Before sending a connection request to someone you don't know, spend a couple of weeks engaging with their posts -- leave comments that add a specific insight, a relevant resource, or a genuine question, not "Great post!" By the time you send a connection request, they recognize your name because you've already contributed to their content, which meaningfully raises your acceptance and response rates.

The default blank connection request is a low-signal move that regularly gets ignored or marked as spam. Keep your note under 300 characters and specific: "Hi Maya -- I've been following your posts on pricing strategy, and your take on value-based vs. usage-based pricing reframed how I think about our renewal motion. I'd love to connect." It shows you actually read their work and gives them a real reason to accept.

For someone you haven't talked to in a while, lead with context and a low-effort ask: "Hi James -- we worked together at Acme a few years back; I saw you moved into platform product work at Stripe. I'm exploring a similar shift and would love a 15-minute call to hear how the transition has been. No rush if your schedule is packed." Context plus a specific, easy ask outperforms a bare "long time no talk!" every time.

Mass-connecting with no note -- a blank request to a stranger reads as spam. Only posting humble-brags -- if every post is about your latest award, people stop reading and stop wanting to help. Liking everything without ever commenting -- likes are invisible, comments are how people actually notice and remember you. And pitching in the first message -- "I'd love to connect, can I tell you about our services?" is a sales pitch, not networking, and it gets treated accordingly.