"Hi dear, I'm offering link building services. I have many high DA and DR sites with instant live links."
I'm sure you got a message like this at least once (probably more). Links, revenue, VAs, people sell anything these days. Like they should, but there is a more human and better-performing way to do it.
First rule you already know - no one cares about our offer. What they care about is what value it gives them and whether or not you seem like the right person to do it.
In this article, I'll share 11 different scenarios in which you might need to reach out to someone on LinkedIn + templates to show you how things work in practice. From the real world, of course. 😇
Keys to LinkedIn outreach success
If I had to give you two 🔑s that unlock doors to success in LinkedIn outreach, they would be:
- Avoid generic messages unless you have qualified intent. For example, a lead created a free account, applied for your lead magnet, or visited a sales page. Even then, there's a better way.
- Be personable. There's a reason why outbound, globally speaking, is generating less impressive results nowadays. It's because AI is creating a lot of junk, among other things. Build relationships instead. Be a tailor who makes unique suits/dresses, not a mass production machine.
This is the base. But here are some deeper insights from my experience on how to get the most out of it:
1. Define your goal and how you can be of value
Before reaching out, I always start by clarifying my objective. What am I really trying to achieve? How can I deliver real value to the recipient? Do I want to explore a partnership? Offer solutions? Or just make a connection? I need to show the recipient exactly what’s in it for them.
For instance, if I want to find someone interested in LinkedIn outreach who might potentially want to explore our product, I’d type "LinkedIn outreach" and filter for posts.
I’ll scroll until I find something interesting, like this:
I noticed that Kseni recently wrote an article about LinkedIn lead generation strategies. She has some interest in this topic and might find HeyReach valuable. Obviously, I need to confirm that by qualifying her company and matching HeyReach with their goals. But for the sake of this article, let’s imagine they are a qualified prospect.
Here’s what type of a message I wouldn’t do:
“Hi Kseni, I’m the Head of Growth at HeyReach, a LinkedIn automation tool. We offer features such as automated LinkedIn outreach, managing multiple accounts, extracting data, and integrating with CRM systems. Do you want to know more about it?”
Unless she’s comparing different LinkedIn automation tools minutes before I send this, I can already imagine Kseni going:
Let’s fine tune this a bit:
Hi Kseni, I just read your article on lead generation strategies you shared—I think we're flying the friendly skies here! Quick question: are you using any tools to send personalized LinkedIn outreach? I'm super curious to discover how your typical workflow looks and learn from you. 😇
As you can see, there's no CTA here. Yes, one might argue that I have sales intentions, which I do. But I don't want to lead with that. Instead, I want to tap into her outreach world and see where I can add value and if I can do such a thing in the first place.
Her replies (if she replies 😅) will give me additional puzzle pieces to do that.
2. Choose the best approach
Through all these years, I learned that selecting the right approach can significantly influence the outcome of your outreach.
Here are three strategies I use:
Direct approach: If a straightforward message seems appropriate, I clearly outline the value they can get and keep it concise. This approach works well when the recipient is likely to appreciate a direct pitch.
Potential situations in which this approach works:
- A company has recently posted about issues with their current software.
- You’re reaching out to a potential partner whose business complements yours.
- You’re inviting someone to an exclusive industry event.
Referral approach: If we have mutual connections, I might request an introduction or a recommendation. Situations in which this approach might be effective:
- You want to connect with a decision-maker at a company where a mutual connection can introduce you.
- You’re seeking a testimonial or endorsement from someone who knows your work and can vouch for your credibility.
- You’re looking to explore business opportunities with a potential client who is a friend or associate of one of your current clients.
Engage first: If I see someone frequently posting about a topic I’m knowledgeable about, I first engage with their content. This interaction builds rapport and makes my subsequent outreach more impactful.
3. Research and open the conversation
I always check the recipient’s background, interests, and recent activities to make sure my message lands well.
For example, if I see someone recently hit a big company milestone, I might mention it in my message. It’s a way of showing I’ve been paying attention and somehow celebrating their success.
Or, if they’ve shared an article or post about something they’re passionate about, I’ll connect with that by mentioning how their views match up with some of my own experiences or current trends. This way, we’ll both feel way more connected from the first interaction.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn to sell?
Let's start with the toughest one: sales.
Selling something—especially on LinkedIn—can be incredibly hard. In the beginning, I struggled to figure out how to sell anything to anyone.
Now, I find it hard for anyone else to sell me anything. Because one thing NOBODY likes is when you get a connection request and accept it, 10 seconds later you get a message selling you something you don't need in 90% of cases.
But, I digress! Here's one example Devin Reed received from Daniel Berk, Senior Sales Manager at Beehiiv:
Did he reply? Of course he did. And here's why—Daniel kicks things off by asking if Devin's newsletter is growing as fast as he'd like.
