The missing element in any LinkedIn connection? It's the tieback element.

How can novice LinkedIn users make connections with both their colleagues and total strangers? That’s easy.

It’s important to understand how to use a tieback in every connection note. Tiebacks are typically used in news stories. In journalism, a tieback is a brief reference to a previous story that is related to the current story. With a LinkedIn request, tiebacks can help readers understand the context of the connecting person’s relationship. For long-time acquaintances, I would mention something such as a military assignment served together. Meanwhile, a tieback for someone like a professional colleague or influencer really needs that tieback. When you send a connection request with a personal note and that extra tieback element, you are showing the other person that you have taken the time to learn about them and that you are genuinely interested in connecting with them. Here are some tips for writing effective personal connection notes on LinkedIn: Keep it short and sweet. People are busy, so they don’t have time to read long, rambling notes. Get to the point quickly and clearly. Be specific. Don’t just say something generic like “It was great meeting you at the conference.” Instead, mention something specific that you talked about or that you found interesting about the other person. Be genuine. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. People can spot a fake from a mile away. Just be yourself and let your personality shine through. Proofread your note before you send it. Typos and grammatical errors make you look unprofessional. Take a few minutes to proofread your note before you hit send. By following these tips, you can write effective personal connection notes that will help you to build relationships and grow your network on LinkedIn. Here are some sample letters you can use when making future connections. I highlighted the tieback element in each of them. However, if you would like to share with me your best connection notes, please do so.