Whether you’re sending dozens of connection requests a week or following up after a sales demo, LinkedIn thank you messages are a small gesture that can make a big difference.
When done right, they help you stand out, start real conversations, and build relationships that go beyond a click.
This guide is for sales professionals who want to improve their lead generation and outreach without sounding like a bot.
We’ll walk through best practices, message templates, reply strategies, and how to automate this process (while keeping the human touch) for both sending and replying to thank you messages.
Best practices for LinkedIn thank you messages after a connection request
A well-crafted thank you message can be the difference between being ignored and starting a valuable conversation.
They are a low-effort, high-impact way to turn first impressions into real business relationships.
Here’s what to do—and what to avoid—when reaching out on LinkedIn after someone accepts your connection request.
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Send your message within 24 to 48 hours | Wait too long, or you’ll lose momentum |
| Personalize with something real from their profile or activity | Copy-paste the same message to everyone |
| Reference shared interests, challenges, or recent posts | Talk only about yourself or your offer |
| Keep it short and mobile-friendly (under 600 characters) | Write long, dense paragraphs that overwhelm |
| Use their name in a natural way | Start with “Hi there” or skip the name entirely |
| Add value (share a tip, insight, or relevant resource) | Immediately pitch your product or ask for a meeting |
| End with a thoughtful, open-ended question | Leave the message flat with no reason to reply |
| Use a warm, professional, conversational tone | Sound stiff, overly formal, or robotic |
| Show curiosity and openness to learn | Make assumptions or push your agenda too soon |
When done well, such messages don’t just thank someone, they open the door to meaningful follow-up.
Here’s a quick example of what a weak thank you message looks like and how to turn it into something that invites a conversation:
Weak example:
Hi, thanks for connecting. I help companies like yours increase pipeline with our AI-powered platform. Let me know if you’re open to a quick chat.
This kind of message falls flat. It’s self-centered and generic and offers no real reason for the other person to respond. There’s no personalization, context, or value for the reader.
Strong example:
Hi Jenna, thanks for connecting! I saw your team recently launched a new product, congrats. Out of curiosity, how are you approaching outreach to early adopters this quarter?
This welcome message is short, specific, and focused on them. It shows you’ve done your homework and opens the door to a relevant, non-pitchy conversation. That’s what makes it effective.
10 LinkedIn thank you message templates for different sales scenarios
Below are ten thank you message examples for different sales situations, from cold outreach to warm referrals.
Cold connection thank you templates
"Hi [Name], Thanks for accepting my connection request! I noticed your work in [specific area] and particularly found your recent post about [topic] insightful. I'm curious - what's been your biggest challenge with [relevant industry challenge]? Looking forward to learning from each other."Event/conference follow-up thank you templates
"Hi [Name], Great connecting on LinkedIn! It was a pleasure meeting you at [event name] during the [specific session/panel]. Your perspective on [specific topic discussed] really resonated with me. Have you implemented any of those ideas in your work since then? I'd be interested to hear how it's going."Mutual connection thank you templates
"Hi [Name], Thanks for connecting! [Mutual connection] speaks very highly of your expertise in [specific area]. I've been working on similar challenges around [relevant topic] and would love to exchange ideas sometime. What's been your most successful approach to [specific industry challenge] lately?"Industry insight thank you templates
"Hi [Name], thanks for connecting! We’re both in [industry], and I just came across a stat about [trend or challenge] that reminded me of a conversation I had last week with a client. Are you seeing similar shifts in your space right now?"Value-add resource thank you templates
"Hi [Name], I appreciate you accepting my connection request! I see you're focused on [specific area] at [company]. I recently created a quick guide on [relevant topic] that others in similar roles have found helpful. Would you be interested in me sharing it with you? No strings attached - just looking to add value to my new connections."Problem-solution thank you templates
"Hi [Name], Thanks for connecting! I noticed from your profile that you work with [target companies/clients]. Many [job title] professionals I work with have been struggling with [common pain point]. Have you found effective ways to address this? I'd love to hear your perspective, as I've been researching solutions in this area."Similar target market thank you templates
"Hi [Name], Thanks for accepting my connection! I noticed we both work with [target industry/market]. I'm always looking to learn from others who understand the unique challenges in this space. What's been your experience with [specific industry challenge] lately? Happy to share what's been working for my clients too if that would be valuable."Content engagement thank you templates
"Hi [Name], Thanks for connecting! I noticed you recently shared content about [topic they posted on]. That's actually an area I've been focused on with my new clients lately. Have you seen any surprising results from the approaches you mentioned? I'd love to exchange insights sometime."Referral program thank you templates
"Hi [Name], thanks for connecting! I partner with companies like [example] to help with [solution]. I also run a small referral program for my network — if you know someone who’d benefit from [outcome], I’d be happy to share more. Have a great day."Re-engagement thank you templates
"Hi [Name], Thanks for accepting my connection request! I noticed we're both connected with [mutual connections] and share interests in [common industry/topic]. I've been expanding my network of professionals in the [industry] space - would you be open to a quick virtual coffee sometime in the next few weeks to learn more about your work at [company]?"How to automate thank you message workflows with PhantomBuster
One of the trickiest parts of LinkedIn outreach is sending personalized thank-you messages at scale. You want your messages to feel thoughtful and relevant, but you must also keep things efficient.