This was spot-on because growing a subscriber base was his biggest goal. Daniel grabbed Devin's attention immediately and showed he was dialed into his priorities.
Then he dropped some serious cred by mentioning Beehiiv's success with Morning Brew—going from zero to 3.5 million subscribers.
This kind of track record makes it clear he's got the chops to help with Devin's goals.
Finally, instead of jumping straight to setting up a meeting, he just asks if it's worth chatting. This is chill and respectful of Devin's time. It makes it easy for Devin to say yes if he's interested, without feeling like he's being pushed into a commitment.
Question users have is - can we automate personalized LinkedIn outreach at scale? Like this one.
Being a sales manager can be a real juggling act. You’re constantly keeping track of leads, managing follow-ups, and organizing outreach—tasks that can quickly become overwhelming. I’ve been there myself, so I get it.
That’s why, with HeyReach, our goal was to make these tasks simpler. If you think about it, we’re building it for ourselves because we need it. But we want to do it for you too.
Back to the point, how would you automate this kind of personalized outreach?
First, transform a template like this into a template. For example:
Hello, ‘ello [NAME]. Is your [WHAT] growing as fast as you’d like to?
We’ve seen unbeliveable growth for [WHO/WHAT] at [WHERE]. [RESULT]
Is it worth chatting?
Next, I’d have to do deeper research to replace all these tags for every prospect. Once you get into the zone, it will take you 5-10 minutes per prospect to have personalized sentences.
Finally you just import this list into HeyReach and the process of sending messages is done and in the bag. Automated sending, personalized landing.
✅ Take action: Send your first personalized LinkedIn campaign at scale for free. No card required! 🤑
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn who visited your website?
Reaching out to people who’ve visited your website is a smart move because there's already some interest from their side.
They know a bit about you, which makes it easier to connect on LinkedIn and move things forward.
Here’s what you can send in that case. Btw, I got a 14% reply rate using this strategy.
Hey [Name],
Spotted you checking out [specific page or service] on our site. I’m curious—what caught your eye?
Would love to connect and chat about what you’re looking for and how we might be able to team up.
Talk soon, [Your Name]
Why it works?
By mentioning the specific page or service they checked out, I make the message feel personal and directly relevant to their interests. Instead of just saying, "Hey, I saw you visited our site," I refer to a specific part of it. I’m paying attention and genuinely care, and that’s what I’m showing here.
Asking what caught their eye invites them to share their thoughts and opens up the potential for a real conversation. Experience has taught me that asking a question in an LI message makes people naturally want to respond.
Suggesting a chat to discuss their needs and how we might collaborate gives them a clear, straightforward next step. And as you can see, I keep an informal, conversational style throughout because it’s much more approachable and inviting than being overly formal.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn who viewed your profile?
One of the best perks of LinkedIn Premium is seeing who’s checked out your profile. This is a great chance to make a positive connection.
Two questions to ask yourself before you reach out:
- Who is this person?
- Are they a qualified lead?
That’s a neat little trick Vuk (our Fractional CMO) uses to find clients. Even a simple template like this works:
"Hi [Name], Just wanted to say hi and that it's great to connect with you.”
Even though his outreach operates on smaller scale as he doesn’t contact a lot of leads, he’s averaging 40%+ reply rate.
Why it works?
It doesn’t push for anything specific or come off as sales-y. There’s no offer, no link, no course, no webinar—nothing of the sort. It’s simply a casual way to acknowledge the connection and start a dialogue.
The message also sounds spontaneous and friendly, not dull or meticulously crafted. If Vuk had written, “Dear NAME, it is a great pleasure and honor to connect with you on LinkedIn,” the chances of getting a response would be lower… way lower.
If you get a reply, it’s relatively straightforward to transition to the topic you want. Say I was selling HeyReach to this person, my next question could be - I saw you’re in the outreach game, how’s that going?
This would allow me to further qualify the person and potentially position HeyReach later down the conversation.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn after getting no email address?
When someone's email address doesn't work, use it as a reason to start a conversation on LinkedIn. Don't let that lead slip away just because an email address doesn't exist or it's invalid.
Here's a template you can use:
Hey {FIRST_NAME}, I tried to email you but my email enricher couldn't find your address.
I noticed you are offering lead gen services too, what do you do when the email is missing and you don't want to burn the sales list?
Why it works?
I'll soon do a deep dive on this strategy as it's an ongoing campaign of mine. But it's bringing quite a bit of leads.
It starts immediately with a clear mention of the problem without a long intro. People usually enjoy a chance to chat about solving some problems or challenges.
Probably the best part of this message is that it actually asks for input—advice from the recipient. It shows that their opinion is valued. It acknowledges their experience. It gives them importance. And all this increases the chances of starting a conversation.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn after getting an OOO email?
Another ongoing campaign I’m running and one more deep dive I’ll do in the future. Overall, it’s an opportunity that comes directly from the email is when you receive a notification that the person is OOO.
