LinkedIn messaging allows you to directly connect with other professionals on the platform. However, it’s important to follow best practices when reaching out to make sure your messages are well-received. Here are some top tips for effectively messaging on LinkedIn.
Who to Message
When deciding who to message, focus on connecting with people you already have an existing relationship with or share common interests or connections. Messaging strangers out of the blue is less likely to get a response.
Some people worth messaging include:
- Former colleagues
- Alumni from your university
- People you’ve met at events or conferences
- Members of groups or associations you’re part of
Look for ways to establish common ground and explain why you want to connect. Focus on quality over quantity when reaching out.
Personalized Messages
Personalized messages have a much higher chance of getting a response than generic templates. Take the time to write an original message tailored to the recipient.
Make sure to:
- Address them by name
- Mention how you found them or where you met
- Explain why you want to connect
- Highlight common interests or connections
Avoid copying and pasting the exact same message to multiple people. It’s better to take the time to customize each note.
Short and Friendly
Keep your initial outreach message short, friendly and casual. Two to three sentences is plenty to introduce yourself, establish common ground, and explain why you want to connect.
Use a warm and enthusiastic tone. Avoid formal language like you would use in a cover letter or business proposal.
Starting the conversation off on a casual note makes it easier to develop the relationship from there.
Follow Up Politely
If you don’t hear back within a week, it’s fine to follow up. But avoid pestering someone who doesn’t respond. Send one or two follow-up messages spaced out over a few weeks.
When following up:
- Politely acknowledge they may have missed your initial note
- Briefly re-introduce yourself and restate your interest in connecting
- Consider if it’s worth trying to find an alternative contact channel like email
But if there’s still no response, move on and refocus your efforts elsewhere.
Add Value
Think about how you can add value when initiating a conversation. Offering help, useful information and resources can give someone more incentive to respond.
Ways to add value include:
- Sharing an interesting article or post
- Recommending someone for an opportunity
- Introducing them to a useful contact
- Offering advice based on your experience
When you provide value upfront, the recipient will see you as a connector rather than just another solicitor.
Follow Up After Connecting
Don’t let the conversation end after connecting. Follow up within a week or two to cement the relationship.
In your follow up message:
- Thank them for accepting your invite
- Start a new conversation by asking an engaging question related to their interests or industry
- Optionally attach an interesting article or other piece of value
Nurturing the relationship right away significantly increases the likelihood of an ongoing professional connection.
Avoid Hard Selling
It’s fine to eventually get to a sales pitch or promotion down the line. But your initial outreaches should focus on relationship building, not obvious selling.
Avoid giving off used car salesman vibes by:
- Not immediately launching into a product pitch
- Not bragging about achievements
- Not name dropping clients or contacts
- Not focusing entirely on yourself and your offerings
Come from a place of trying to help, not sell. Wait until you’ve developed a relationship before promoting business opportunities.
Proofread Carefully
Typos, grammar errors and incomplete messages look unprofessional. Always proofread your messages before sending.
Double check for mistakes like:
- Spelling and grammar errors
- Autocorrect errors
- Incomplete or fragmented sentences
- Missing words
- Unclear phrasing
Sloppy messages reflect poorly on your personal brand. Take the time to clean things up before hitting send.
Follow Messaging Etiquette
As on other social platforms, there are etiquette guidelines to keep in mind when messaging on LinkedIn:
- Don’t send more than 2-3 unanswered messages in a row
- Don’t message excessively late at night or early morning
- Keep your tone friendly and positive
- Respect if someone doesn’t respond and move on
- Avoid controversial topics
- Don’t overshare personal details
Use your best judgment and remember there’s a real person on the other end.
Offer Referrals
Referrals can give your outreach a boost. Mention if you were referred by a mutual connection or colleague.
When including referrals:
- Name drop the person who referred you
- Mention your relationship with the referrer
- Explain that they suggested connecting
Namedropping a mutual contact adds legitimacy and gives the recipient more context.
Follow Up After Meeting
If a LinkedIn message leads to an in-person meeting, always follow up after to continue the relationship.
In your follow up:
- Thank them for taking the time to meet
- Briefly recap any key takeaways
- Share any promised resources or information
- Suggest meeting again or keeping in touch
Following up solidifies new connections made and sets the stage for an ongoing professional relationship.
