LinkedIn is a great platform for connecting with other professionals, networking, and building your online presence. One useful feature on LinkedIn is the ability to message people who are not direct connections in your network. Messaging non-contacts allows you to reach out to people you may not know personally, but would like to connect with professionally.
There are a few steps required in order to message someone on LinkedIn who is not already in your network. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to send a message to a non-contact on LinkedIn.
Enable messaging settings
The first thing you need to do is adjust your messaging settings to allow messaging to non-contacts. Here’s how:
- Go to your LinkedIn homepage and click on the “Me” icon at the top right (your profile picture).
- From the dropdown menu, select “Settings & Privacy”.
- On the left sidebar, click on “Communications”.
- Under “Messaging”, switch the toggle for “Allowing messages from people who are not connections” to the “On” position.
- Scroll down and click “Save”.
Enabling this setting allows anyone on LinkedIn to message you, even if they are not in your network. It also allows you to message people who are not direct connections.
Find the profile you want to message
Once your messaging settings are enabled, you can search for and find the LinkedIn profile of the person you would like to message. Here are some tips for finding non-contacts:
- Use the search bar at the top of LinkedIn – search by name, company, job title, school, etc.
- Browse LinkedIn profiles by industry, location, job function, skills, etc using the “People” tab.
- Check who views your profile – these are often good targets to message since they already showed interest.
- Review profiles of people who work at a company you’re interested in connecting with.
- Use advanced search filters like location and company to narrow your search results.
Once you’ve identified the profile(s) you want to message, open the profile and verify that the person is not already in your LinkedIn network. Their profile will also indicate if they are open to being messaged by non-contacts.
Craft your message
With the profile open, it’s time to craft your personalized message. Here are some tips for writing effective LinkedIn messages to non-contacts:
- Personalize the message with their name, company, job title or other details from their profile.
- Keep messages brief but specific – respect their time.
- Explain why you want to connect with them professionally.
- Mention shared connections, groups, or interests you have in common.
- Have a clear call to action, like requesting a connection.
- Use a warm but professional tone.
- Avoid hard selling or asking for favors.
- Proofread for typos and errors before sending.
Essentially, your message should demonstrate shared interests, explain why connecting would be valuable, and make it easy for them to respond.
Send the LinkedIn message
Once your message is crafted, sending it is easy. Here are the steps:
- At the top of their profile, click the “Message” button.
- Address the message to the member by name.
- Paste your pre-written message into the message box.
- Click the “Send” button to send the message.
And that’s it! Your message has now been sent directly to that LinkedIn member’s inbox. Now you just have to wait for them to hopefully respond.
Following up on LinkedIn messages
Don’t be surprised or discouraged if many of your LinkedIn outreach messages go unanswered. Response rates for messaging non-contacts tend to be quite low. However, here are some tips for following up and improving your chances of a response:
- Wait at least one week before following up if you don’t get a response.
- Don’t message more than 2 or 3 times without a response.
- Try varying your follow up message – change the subject line, try another call to action, or highlight different shared interests.
- Follow up messages should be polite and casual – never pushy or demanding.
- Consider varying the time and day you send follow up messages.
- Change your strategy if follow ups aren’t working – try connecting in real life instead.
Following up is part of the process, but also know when to move on if someone remains unresponsive.
Connect and build the relationship
If the person does respond positively to your outreach, the next step is to connect your profiles on LinkedIn. Here are some tips for converting a new messaging connection into an ongoing professional relationship:
- After connecting, send a thank you message and suggest meeting or talking.
- Comment on and like their posts to continue engaging.
- Send them messages sharing relevant articles or insights.
- Invite them to connect on other platforms like Twitter or Facebook.
- Follow up periodically – don’t let the connection go cold.
- Offer to make introductions to contacts who share common interests.
- Consider meeting in person if possible at networking events or industry conferences.
Building an ongoing relationship takes effort but is so valuable professionally. LinkedIn messaging is just the starting point for connecting.
Best practices for LinkedIn messaging
Here is a summary of some best practices to keep in mind when messaging non-contacts on LinkedIn:
| Best Practice | Details |
|---|---|
| Personalize | Use their name, company, interests etc. Generic messages get ignored. |
| Customize | Tailor your ask/offer to their unique situation or profile. |
| Be transparent | Explain who you are and why you want to connect right up front. |
| Make it about them | Demonstrate you understand their needs and can offer value. |
| Stay concise | Get to the point quickly and avoid huge blocks of text. |
| Use multimedia | Include images, videos, presentations etc when relevant. |
| Follow up politely | One or two follow ups is ok, but move on if no response. |
| Proofread | Fix typos and grammar errors before sending messages. |
Following best practices helps ensure your messages stand out and get results. But don’t get discouraged if response rates are low – it’s a numbers game. Being persistent and strategic with your outreach will pay off.
Leverage LinkedIn tools
In addition to direct messaging, LinkedIn offers some other tools to help connect with non-contacts and expand your network. Here are a few to consider:
- LinkedIn InMail – Send directly to anyone’s inbox, but limited unless you upgrade.
- Introductions – Ask for an introduction through any mutual connections.
- Open Networkers – Connect with those open to networking on LinkedIn.
- LinkedIn Groups – Join Groups related to your industry or interests.
- Search Alerts – Get notified when key prospects are active on LinkedIn.
- LinkedIn Pages – Follow and interact with Company pages.
Using the right tools at the right times can boost your LinkedIn networking and messaging strategy.
Conclusion
Messaging people who are not yet connections on LinkedIn is a great way to expand your professional network and develop new business opportunities. By following the steps outlined here, customizing your outreach, and applying best practices, you can effectively engage non-contacts on LinkedIn.
It does require persistence and patience, but the payoff from new relationships makes it worth the effort. Approach messaging respectfully, provide value, and you’ll see your network grow in no time. Just remember that real engagement and conversations should come before any hard selling.
