Why people accept your LinkedIn request but never reply
By Tirth Shah, founder of Bub · Updated
Accepting a connection request is a low-effort yes to being connected, not a yes to a conversation. Most unanswered first messages ask for too much too soon: a pitch, a call, or a long paragraph that reads like a template. What works better is a short, specific message with one easy question, a follow-up that adds something new, and a format that feels personal, like a 30 second voice note.
Add Bub to Chrome, it's freeThe most common reasons for no reply
- The first message is a pitch. People accept to grow their network, then get sold to straight away.
- It's long. A wall of text on a phone screen gets saved for later, which means never.
- It's generic. If it could have been sent to anyone, they assume it was.
- The ask is too big. "15 minutes this week?" from a stranger is an easy no.
- It's buried. Busy people's LinkedIn inboxes move fast, and your message sank.
What to send instead
- Open with them. Reference something specific: their post, their role, a mutual connection.
- Ask one easy question. Something they can answer in a line, about their work, not your product.
- Keep it to three lines. Short enough to read in the notification preview.
- Follow up with something new. After 3 to 5 days, a useful resource or a short voice note.
- Stop after two follow-ups. Leave the door open politely and move on.
Why a voice note can unstick a conversation
Once someone has accepted, you can send them a voice message: LinkedIn allows voice notes to 1st-degree connections. A 30 second note with their name and a specific detail is hard to mistake for a mass message. LinkedIn only lets you record them in the phone app; Bub, a free Chrome extension, lets you record them from your laptop.
Questions
Why do people accept connection requests and not reply?
Accepting is a quick yes to being connected, not to a conversation. Pitches, long messages, generic copy and big asks are the usual reasons the first message gets ignored.
Should I remove connections who don't reply?
There's no need. A connection who doesn't reply now may engage later with your posts or a better-timed message.
What's a good first message after a connection is accepted?
A short thank-you plus one specific, easy question about their work. No pitch.
Can I send a voice note to a new connection?
Yes. LinkedIn allows voice messages to 1st-degree connections, so once they've accepted, you can.
Checked October 6, 2026. LinkedIn changes its features and limits from time to time.