In this video, Viveka Von Rosen describes some of the best practices for connecting to new prospects or leads on LinkedIn. Viveka also suggests different invitation scripts that you can use when reaching out to these individuals.

Invite them to Connect

From the Search, find the person that you would like to connect to and hit the 'Connect' button. If it's not yet available. You can identify a Group that they are a member of, and join that group, which will bring those people closer to you. Then invite them to connect. Go to their profile and just click on the 'Connect' button to send them an invitation.

Advice: It is also possible to personalize the invitation on a mobile device. If you're inviting people to connect from the mobile browser, you can click on three dots by the right of their name and personalize your invitation.

Customize all invitations and notes when reaching out to connect.

a) “Hi (Name), I just graduated from (school) and I'm starting to build my LinkedIn network. Your profile come up in my search for (industry) leaders. We're not connected yet -so I'm sending invitation in the hopes you will accept.” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number. Give them ways to connect with you.

Remember: You're limited to 300 characters. If you're over that 300 characters you can do something simpler.

b) “Hi (Name), I was reviewing you profile. (I hope you don't think that is creepy!) I'm recent graduate in … and I would love to add you to my network.” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.
Advice: Men are not advised to send such messages to women. But women could definitely send this to other women and men. Always be very sensitive about that kind of relationship between men and women; student and professionals on LinkedIn. Additionally always just be aware of the cultural issues and differences between country's culture when inviting people to connect.

c) You could be more simple: “Hi (Name), As a recent graduate from (school) I was hoping you'll be willing to connect with me.” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

d) If you know this person you can simply say: “Hi (Name), I can't believe we're not connected on LinkedIn yet. We should rectify that.” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number. e) Or you could be more informative: “Hi (Name), I just graduated from school and I'm starting to build my LinkedIn network. Your profile come up in my search today and we're not connected yet, so I'm sending an invitation. Lets catch up soon.” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

Invitation templates for individuals that you may know

LinkedIn shows you the people you may know. Click on 'My Network', invite them to connect and always click on their names, it will take you to their profiles (If you click on the 'Connect' button, you're going to send them an invitation).

a) Click on 'Connect' button and then add your notes “Hi (Name), I just graduated from (school) and I'm starting to build my LinkedIn network. Your profile come up in my search for (industry) leaders. We're not connected yet -so I'm sending invitation in the hopes you will accept.” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

b) Send a message to an alumni like this: “Hi (Name), It's been ages. I just found you on LinkedIn. What have you been up to in the past XX years? Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

c) You can send a different message, if you're not sure that a person remember you: “Hi (Name), It's been ages. I don't know if you remember, but we were in (Class) together. I just found you on LinkedIn. Would you be open to catching up?” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

d) If it's someone you went to school with, but you don't actually know them you can say: “Hi (Name), I see we're both alumni of (School) circa (graduating year). Would you like to connect?” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

e) Or there was another school you went to then you can invite a person like this: “Hi (Name), I was checking out the alumni (School). I see you were from (year to year). Would you like to connect?” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

Find people who work at a company that you're interested in

• Go to the company page and look if you have any connections that works there. If you have connections you can send them a message and you can ask them to introduce you to people.
• Click on 'See all the employees on LinkedIn', you can see all the employees at that company on LinkedIn.
• To find someone who might be a good lead for you, you just click on connect and customize your note:

a): “Hi (Name), I see you're the (title) at (company). As a recent graduate from (School), I was hoping you'd be willing to connect with me.” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

b): “Hi (Name), As a recent graduate from (School), I was hoping to build my LinkedIn network with people I admire at (company). Would you be willing to connect?” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

c): “Hi (Name), I'm a recent graduate and your company is on my short list. Would you be willing to connect?( And could I ask you a question from time to time?” Sign with Thanks, Name and Phone Number.

• If you already know someone from the company that you're interested in, ask for a 10 or 15 minutes of informational interview. You can learn about company's culture from an insider. They will be wiling to introduce someone from HR (Human Resources) who can doing the hiring.
• If you don't know anyone at that company there is always the possibility you have someone in common that you can ask an introduction from those individuals.

Advice: Reaching out to a stranger for the first time can be completely daunting.You will discover these templates after you use them a few times. It's not that hard to send invitations on LinkedIn. These templates brings you to the right people who can help you to get your new position. Start to use these templates. Send invitations to people and connect with them.

Warning: When it comes to sending invitations in LinkedIn don't send hundreds of invitations a day. Don't do that for two reasons: (1) If you send more than about 50 invitations a day. LinkedIn might think you're automating the process and they could restrict your account. (2) When you send an invitation to connect and someone says they don't know you (and enough of those) and LinkedIn will restrict your account. Always personalize your invitations.

Homework: Go out and find five people to start, that you would like to be connected to and using any of these methods reach out and connect. Then see what happens. Do five more tomorrow five or the day after that and once you start getting really comfortable with this process you could amp it up to 10, 20 or 30 invitations.

Viveka is known internationally as the “LinkedIn Networking Expert.” Author of “LinkedIn Marketing: An Hour A Day” for John Wiley & Sons, she is also a regular source on LinkedIn for prestigious news outlets such as Forbes, Money Magazine, Mashable.com, Ragan.com, SocialMediaExaminer.com, CNN and The Miami Herald.

Viveka is the host of the biggest LinkedIn chat on Twitter: #LinkedInChat (Ranked by Mashable as one of the top 10 business blogs) and co-moderator of LinkedStrategies, the largest LinkedIn strategy group on LinkedIn. She is distinguished among the elite in social media:

• Forbes 20 Most Influential Women in Social Media (2011, 2012, 2013)
• Forbes 50 Most Influential People in Social Media (2011, 2012, 2013)
• TopRank’s 25 Women Who Rock Social Media in (2011, 2012, 2013)