The truth about LinkedIn is that it is not meant for the lazy. Networking is actually work, and it doesn’t become much easier when you are trying to connect online.

If anything, things can become a little more difficult because you will be competing with emails and three million other distractions as a person browses through their LinkedIn profiles.

It is so important to make a clear ask and provide some background when you attempt to connect with someone via the popular professional networking platform.

So what sparked this post?

A piece from blogger and PR pro Sakita Holley. If you’re not already, you should follow her on Twitter for some inspiration, good PR tips and laughs. For me, the laughs come because she has no problem telling it like it is. Case in point:

BC using #Linkedin‘s default request msg is hustlin’ backwards, I give you six ways to do it right.

With that tweet came a link to a post about LinkedIn featured in Madame Noire. Sakita successfully tells it like it is when it comes to LinkedIn invitations and provides six templates that you can tailor when you reach out to people in a variety of scenarios, from connecting with former co-workers to seeking out prospective employers. Check it our here.