending an invitation is a great way to establish familiarity and credibility. Like, comment, or share their posts to show that you are interested in their work and actively engaging with their content. This engagement will make your invitation more likely to be accepted as it shows that you value their contributions.
5. Follow up after connecting
Once your invitation has been accepted, don’t stop there. Follow up with a personalized message to express your gratitude for connecting and reinforce your intention for the connection. This simple step goes a long way in building a relationship and keeping the lines of communication open.
6. Provide value
When connecting with others on LinkedIn, always aim to provide value. Share relevant insights, offer help or advice, or connect them with resources or contacts that might be beneficial to them. By being a valuable connection, you increase the chances of your invite being accepted and foster a positive relationship from the start.
7. Build a strong profile
Before sending out invites, ensure that your own LinkedIn profile is professional and complete. Your profile is often the first impression others have of you, so make sure it showcases your skills, experience, and achievements. A well-crafted LinkedIn profile enhances your credibility and increases the likelihood of others accepting your invitations.
8. Personalize your follow-up messages
When following up with those who accept your invitation, ensure that your messages remain personalized. Instead of sending generic messages or templates, take the time to reference something specific about the recipient or their work. This personal touch shows that you value the connection and are genuinely interested in building a relationship.
9. Join relevant groups
Another way to connect with potential leads on LinkedIn is by joining relevant groups. These groups provide a platform to engage in industry-specific conversations, share insights, and connect with like-minded professionals. Actively participating in these groups can open doors to new connections and establish you as an authority in your field.
10. Be patient and persistent
Lead generation through LinkedIn takes time and persistence. Don’t expect immediate results and be prepared to invest in nurturing relationships with your connections. Regularly engage with their content, offer assistance, and stay top-of-mind. Over time, genuine relationships will develop, and opportunities for collaboration or business ventures may arise.
The Don’ts
1. Sending generic connection requests
Avoid sending generic LinkedIn connection requests without providing any context or explanation. These connection requests often come across as spammy and impersonal, lowering your chances of having the invitation accepted. Take the time to craft a personalized and meaningful invitation to make a positive impression.
2. Sending too many requests at once
LinkedIn has guidelines in place to prevent users from sending excessive connection requests. Sending too many requests within a short period can trigger red flags and lead to restrictions on your account. It’s important to space out your LinkedIn connection requests and only send invitations to individuals who are genuinely relevant to your goals.
3. Ignoring personalized invitations
When you receive personalized invitations from other users, it’s essential to acknowledge and respond to them. By ignoring these invitations, you risk losing potential opportunities and damaging your professional image. Even if you decide not to accept the invitation, take a moment to acknowledge their effort and respond politely.
4. Being overly promotional
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, not a marketplace for blatant self-promotion. When sending invites, avoid being overly promotional or making a sales pitch right from the start. Instead, focus on building genuine relationships and adding value to your connections. Establish trust and credibility before diving into business discussions.
5. Neglecting to follow LinkedIn’s etiquette
LinkedIn has its own etiquette and guidelines for proper behavior. By neglecting these guidelines, you risk coming across as unprofessional or even offensive. Make sure to familiarize yourself with LinkedIn’s terms of use, privacy policies, and general etiquette practices to ensure that your invitations adhere to these rules.
6. Sending invitations without context
Sending connection requests without context can confuse recipients and decrease the likelihood of acceptance. When reaching out to someone, always provide a clear reason for why you want to connect. The more context you provide, the easier it is for the recipient to determine whether the connection would be beneficial and relevant to them.
7. Neglecting to customize your LinkedIn URL
LinkedIn allows you to customize your URL, which appears in your profile and can help reinforce your personal brand. Neglecting to customize your URL can make your profile appear less professional and less memorable to potential connections. Take advantage of this opportunity to create a clean and professional-looking URL that aligns with your personal branding.
8. Ignoring your existing connections
While it’s important to focus on expanding your network and generating leads, it’s equally important not to neglect your existing connections. Continue to engage with and support your current connections by sharing their content, offering assistance, or introducing them to relevant opportunities. Nurturing and maintaining relationships with your existing connections can lead to referrals and further expand your network.
9. Sending invites to inappropriate contacts
Be mindful of who you send LinkedIn invites to. Sending invites to irrelevant or inappropriate contacts can harm your professional reputation and credibility. Make sure to target individuals who are relevant to your industry, profession, or business goals. Quality connections are more valuable than quantity.
10. Neglecting to use InMail strategically
LinkedIn offers InMail, a direct messaging feature that allows you to reach out to members who are not in your network. However, this feature should be used strategically and sparingly. Instead of spamming users with InMail, carefully select and send personalized messages to maximize your chances of getting a response.
By following these dos and avoiding these don’ts, you can maximize your efforts in LinkedIn prospecting. Remember, building meaningful relationships and providing value should be at the core of your outreach strategy. With the right approach, LinkedIn can become a valuable tool for expanding your network and generating leads.
Experiment until you can
Nothing can beat trial and error. In LinkedIn prospecting, no two brands and strategies are the same. If you have the time and resources, then gear up for a lot of A/B testing to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
There’s plenty of room to figure out the new LinkedIn weekly invitation limits. And with LinkedIn support, and you might even discover a new strategy for your brand along the way. So have lots of patience and determination, don’t be afraid to experiment.