Sending cold messages on LinkedIn can be an effective way to reach out to potential clients, business partners, or job opportunities. However, simply sending a connection request or initial message is often not enough to get a response. The key is to know how to properly follow up in order to increase your chances of getting a reply.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the best practices for following up on cold outreach on LinkedIn, including:
- When to send the initial message
- Crafting an effective cold message
- Following up at the right cadence
- Writing compelling follow up messages
- Leveraging LinkedIn tools to your advantage
- Handling non-responses gracefully
Whether you are looking to grow your professional network, source job candidates, gain new business leads or close deals, this guide will equip you with a strategic approach to persistently, yet professionally, following up on your cold messages.
When to Send the Initial Cold Message
Timing is important when sending an initial cold message to maximize your chances of getting a response. Here are some guidelines on when to reach out:
- Morning: Send initial outreach in the morning before 11am if possible. People tend to be more responsive early in the day.
- Tuesday-Thursday: Mid-week days have higher response rates than Mondays and Fridays.
- Avoid holidays and vacation seasons when response rates tend to dip.
- Connect first: Try sending a connection request 1-2 days before your message.
- Respond quickly: Capitalize on existing conversations by responding within 1 business day.
While there are no hard rules, these tips can help increase open and response rates for your cold messages. Pay attention to the typical response times and activity levels of your recipients as well.
Crafting an Effective Cold Message
Your initial outreach needs to be concise yet compelling in order to get opened and answered. Here are some best practices for structuring your cold messages:
- Personalize the message by referencing their background, interests or connections.
- Establish common ground and explain why you are reaching out.
- Communicate value by highlighting what’s in it for them to connect.
- Ask an open-ended question or propose next steps to move the conversation forward.
- Keep it short at 2-4 sentences maximum.
- Use a warm yet professional tone.
For example:
Hi [First Name], I noticed that you have extensive experience in [area of expertise] based on your experience at [Company X]. I’m reaching out because I am currently working on [project/initiative] for [Company Y] that could strongly benefit from your domain knowledge in this area. Would you be open to a quick 20 minute call to discuss [project details and goal]? I would value hearing your perspective on how we might be able to collaborate. Please let me know if you might have some time next Tuesday or Wednesday.
This approach makes the message much more targeted and personal while quickly communicating value.
Following Up at the Right Cadence
Don’t stop at the first unanswered message. Persistence pays off, but you need to follow up at the right cadence to avoid being perceived as spammy. Here are some recommended timelines:
- 1st follow up: 3-4 business days after initial message
- 2nd follow up: 7 business days after initial message
- 3rd follow up: 10-14 business days after initial message
- Move on after 3 follow ups with no response
It’s a fine balance between showing persistence and overpursuing someone who may not be interested. If you still don’t get a response after 3 follow up attempts, it’s best to move on and refocus your efforts.
Writing Compelling Follow Up Messages
Each follow up message needs to provide additional value and incentivize a response. Here are some tips:
- Refresh on who you are and why you connected
- Reiterate the value proposition and deliverables
- Pose a new open-ended question
- Share a relevant article or piece of news
- Comment on one of their recent posts
- Offer an alternative such as a phone call or video chat
For example:
Hi [Name], We connected last week regarding [reason for outreach]. I wanted to follow up again in case my previous message got lost in the shuffle. I think there is strong potential for us to collaborate together based on your background in [area of expertise]. Would a quick 15 minute intro call later this week work better for you? I’m free Tuesday from 2-3pm or Wednesday from 10-12pm. Let me know if either of those times could work or if there is another day/time that fits your schedule better next week.
The idea is to add new value in each follow up while also posing a follow up question or call to action to elicit a response.
Leverage LinkedIn Tools
Take advantage of built-in LinkedIn tools to increase engagement on your outreach messages:
- Mentions: Tag someone’s @handle in your message to trigger a notification
- InMail: Send directly to their inbox to circumvent algorithmic filters
- Search alerts: Get notified when they make updates to stay top of mind
- Content sharing: Comment on and share posts to increase interaction
For instance, you can use mentions combined with commenting on recent posts to subtly remind them of your previous outreach. Just be sure your interactions are adding value vs. coming across as needy.
Handling Non-Responses Gracefully
If you’ve followed up persistently with no luck getting a response, it’s important to handle the situation with grace:
- Don’t take it personally. Lack of response is likely not about you.
- Avoid sending frustrated messages pressing for a reply.
- Consider if it’s worth one last outreach providing value.
- If no response after 3 follow ups, accept it’s time to move on.
- Circle back in 3-6 months if it aligns with their interests.
Handling rejection gracefully preserves your reputation and demonstrates emotional intelligence.
Conclusion
Following up is critical to the success of cold outreach through LinkedIn. By crafting personalized messages, following up at optimal cadence, continuing to add value, and leveraging built-in tools, you can put your best foot forward. However, handling non-responses maturely is equally important. With this comprehensive playbook, you are equipped to follow up effectively, increase response rates, and establish new relationships through LinkedIn.