Manually writing each one isn’t realistic when you’re sending dozens of LinkedIn connection requests every week.
That’s where LinkedIn message automation comes in. When done right, it helps you stay personal without spending hours every day on repetitive tasks.
The balancing act: Personalization at scale
Most sales reps face the same trade-off. Either they personalize every message and move slowly, or they scale fast and sound like everyone else.
The good news is that automation doesn’t have to mean generic. With tools like PhantomBuster, you can build mass messaging strategies or workflows that feel personal and intentional.
If you’re targeting specific audiences, this approach to LinkedIn B2B prospecting can help you reach the right people while still keeping things personal.
The key is using smart templates that include variables like first name, company, or job title.
These systems help you scale your LinkedIn outreach while keeping a natural, personalized tone, so every message feels intentional, not automated.
Setting up your first LinkedIn message automation
A great starting point is the LinkedIn Message Sender. It allows you to send messages to your LinkedIn connections automatically.
Here’s what you can do with it:
- Automatically send messages to your contacts.
- Create tailored messages with placeholder tags like {{firstName}} or {{company}}.
- Establish conditions for sending messages to follow up or auto-reply intentionally.
- Generate fresh conversations daily by configuring the Phantom to launch repeatedly.
You don’t need to get fancy at first. A single, well-crafted thank you message that feels human is already enough to stand out in most inboxes.
Creating a multi-step outreach workflow
You can chain multiple steps together to automate the entire process. PhantomBuster lets you link different automations into a complete outreach process.
Here’s an example of what that could look like:
- Find targeted prospects using LinkedIn Search Export or LinkedIn Post Commenter and Liker Scraper.
- Collect all the available profile data using the LinkedIn Profile Scraper.
- Use AI to bulk-create personalized thank you messages with the AI LinkedIn Message Writer.
- Feed this AI-generated sales content into the LinkedIn Outreach Phantom to automatically send connection requests and up to three follow-ups.
Each step can be fully customized. You can adjust timing, personalize cold messages, and monitor performance, all while keeping your workflow clean and respectful of LinkedIn’s guidelines.
How to respond to LinkedIn “It’s great to connect with you” messages
Components of a good thank you reply
When someone thanks you for connecting, it’s the perfect chance to turn a polite message into a real conversation.
A simple “Likewise” ends things. A thoughtful reply keeps the door open for meaningful connections.
A strong response includes:
- A quick thank you in return.
- A personal reference to their role, content, or company.
- A relevant insight, question, or resource.
- A tone that fits their industry and level of seniority.
Reply templates for different scenarios
Your reply doesn’t need to be long or complex. It just needs to feel personal, relevant, and easy to respond to.
Here are three realistic templates you can adapt depending on the situation.
When you want to continue the conversation:
"Thanks for the kind message, [Name]! Glad to connect here as well. I saw you're involved with [specific area] - that's actually an area I've been exploring lately. What's been your experience with [specific aspect]? Always interested in learning from others in the space."When you’re open but not actively pursuing:
"Appreciate the connection, [Name]! Your work at [company] sounds fascinating. While I'm not currently looking for [service/product], I'm always happy to keep in touch with fellow professionals in [industry]. What projects are you most excited about right now?"When responding to potential clients/partners:
"Great to connect, [Name]! Thank you for the thoughtful message. I'm definitely interested in learning more about your work in [area]. I've actually helped several companies with similar [challenges/goals] recently. Would you be open to a quick call next week to explore if there might be ways I could add value to what you're building?"FAQ
Do LinkedIn thank you messages work? The numbers
Yes. Research shows that a single personalized LinkedIn message can boost response rates by around 30 percent over generic outreach. Since most people never follow up after connecting, sending a tailored thank‑you makes you stand out immediately.
How soon should I send a thank you message after someone accepts my connection?
Ideally, within 24 to 48 hours. That’s when you’re still top of mind. Sending it right away can feel automated, and waiting too long lowers the chance of a response.
Is it appropriate to include a calendar link in my thank you message?
Only if there’s already some context. If it’s your first message, a calendar link can feel pushy.
If you include one, keep it soft and optional. You could say something like happy to share a quick link if chatting sounds helpful.
What’s the ideal length for a LinkedIn thank you message?
The best message on LinkedIn is short, personalized, and easy to read on mobile.
Stay under 600 characters. That’s short enough to read quickly on mobile without scrolling.
The most effective messages are usually two or three lines, focused and personal.
How can I tell if my thank you messages are working?
Track your response rate and how often a real conversation follows. If people are replying with context or curiosity, that’s a good sign.
You can also test two different script templates and compare results over a few days to see which one gets more traction.
Can I mention my products/services in a thank you message?
Only if it feels relevant and helpful. A hard pitch usually turns people off. A better lead-generation approach is to offer value.
For example, you could say: “I put together a quick guide on [topic] that others in similar roles found useful. Happy to share it if you’re interested.”
This shows what you do without turning the thank you note into a sales pitch.
How do I handle it when someone doesn’t respond to my thank you message?
Give it a few days, then follow up once with something light and respectful. You might say: “Just circling back in case my last note got buried. No pressure at all, happy to reconnect if the timing’s better.”
If there’s still no response, it’s best to move on and focus on more engaged contacts. One follow-up is enough.