# My acceptance rate is low

> Why connection requests get ignored, what a healthy rate looks like, and how to fix it before it becomes an account restriction.

Source: https://doreach.co/help/troubleshooting/low-acceptance-rate/
Last updated: 2026-08-14

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Acceptance rate is the number that matters most, because it drives both your results and your account's risk.

| Rate | Reading |
|---|---|
| Above 30% | Healthy |
| 20–30% | Workable, watch it |
| Below 20% | Fix before sending more |

## The causes, in order

**1. Targeting.** Nine times out of ten. If the recipient cannot see a reason you would connect, they ignore it. A list assembled from a broad title search across unrelated industries will always underperform, no matter how good the copy is.

Fix: narrow to a group with a real shared characteristic. Try [post engagers or event attendees](/help/campaigns/campaign-types-and-sources/) instead of cold search. The shared context does most of the work.

**2. The sending profile.** People check the profile before accepting. A weak headline, no photo, no activity or few connections all reduce acceptance regardless of who you target.

Fix: photo, clear headline describing who you help, some recent activity.

**3. The request note.** A pitch attached to a connection request often lowers acceptance. You are asking for two things at once.

Fix: test sending with no note at all. It frequently wins.

**4. Stale pending invitations.** Old unanswered requests keep dragging the ratio down.

Fix: withdraw anything older than about three weeks, and do it regularly.

**5. Volume too high for the account.** A newly connected account sending at full default volume gets less visibility.

Fix: lower the account's weekly limits and raise them gradually over two to three weeks.

## Do this now if you are under 20%

Pause the worst campaign, withdraw stale invitations, halve daily limits, and rebuild the audience before resuming. Sending more into a low acceptance rate is exactly how accounts get restricted.

## Common questions

### What is a good LinkedIn connection request acceptance rate?

Above 30% is healthy, 20–30% is workable, and below 20% needs fixing before you send more. A sustained low rate is the single clearest signal LinkedIn uses to identify automated accounts.

### Why are my LinkedIn connection requests being ignored?

Almost always targeting: the recipients have no visible reason to accept. After that, a weak sending profile, a request note that reads as a pitch, and stale pending invitations dragging the ratio down.