Get connected more effectively on LinkedIn in 2025 using proven, research-backed strategies from Pitch121’s latest A/B testing and campaign data.
Get connected more effectively on LinkedIn in 2025 using proven, research-backed strategies from Pitch121’s latest A/B testing and campaign data.
The Pitch121 Research Report 2025
LinkedIn has made it harder to get connected on LinkedIn—especially if you’re not paying. This section explains what’s changed and why we decided to dig into what really works in 2025.
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We tested hundreds of connection requests. The result? Short, relevant messages work. Salesy or generic ones don’t. This section shows which messages get ignored—and which spark replies.
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If your headline sounds too salesy, people are less likely to connect. This section explains how your profile—especially your headline—affects your success on LinkedIn.
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Here’s where we show how the tests were run, who we surveyed, and where the stats come from—so you can trust what you’re reading.
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LinkedIn Connection Acceptance Rate (CAR) is the percentage of your sent connection requests that get accepted. Tracking CAR helps measure the effectiveness of your outreach strategy and see if your profile or messages are resonating with prospects.
Connection rates are almost the same with or without a note — about a 1% difference. However, if you want people to reply as well as connect, adding a short, thoughtful message dramatically improves response rates.
Yes. Over 90% of LinkedIn users say they reject templated or salesy invites. A tailored message that mentions something relevant from the person’s profile or network greatly increases acceptance.
Short, clear notes often perform just as well — sometimes even better — than long ones. A simple line like “Hi [First Name], can we connect?” can outperform detailed, generic pitches.
Only if they’re genuine. Generic phrases like “we know the same people” don’t help and may reduce acceptance. Mentioning a specific person and context works far better.
Headlines strongly influence whether people accept. Senior job titles often boost CAR, while sales-heavy titles can cut acceptance rates by up to 27%. Descriptive or solution-based headlines generally perform best.
Avoid copy-paste templates and hard sales language. Instead, engage with posts, view profiles, and send tailored invites that show genuine interest — this builds trust and avoids being “pitch slapped”
A FAN is your ideal client or advocate network on LinkedIn. Pitch121 defines FANs as the people you want to nurture over time, so they come to see you as an expert and obvious choice in your industry.
By coordinating outreach across multiple team members (“cross-connecting”), companies can boost connection rates from 30–40% to 60–70%. This approach increases touchpoints, recognition, and speeds up sales cycles.
Not always. While Premium unlocks extra invites and features, data shows personalisation and profile optimisation matter more than paid upgrades. Free accounts can achieve similar CAR with the right strategy.
Yes. Regular posting raises your visibility in feeds, making people more likely to recognise and accept your requests. Pitch121 will release further data on how posting influences CAR.
