Getting no response to your LinkedIn outreach can be frustrating. You took the time to craft a thoughtful customized message, but your connection never replied. Don’t give up just yet. Following up strategically on LinkedIn can still lead to positive results.
First message follow-up tips
If you haven’t gotten a response within a week of sending your initial LinkedIn message, consider sending a follow up. Here are some tips for effective first follow ups:
- Wait at least a week before following up. Give your connection adequate time to respond.
- Make sure you sent the original message correctly by checking your sent folder.
- Double check that you connected with the right person. Verify their name, job title and company.
- Acknowledge the non-response politely. Say something like “I wanted to follow up on the message I sent last week…”
- Be concise. The follow up should be shorter than your original ask. Get right to the point.
- Rephrase your ask in different words. Don’t simply copy and paste your first message.
- Consider changing the method of outreach. If you messaged the first time, try sending an InMail follow up.
- Personalize the message and explain why you’re reaching out again. Show genuine interest.
- If appropriate, politely ask if they received your original note and reiterate your request.
- Avoid sounding demanding or aggressive. Maintain a positive, uplifting tone.
With an empathetic and thoughtful follow up message, you may get the response you were hoping for. Persistence pays off, but stay professional. harassment or negativity could damage your reputation.
Following up after the first follow up
If your connection still hasn’t responded after a first follow up message, don’t give up. You can attempt another follow up, but change your strategy. Here are some tips for second and third follow up attempts:
- Wait at least 2 weeks between follow up messages to avoid pestering your connection.
- Try changing the method of communication again. If you sent InMail last, try messaging.
- Consider reaching out via a different platform like email or phone (if you have contact info).
- Change the time of day you reach out. People check LinkedIn at different times.
- Double check your previous messages for any errors or off-putting language.
- Ask coworkers or colleagues for input on your messaging strategy and tone.
- Politely acknowledge the previous non-response again at the start. Then restate your purpose.
- Offer something of value without strings attached, like useful information or resources.
- Suggest an alternative person who may be able to help if appropriate.
- Express that you understand they are busy. Keep language flexible about meeting.
Following up more than twice starts to verge on excessive. At a certain point, you need to accept that your connection is not interested or unavailable. But strategic persistence can pay off in many cases with the right approach.
When to stop following up
While persistence is important, there comes a point where more follow up attempts will be counterproductive. Here are some signs it’s time to stop:
- Your connection asks you explicitly not to contact them again.
- You’ve followed up more than three times with no response.
- Months have gone by since your initial outreach.
- Your connection’s profile says they’ve left their company or role.
- Trying different methods and messaging hasn’t worked.
- Your connection blocks you or removes the connection.
- Reaching out again would come across as demanding or aggressive.
- Coworkers advise stopping as you may damage the relationship.
If you get negative signals like being blocked or asked not to contact them again, you need to stop immediately. In most cases, if three thoughtful follow up attempts don’t work, it’s best to move on. The key is avoiding pestering behavior or conveying desperation.
Following up with those you don’t know
Following up with LinkedIn connections you have no prior relationship with requires extra tact and care. Here are some tips:
- Only follow up once or twice at most. Don’t bombard strangers with messages.
- Carefully craft relevant, customized messages showcasing shared interests or goals.
- Politely acknowledge you don’t know them personally but are interested in connecting.
- Express clear reasons why you want to build a relationship, don’t be vague.
- Suggest low-pressure ways to get acquainted, like following each other or chatting.
- Avoid hard asks for favors or lengthy informational interviews.
- Focus on establishing rapport in early communications before asking for favors.
- Personalize your language but avoid over-familiarity early in the relationship.
When following up with people you don’t know, the focus should be on slowly building a mutually beneficial relationship, not just getting something you want. With persistence and the right approach, you can make new quality connections.
Following up with recruiters/hiring managers
Following up with recruiters and hiring managers requires extra discretion. Use these strategic tips:
- Wait at least 2 full weeks before your first follow up to avoid appearing desperate.
- Address them formally as Mr. or Ms. in messages unless they state otherwise.
- Thank them for reviewing your application materials in the follow up.
- Ask if they need any additional items for your application like work samples, references, etc.
- Say you are still very interested in the role and company if that is the case.
