Overview
In October 2023, LinkedIn implemented new connection request limits for users with free accounts. These changes significantly reduce the number of connection requests you can send per week and introduce restrictions on adding notes. This article breaks down these changes and provides practical advice on how to continue your prospecting strategy.
Key benefits:
Understand the new connection request limits on LinkedIn free accounts.
Learn strategies to keep prospecting even with these restrictions.
Explore upgrade options to improve your LinkedIn outreach.
New limits for LinkedIn Standard accounts
Since October 2023, LinkedIn free accounts are subject to stricter limits. Here's what you need to know:
150-200 connection requests per week without notes.
10 connection requests per month with notes (yes, per month!).
Connection requests with notes are now limited to 200 characters (down from 300 characters).
As LinkedIn confirmed, this change impacts only free accounts.
What does this mean for your prospecting strategy?
These new limits may feel like a setback for your prospecting efforts, but don't worry. There are strategies to help you continue connecting with potential leads.
What are my strategic options if I want to stay on a free LinkedIn account?
If upgrading isn’t an option due to budget constraints, you have two main strategies to keep your outreach going:
Craft your connection requests without notes. This will allow you to continue sending 150-200 requests per week without hitting the new restrictions.
Consider upgrading to Premium or Sales Navigator. If including notes is essential for your outreach, upgrading to Premium or Sales Navigator will allow you to send more requests with notes.
Why should I upgrade to a LinkedIn Premium account (€29.74/month)?
Sending connection requests with notes generally increases conversion rates. Therefore, upgrading to Premium may be a good investment if you want to maintain this advantage.
The Premium plan, at €29.74 per month, restores the connection request limit of 150-200 per week with notes, allowing you to maximize your outreach potential.
Considering the potential boost in opportunities, it’s worth the cost!
LGM Best Practice: When should I upgrade to LinkedIn Sales Navigator (€99.99/month)?
At La Growth Machine, we’ve long recommended upgrading to Sales Navigator for users who want to boost their LinkedIn outreach. Even before the recent changes to connection request limits, Sales Navigator has been a key tool for effective segmentation and lead generation.
Here’s why you should consider upgrading:
Higher connection request limits: With Sales Navigator, you can send 150-200 connection requests with notes per week, just like with the Premium plan.
Advanced lead sourcing: Sales Navigator allows you to directly source leads, enabling better segmentation strategies and a stronger outreach approach.
Using Sales Navigator correctly can help you increase your reply rates by over 30%, making it an excellent tool for prospecting.
Recommended daily settings
If your LinkedIn account is new
We recommend starting small and increasing gradually:
LinkedIn profile visits: Start at 40/day, increase by 10 until 80/day.
LinkedIn connection requests: Start at 40/day, increase by 10 until 80/day.
LinkedIn messages: Start at 40/day, increase by 10 until 120/day.
If your LinkedIn account is already active
You can start directly at the recommended values:
LinkedIn profile visits: 80/day.
LinkedIn connection requests: 80/day.
LinkedIn messages: 120/day.
How to add a note in LGM
You have two options to add a note in your campaigns on La Growth Machine:
From the "Add Relation" block.
From within the content itself.
It’s Up to You!
We understand that LinkedIn's changes require a bit more investment. However, at only €29.74/month for Premium, upgrading is a manageable cost to enhance your outreach and maintain your connection request volume.
If you're on a tight budget, you can start by removing notes for a few weeks, build your first few connections, and then upgrade when you’re ready. But soon enough, you’ll find that better segmentation will be essential and that's when Sales Navigator becomes the next step.
All in good time!
FAQs
How many connection requests can I send with a free LinkedIn account?
How many connection requests can I send with a free LinkedIn account?
With a free LinkedIn account, you can send 150-200 connection requests per week without notes, and 10 connection requests per month with notes.
Can I still send connection requests with notes on a free account?
Can I still send connection requests with notes on a free account?
Yes, you can still send connection requests with notes, but the limit is 10 per month, and the note character limit is now reduced to 200 characters.
Is it worth upgrading to LinkedIn Premium?
Is it worth upgrading to LinkedIn Premium?
Yes, upgrading to LinkedIn Premium (€29.74/month) will restore the connection request limit of 150-200 requests per week with notes, making it a great option for boosting your outreach.
Should I upgrade to Sales Navigator?
Should I upgrade to Sales Navigator?
If you're serious about segmentation and lead generation, Sales Navigator (€99.99/month) is a powerful tool. It offers the same connection limits as Premium but provides more advanced features for sourcing leads and creating more targeted campaigns.