LinkedIn Message Templates That Won't Get Deleted

Cold calling meets LinkedIn messaging. It’s everything you dread about cold calling — just with a better chance of getting a response.

Cold calling is nothing new for sales teams across the globe. It’s time-consuming, difficult to get right, and requires a lot of research about the business or person you’re contacting. Your business may not be using LinkedIn messaging and LinkedIn InMails yet, which are great ways to get in direct contact with key decision makers at firms. LinkedIn InMails get a response rate of around 18% to 25% compared to just 3% for cold emails, according to Evaboot research. 

Just because you’re using the preferred medium of working professionals doesn’t guarantee success, however. Sending the right kind of messages to the right people at the right times is necessary for even a chance at getting a reply. It’s not easy, but it is absolutely essential for effective lead generation.

In this article, we’ll take you through some tips and templates for cold messaging through LinkedIn. We’ll be talking about what does and doesn’t work for messaging and how you can increase your likelihood of getting a reply.

Dos and Don'ts: Tips for Creating Genuine Messages from Templates

How to avoid having your message deleted? Write  to the person, not to the opportunity they represent for you. 

Yes, you want to do business with someone. You want to generate leads for your business, but there’s a real person across that computer who has their own valuable time and set of priorities. With this in mind…

The do’s of using LinkedIn direct messaging:

• Keep your messaging succinct. LinkedIn InMails under 400 characters get 22% more replies than longer InMails. Get to the point quickly with information specific to the recipient. For InMail subject lines, use as few words as possible. 

• Include data or other specific facts. People tend to remember data and numbers, so pick out some key, memorable data about your business that would stand out to a new contact. 

• Focus on the “common ground” that you have with the recipient. Whether it’s a mutual connection, industry experience, or geographic location, having some sort of common ground with a contact makes a message feel more genuine and less formulaic. 

• Time your messages well. Not only should you message someone during the work day, but you should also time your message during less busy times of the year (not during the holidays, for example). Allow for several days between follow-up messages, as rapid follow-up messages can result in your account being blocked. 

• Use a message template. More on this later, but the goal here is to increase your lead generation efficiency while making sure all of the key information gets across. Message templates have to be careful not to sound too formulaic, though. 

• …But personalize every message. Templates are great, but every piece of outreach should feel personalized and specific to the recipient’s industry, business, and experience. Take the extra time to add some details related to a contact you reach out to. 

The don’ts of LinkedIn direct messaging: 

• Don’t use generic messaging. Avoid common tropes like “Your company and experience are impressive” or “I admire the work that you’ve done with…”, as these are common messages that tend to sound insincere. 

• Don’t message without research. Don’t rush a message without researching the person you’re reaching out to. Who are they? Are you sure they’re in the industry that you think they are in?

• Don’t overuse AI. It’s okay to use generative AI for simple tasks, but don’t copy and paste an AI-generated LinkedIn message without proofreading and editing it first. 

• Don’t message people on weekends. Avoid weekend messaging, as it’s likely to be ignored. 

• Don’t be vague about why you’re reaching out. One of the worst things a prospect can think is “what does this person want?” Get to the point, and be specific about why you’re reaching out. 

7 Sample LinkedIn Outreach Templates for CRE Professionals

This list of LinkedIn outreach templates ranges in purpose and length, but all follow the best practices we outlined in the previous section. If you’re planning to use an AI tool to generate outreach messaging, we recommend incorporating some of the do’s and don’ts into your AI prompt. For example:

• Generate a LinkedIn outreach message with the goal of prospecting for new leads for my landscaping business. Do not exceed 400 characters and avoid common cliche phrases

You can use our templates in your AI prompt and modify them as necessary. Remember: These templates are intended to get you started, and you should be adjusting and personalizing them to each connection. 

LinkedIn template for connecting

Hello [Name], I’ve been following your work at [Company], especially your recent post about [specific topic]. I’d like to connect to chat more about [Industry topic]. Thank you. 

The goal of this message is brevity, as people get lots of connection requests on LinkedIn and will only quickly scan connection messages. The shorter, the better.  

LinkedIn template for networking

Hi [Name], I’m interested in learning more about [purpose for connecting] and what you think about [CRE area/role]. Thanks.

Again, because this is a connection request, the shorter the better. Adjust the template based on why you’re interested in networking. For example, if you want to learn more about that person’s role, use “your career” in the purpose for connecting. If you’re prospecting for leads, consider putting “your company” in the purpose for connecting.