- Only follow up twice at most. Recruiters are very busy.
- Avoid asking pointed questions about where you stand. Frame questions broadly.
- If rejected, politely ask for feedback you could implement when applying elsewhere.
- Express continued interest in future roles or other openings at the company.
With recruiters and hiring managers, follow ups work best when focused on expressing continued interest and asking how you can provide additional information to assist the hiring process. Don’t try to pressure or rush the process.
Tools to help with LinkedIn follow ups
Following up manually on each LinkedIn message and connection request can be time consuming. Luckily, there are tools to help automate and manage the process:
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Paid subscribers can see if their messages are read and customize follow up reminders.
- Mixmax: Helps track opens and create templates to send automatic reminder sequences.
- Dux-Soup: LinkedIn automation tool that can send customized reminders and follow ups.
- Streak CRM: Manages reminders and follow ups within a CRM pipeline view.
- Nudge for Gmail: Enables easy follow up reminders when messaging via Gmail.
- Reply: For Gmail users, helps schedule reminders and confirm opens/reads.
- Boomerang: Gmail plugin can schedule messages to resend if no reply.
The right tools take the pain out of following up and ensure you never drop the ball. Test different options to find the best solution for managing your process at scale while maintaining personalization.
Following up via other channels
While LinkedIn is great for initial outreach, following up via alternative channels can also be effective. Some other options include:
- Email: More direct than LinkedIn messaging if you have their address.
- Phone: A phone call lets you have an actual conversation.
- Text/WhatsApp: For back and forth conversations via mobile.
- Video call: Talk face-to-face using Zoom, Skype, etc.
- Social media: Try commenting on their content or posts on Twitter/Facebook.
- In person: Connect at events, meetings or industry gather ups.
Changing the medium of communication allows you to demonstrate persistence from different angles tailored to your connection’s preferences and habits.
When to escalate your outreach
If multiple direct follow up attempts don’t work, consider escalating your outreach by connecting with colleagues and contacts within the company. Ways to get others involved include:
- Asking coworkers who know the person for an introduction or referral.
- Contacting others in the department to learn about the status of your request.
- Messaging HR representatives to facilitate communication.
- Connecting with executives or senior leadership to resolve issues.
- Asking colleagues for insight on who the best person is to speak with.
- Utilizing your network to make warm introductions at the person’s company.
Getting assistance from peers and colleagues avoids harassing behavior and shows resourcefulness. Use discretion and only escalate strategically if other follow up attempts fail first.
When to give up on a LinkedIn connection
Despite your best efforts, sometimes you simply need to move on from a non-responsive LinkedIn connection. It’s best to stop pursuing follow ups when:
- They directly ask you to stop contacting them.
- You’ve followed up more than three times total via any channel.
- Months have passed since your initial outreach.
- Their profile shows they have left the company or role.
- Coworkers advise you are coming across as desperate or salesy.
- They block you or remove the LinkedIn connection.
- Continued attempts would be conveyed as harassment.
- You have escalated appropriately within their company without results.
It’s possible the person you are contacting changed roles, is overwhelmed with other priorities or is dealing with personal issues. While rejection is hard, obsessing over a non-response won’t serve you. Reflect on ways you could improve your approach for future outreach.
Maintaining your reputation after no response
Getting no response after deep LinkedIn outreach can understandably be frustrating. Avoid damaging your reputation by:
- Not insulting, attacking or mocking the person who didn’t respond.
- Not venting about the experience publicly in a way that could get back to them.
- Not burning bridges or seeking “payback” down the line.
- Not spamming them if they didn’t explicitly say you could follow up.
- Not escalating excessively or inappropriately within their company.
- Not talking negatively about them to colleagues in your network.
- Not sending overly aggressive or emotionally charged follow ups.
Handling rejection with poise and maturity will serve your career in the long run. You never know when your paths may cross again professionally down the line.
Conclusion
No response after thoughtful LinkedIn outreach can be disheartening. But skilled follow up and persistence often leads to success. Wait an appropriate amount of time, change your messaging and medium, and escalate carefully. But also know when to walk away to preserve your reputation. With the right balance of tact and resilience, non-responsiveness doesn’t have to be the end of the road.
