This article walks you through building a simple connection request workflow using the LinkedIn Lead Engine. It is a great starting point for understanding how branching logic works, which is the foundation of everything you will build in the Lead Engine.
By the end of this article you will have a workflow that checks whether each contact is already connected with you, sends a connection request if not, then follows up based on whether they accepted or not.
What we are building
A two-path workflow that:
Checks if the contact is already connected
If already connected: ends the workflow
If not connected: sends a personalized connection request
Checks if the contact accepted the request
If accepted: sends a follow-up message
If not accepted: likes their post or follows their profile to stay visible, then withdraws the pending invite to keep your account clean
Before you start
Make sure you have completed the following before building your workflow:
Created a new LinkedIn Lead Engine campaign and configured the Start campaign setup node (Audience, AI & Business Snapshot, and Settings). If you have not done this yet, see How to Set Up a LinkedIn Lead Engine Campaign.
Your contact list is imported and selected as the audience source.
Your LinkedIn account is connected.
Step 1: Add a Conditions node
Click the + button below the Start campaign setup node to open the actions panel. Under Orchestration, select Conditions.
In the settings panel on the right, set the condition type to Basic Condition and select If connected from the LinkedIn conditions list.
The node will show two output paths on the canvas:
A green path for contacts who met the condition (already connected)
A red path for contacts who did not (not yet connected)
This is the correct starting point for any workflow that includes a connection request or Send message node. Checking connection status first ensures the right action is taken for each contact. Sending a connection request to someone you are already connected with, or a message to someone you are not, will cause the action to fail.
Step 2: Build the already connected path (green)
Click the + button on the green path and add an End workflow node. This exits the workflow for contacts who are already connected.
Note: Ending the workflow here is the right choice when your campaign is purely for reaching new contacts. However if your goal is to reach a specific audience regardless of connection status, you can add a Send message node here instead to follow up with contacts you are already connected with.
Step 3: Build the not connected path (red)
Click the + button on the red path and add a Connection request node.
In the settings panel you will see a Time delay field and a message composer. The time delay is built into the action node itself, so you do not need a separate Wait for delay node.
Writing your connection request message
Type your message in the composer. You can personalize it using variables and AI tools available in the toolbar:
Insert variable: Add dynamic fields such as [FIRST_NAME] to personalize each message with the contact's name.
AI Ice Breaker: Use the [AI_ICE_BREAKER] variable to automatically generate a personalized opening line for each contact based on their LinkedIn profile. This is one of the most powerful features in the Lead Engine. Every contact receives a message that feels written specifically for them.
AI assist: Click the AI assist button to access additional options including Generate message, Refine message, and AI spintax writer. The spintax writer creates multiple message variations that rotate across contacts, adding further variety to your outreach.
Preview: Click Preview to see how your message will look for a real contact from your list, including how the AI Ice Breaker will render before the campaign goes live.
Adding an alternate message
Click + Add alternate message to provide a fallback message. Some LinkedIn accounts have a character limit for connection request messages. If your primary message exceeds the limit for a particular contact's account, the alternate message will be sent instead. It is recommended to keep the alternate message shorter to ensure it is delivered successfully.
Click Save when your message is ready.
Step 4: Check if the connection request was accepted
After the connection request node, add another Conditions node. Select If connected again from the LinkedIn conditions list.
This second conditions node checks whether the contact accepted your connection request. The workflow will now branch again into two paths:
A green path for contacts who accepted
A red path for contacts who did not accept
This is a key concept in the Lead Engine. You are not just sending a connection request and hoping for the best. You are building a workflow that responds differently based on what each contact actually did.
Step 5: Build the accepted path (green)
Click the + button on the green path and add a Send message node. Write a follow-up message for contacts who have just accepted your connection request.
This message should acknowledge the new connection and move the conversation forward naturally. Keep it conversational and avoid jumping straight into a pitch.
You can use the same AI tools and variables available in the connection request composer to personalize this message as well.
After the Send message node, add an End workflow node to close the workflow for these contacts.
Note: This example ends the workflow after the first follow-up message, but you are not limited to a single step. You can continue building on the accepted path by adding more Send message nodes, a Wait for delay between each, or any other channel action depending on your outreach goals. The workflow can be as simple or as detailed as your campaign requires.
Step 6: Build the not accepted path (red)
For contacts who did not accept, the goal is to stay visible without being pushy, then clean up the pending invite.
Click the + button on the red path and add a Like post node or a Follow profile node. This keeps your name in the contact's notifications and gives the outreach one more gentle touchpoint before closing.
After the engagement action, add a Withdraw invite node. This withdraws the pending connection request. Keeping unaccepted invites pending for too long can negatively affect your LinkedIn account, so withdrawing them as part of the workflow keeps your account healthy automatically.
Finally, add an End workflow node to close the workflow for these contacts.
What the finished workflow looks like
When complete, your workflow follows this logic:
Check: is the contact already connected?
Yes: end workflow
No: send a personalized connection request
Check: did they accept the request?
Yes: send a follow-up message, then end workflow
No: like their post or follow their profile, withdraw the pending invite, then end workflow
Next steps
Once you are comfortable with this structure, you are ready to build more advanced workflows. A good next step is the Post Engagement Prospecting workflow, which combines AI lead scoring, sentiment analysis, and multi-channel outreach to reach the right contacts in the most effective way. See: Building a Post Engagement Prospecting Workflow.