Connect Around Shared Interests
Look for shared interests, hobbies and passions beyond just work. Bonding personally makes a connection stronger.
Some interests worth highlighting:
- Sports teams
- Charities and volunteering
- Travel and destinations
- Food and dining
- Art, music and entertainment
- Hobbies and activities
Breaking the ice around common interests gives messaging interactions a more human, relatable feel.
Give Genuine Compliments
Giving genuine compliments shows you took the time to look over someone’s profile and are interested in connecting.
Some areas to compliment:
- Impressive career accomplishments
- Interesting content they’ve published
- Compelling volunteer work or causes
- Awards and recognition
- Prestigious education credentials
Just make sure compliments come across as authentic, not sycophantic flattery.
Showcase Expertise
Displaying expertise in your messages establishes credibility. Share insights, data points and industry knowledge.
Ways to demonstrate thought leadership:
- Answer questions and provide helpful advice
- Share relevant statistics and trends
- Discuss new developments in the field
- Offer informed opinions on industry issues
- Provide examples from your own experience
Don’t just say you’re an expert – prove it by sharing valuable expertise.
Focus on Helping
Position yourself as someone who wants to be helpful and add value, not just sell something.
Offer to:
- Provide career advice
- Give feedback on projects
- Connect them to useful contacts
- Help brainstorm ideas
- Answer questions based on your experience
People will remember you more for being generous with your time and expertise.
Share Interesting Content
Sharing interesting articles, links and media makes messaging more engaging and keeps the conversation going.
Types of content to share:
- Your latest blog post or published article
- A case study or research report
- A video or podcast episode
- Coverage in the news
- A presentation or whitepaper
Choose relevant content tailored to the person’s interests and industry.
Connect Around Events
Events provide a great pretext for initial outreach and ongoing messaging conversations.
Ways events open messaging opportunities:
- Reconnect with past event attendees
- Follow up on conversations at an event
- Invite someone to an upcoming event
- Bond over shared event experiences
- Offer to connect someone to event speakers or organizers
Keep event conversations going by discussing takeaways, sharing photos and sending post-event recaps.
Message Consistently
Spamming someone with constant messages is annoying. But occasionally messaging is key to sustaining relationships.
Best practices for consistent messaging:
- Touch base every few weeks or months
- Time messages around major events, news or milestones
- Vary message topics and types of content
- Gauge response levels and adjust frequency accordingly
The key is mixing proactive relationship management with respecting boundaries.
Join Related Groups
Joining LinkedIn groups related to someone’s industry or interests gives you a natural way to start conversations.
Ways groups lead to messaging opportunities:
- Comment on their posts and content in groups
- Message group members inviting them to connect
- Discuss insights from group conversations
- Share group content that would interest them
Groups also expand your network by exposing you to more potential contacts.
Make Introductions
Introducing people in your network opens the door to bringing more people into messaging conversations.
Ways to facilitate introductions:
- Connect two people based on shared interests or synergies
- Make warm introductions highlighting people’s commonalities
- Follow up to see how introductions went
- Ask to be introduced to people in their network
Playing matchmaker gives you social credibility and enhances your personal brand as a networker.
Keep Up When Changing Jobs
When you or a connection change jobs, reach out right away to acknowledge it and sustain the relationship.
Messaging tips around job changes:
- Congratulate them on the new role
- Ask about their new responsibilities
- Offer to connect them to useful contacts
- Set a time to meet up and catch up
Job changes are natural times to reconnect and revitalize messaging interactions.
Leverage LinkedIn Features
Take advantage of LinkedIn’s unique features to enhance your messaging and connections.
Features that facilitate messaging:
- InMail for sending initial outreach
- Being proactively suggested as a connection
- Visitor insights indicating profile views
- Newsfeed posts driving conversations
- “Open to Work” status signaling a change
Use all tools available to you to learn about prospects and fuel productive exchanges.
Conclusion
Messaging on LinkedIn can unlock game-changing professional relationships, but only if done right. Focus on quality over quantity, personalize your approaches, prove your expertise, and nurture relationships over the long-term. With some thoughtfulness and strategic effort, your LinkedIn messaging will yield connections that accelerate your career success.
