Sending a message on LinkedIn to connect with someone or ask a question is the first step, but following up is often necessary if you want to move the conversation forward. Knowing when and how to follow up appropriately is key to building relationships and getting results on LinkedIn.
If you haven’t received a response within a week
If you reach out to someone on LinkedIn and don’t hear back within about a week, it’s reasonable to send a follow up message. One week gives the recipient adequate time to see the message and respond if they are going to. After a week has gone by with no reply, there are a few potential reasons you haven’t heard back:
- They didn’t see your original message due to their notification settings or because it got buried.
- They saw it but forgot to respond or haven’t had time yet.
- They aren’t interested in connecting with you.
Following up after a week increases the chances they will see your message again and respond, even if they overlooked or forgot about your initial message. However, avoid bombarding someone with multiple follow up messages if they clearly aren’t interested in engaging.
If you are following up on an important request or application
If your original LinkedIn message included an important request, such as asking about job opportunities or applying for a position, follow up more promptly. Give the recipient 3-5 days to respond in these cases before sending a follow up message.
Hiring managers and recruiters are busy, so your message may get overlooked. Following up shows you are truly interested in the opportunity. Just be sure your follow up provides value rather than simply asking “Did you get my application?” Demonstrate your interest, reiterate your qualifications, and add any other relevant information you didn’t include initially.
If you are trying to build new relationships
When reaching out to connect with someone you don’t know well on LinkedIn, give them adequate time to respond to your initial message before following up. At least 1-2 weeks is appropriate when trying to network or build relationships.
Following up too soon can come across as pushy and damage your chances of building a good connection. Be patient and give the other person space. If they are interested in connecting, they will engage when they have time. You can send a friendly reminder message after giving them plenty of room to respond.
If you have an existing relationship
If you are reaching out to someone you already know well, like a close colleague, client, friend or family member, you can generally follow up more quickly than with a stranger or distant connection. For important matters, follow up within 3-5 days if you haven’t heard back.
For casual conversation or non-urgent requests, you can still give them up to 1-2 weeks to engage with your message before sending a follow up. Even with existing connections, allow adequate time for them to reply on their own before you remind them.
Personalize your follow up message
When crafting your follow up message, don’t simply copy and paste your original message again. Take a few minutes to customize your follow up note to show you put thought into it.
Acknowledge the initial message you sent by saying something like “I reached out last week about…” or “Just wanted to follow up on my last message…”. Then add a sentence or two reiterating your request or any key points you want to emphasize.
Keeping your follow up concise and focused is best. Refer to any specifics like a job description, article or event they posted that prompted your initial message. Adding personal touches and showing familiarity with their background helps too.
Only follow up twice at most
As a rule of thumb, follow up no more than once on any given LinkedIn message. If you don’t receive any response to your original message or follow up, it’s best not to continue pursuing that connection.
Sending multiple follow up messages can come across as annoying, aggressive or even desperate. If they were interested in connecting with you, they would engage. Don’t take lack of response personally and move on.
An exception is if you have an important outstanding request, like an unanswered job application. In this case, one additional follow up may be warranted if you haven’t received any response at all. But avoid pestering someone who clearly isn’t interested.
Make use of LinkedIn features
Take advantage of options LinkedIn provides when sending messages to increase the likelihood your message and any follow ups are seen:
- Select the “Add Note” option when sending a connection request to customize your message.
- Enable request read receipts so you know if your message was read.
- Pay to send an InMail to guarantee delivery of your message.
While these options don’t guarantee a response, they can help avoid situations where your messages go unseen and eliminate some of the need to follow up.
Following upthoughtfully and politely is key
Following up with someone who hasn’t responded to your LinkedIn message is often necessary. Just be sure your follow up messaging is thoughtful, polite and adds value rather than rehashing the exact same content. Avoid bombarding someone with multiple messages if they clearly aren’t interested in connecting.
With an appropriate, personalized follow up message sent after an adequate waiting period, you can increase your chances of getting a response and build relationships on LinkedIn. Following up shows initiative and interest on your part, just be careful not to overdo it.
Be patient and persistent without being aggressive. If someone doesn’t respond after an initial message and one considerate follow up, move on and refocus your efforts elsewhere.
