Dear Copy/Paste Salespeople: We See You.
As a business owner, I receive way too many LinkedIn connection requests and emails that are clearly mass-blasted with zero thought:
- "Hi, I help marketing agencies like yours 10x their leads. Let’s hop on a call!"
- "Saw your profile and thought we might have synergy."
- "I came across your profile and would love to connect."
No effort. No personalization. No relevance. Just... noise. And trust me, as a business owner, I get dozens of these every week. If you actually looked at my website, you’d see that I don’t have capacity for 10x more leads!
Here’s the deal: when you send lazy outreach, you don’t just waste everyone’s time, you actively hurt your brand. It shows me (and others) that you cut corners, you don’t value relationships, and that your strategy is quantity over quality. Every copy/paste message chips away at your credibility.
Do you really think that’s the kind of people we want to do business with? That’s not how partnerships are built. That’s not how trust is earned. And is that really how you want to be remembered?
Here’s what a thoughtful LinkedIn connection message looks like:
“Hi ____! I saw your work with _____ and I’m really passionate about their mission serving _____ . I’m always looking to connect with other creatives in Nashville who also serve and support nonprofits. I would love to stay in touch here, and perhaps grab a coffee when you’re free. Thanks again for your time and have a beautiful week!”
And a solid email might look like this:
Subject: Loved your recent blog on content positioning
“Hi _____, I came across your blog post about brand voice, and it really resonated. I work with founders to refine their messaging and wanted to share a framework I think you might find useful. No pitch, just value. Let me know if you’d like me to send it over.”
Simple. Clear. Personalized. HUMAN. Quick may be convenient, but lazy is expensive.
A good connection message shows that you took 30 seconds to understand who I am. That matters. Because real relationships still drive business, and that starts with respect.
Let’s raise the bar. Your network (and your reputation) will thank you.