For follow-up after events

Hi [Name], it was great talking with you at [event] about [topic]. I’ve been thinking about our conversation and would love to stay in touch. Let’s connect!

Event follow-up connection requests are usually made a day or two after an event while the topic is still fresh in the recipient’s mind. Focus on a specific conversation and mention the specific event you were at. For example, if you were at an industry conference and went to a speed networking event, mention the networking event rather than the conference. For more information on how to write event follow-up emails, check out our post on the topic.

LinkedIn prospecting message

Hello [Name], I work with [company] and am interested in how your team is approaching [CRE-specific speciality]. I’d like to connect and exchange perspectives. 

You’ll need to alter this template based on your business’s speciality and expertise, but the goal here is not to be too obvious with your sales pitch while still having a clear outreach goal. Our advice is to alter the first sentence around a challenge or project that your research shows they’re involved in. If your research has already found that the prospect is relevant to your business, this should be simple!

For job seekers

Hi [Name], I’m exploring opportunities in [role/industry/company — choose one] and was hoping to learn more about your team’s work. Your background caught my attention, especially your work with [example], and I’d appreciate any advice that you have. 

This template doesn’t outright state that the goal is job seeking, but it will still be obvious to the reader that you’re looking for a new role. Your goal here is to open up the conversation about a role or position, rather than asking directly for a job. This template is intended for connecting with someone in the role you’re interested in, rather than a hiring manager or recruiter, which is our next template. 

For hiring managers

Hi [Name], I’m interested in roles on your team at [company] and wanted to introduce myself. I’m exploring opportunities in [area] and have experience with [expertise]. 

This template has a more straightforward goal of connecting regarding an open position with a recruiter or hiring manager. Modify this message carefully to tailor it to the situation, as it’s dependent on the role, company, and your experience! For example, if interested mostly in the company, remove the part about the specific role and instead focus on the expertise you’ll provide for their team. If interested in a role, focus on specific experience that you have and how it relates to the role. 

For collaboration or partnership

Hi [Name], I see some overlap between what you’re building at [company] and the work I’m doing around [area]. Would love to connect if you’re interested in exploring collaboration.

If the connection has recently posted or shared a post regarding a project at their company, focus on this rather than the general approach that this template takes. Also, find specific ways to relate your experience to their project or post. 

FAQs About LinkedIn In-Messaging

How long should LinkedIn messages be?

Evaboot research recommends keeping LinkedIn messages to under 400 characters. This may be limiting, but remember that good initial messages result in longer conversations later. 

How long should you wait before following up if there's no response?

Follow up to LinkedIn messages after two days to a week. Avoid following up more than once, as this can be annoying and marked as spam by the prospect. 

What's the key to making LinkedIn messages feel sincere instead of templated?

To help ensure that LinkedIn messages feel sincere instead of generic, include information about the recipient and their industry, business, or experience. Show that you’ve done your homework. If they’ve posted recently or follow a similar interest or industry, taking the extra time to find a commonality with them will improve chances of getting a reply. 

Is it OK to mention mutual connections when I reach out via LinkedIn?

Mentioning a mutual connection is a great example of finding common ground with a new connection or prospect on LinkedIn. In fact, it’ll feel more human and genuine than a completely cold message!

How do I research someone before messaging them so I don’t send something irrelevant?

The best way to do research on someone outside of LinkedIn is to use data platforms relevant to your mutual industry. At scale, Biscred’s CRE-specific data and information offer key insights into the needs of contacts in your field. Enhance and enrich your current data while learning more about what a contact may be looking for in a business partner. 

Is it better to send a connection request first or message someone directly?

It’s generally most efficient to send a connection on LinkedIn with a short message regarding the context of your connection request. If they accept your connection, you can follow up with a templated message a few days later. 

How many follow-ups are appropriate before stopping outreach?

Follow-ups are tricky because sometimes the recipient legitimately did not see your message. However, LinkedIn InMail does not allow you to send follow-up messages. We recommend trying an alternative mode of communication if the first one did not work. If you couldn’t get a response on LinkedIn messages, try emailing the recipient. 

How do I know whether my LinkedIn message was seen or ignored?

LinkedIn messages will tell you if your message has been seen or not if the recipient has turned on this feature. Many times, recipients will turn off read or typing indicators, and in this case, you won’t know whether or not your message was seen or ignored. If you’ve noticed that your LinkedIn message was seen but didn’t get a reply. You should still wait a couple of days before following up.