Either you’ll wait for them to return from vacation, or you can follow up sooner.
Personally, I don't prefer waiting because when the person returns, their inbox is likely to be overloaded. By the time they get to your email, who knows how long it might take. So what do I do in that case?
I find the person on LinkedIn and write something like this:
Hey {FIRST_NAME}, I tried to email you but got an OOO message.
So I thought to write directly to you on LinkedIn.
I noticed you're offering lead gen services too, are you getting many OOO this month too?
Keeping the message short, without any offers or a pushy sales pitch, makes sure I don't come across as an overly aggressive stalker demanding an immediate response.
As always, I kept a friendly tone in my message. I get a response 7 out of 10 times with a message like this.
The question I asked shows that I'm curious about something, but it also piques the curiosity of the person reading the message.
This sets the stage for a conversation where we can share experiences with each other. I decided to focus on the current month in my question, which creates a point of comparison and gives the person an opportunity to talk.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn to network?
When it comes to LinkedIn networking—connecting with people who share your interests or with experts in a field—you have a bit more flexibility, I'd say.
It's not so much about having more freedom, but rather the ability to add a little more to your message compared to the earlier examples that focused on being super brief.
You don't want to go overboard but take the time to acknowledge and compliment the person you're reaching out to. Then explain why you're reaching out.
Vuk told me about a recent example of how Tim Winter booked a networking call with him and smartly positioned his product without coming off as a salesman.
The first thing Tom did was to send Vuk this message:
The message starts by catching up and asking how things are going. It's a friendly way to drop into the inbox and break the ice. It also includes a genuine compliment about Vuk's work. It's not over the top, but it still conveys a sense of value and respect from the sender's side.
Finished off with a smooth networking CTA.
Now on the networking call, Tom researched Vuk's work for our company and the two of them talked content marketing. A few minutes before the end of the call, Tom deployed his golden question.
What's a golden question? One that confirms a person's pain point, qualifies them, and gives you a window of opportunity to quickly pitch your product.
Tom did that very well and Vuk was curious to know more.
Having said that, don't book networking calls just because you want to pitch something to someone. That's not cool. Do it because you can exchange experiences with this person and learn from them. Consider the sales part as a last 10-minute bonus.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn for referrals?
When I need a recommendation or referral, I’m always super careful when crafting the message because confusion often happens if the message isn’t clear.
So, it’s important to give all the needed details upfront without writing a novel.
Here’s a good template that can help:
Hey [Name],
Quick question. I’m doing some research and trying to connect with talented [INDUSTRY] people who work at companies with [QUALIFICATION].
I’m looking for a networking call where I can pick their brain on a few topics. Do you know anyone who might be a good fit and help me out? I’d really appreciate any connections you can make!
Thanks a bunch! [YOUR NAME]
Tailor additionally depending on how well you know or don’t know the person you’re asking referrals from. Formal or informal. Casual or professional. Witty or serious. It’s a chameleon template.
Vuk told me one time he even includes:
P.S. I’ll pay my debt and send a bottle of wine as a thank you.
Cracked me up as he actually does this all the time.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn for advice?
One of my favorite parts of reaching out is asking for advice. As I've mentioned earlier, people appreciate being asked for their insights. Let alone, you get advice that can change your world.
Here's another simple exchange from Vuk's LinkedIn inbox.
Why it works?
The message starts with a quick intro about the role and company. It states its purpose: launching a B2B product and needing advice on hiring top marketers.
It ends with a straightforward request for 15-30 minutes of Vuk’s time for a chat. Mentioning the specific time frame is smart because people like to know exactly how long something will take—the shorter, the better.
No further explanations needed! 😇
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn for mentorship?
Here’s a casual template you can use when reaching out on LinkedIn for mentorship:
Hey [NAME],
[YOUR NAME] here, [ROLE] at [COMPANY] and I’m a first-time messenger, but a longtime fan of yours. :)
I wanted to see if you'd be open to a consultancy call with me sometime soon. I'd be curious to pick your brain on [WHAT] considering you’re a master in [NICHE].
Obviously, happy to compensate you for your time. If you're up for it, let me know and I'll provide you with more context.
[YOUR NAME]
Why it works?
The message kicks off with a clear and relevant introduction. It gets right to the point, asking for a consultancy call. Being specific about the request makes it easy for the person to decide if they’re interested.
On top of it, it’s kind and pays a genuine compliment that makes the person more inclined to respond positively.
Offering to pay for the prospect’s time shows respect for their work and acknowledges that their time is valuable. This gesture makes the request more intriguing and shows a serious interest in the consultation. And sometimes, you’ll get the mentorship for free too. ;)
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn about a job?
Before I share a good template for reaching out about job opportunities, here’s one tip: Spruce up your profile.
Recruiters will check it to get a sense of who you are and what your interests are.
- Use a friendly, professional headshot
- Add a sharp banner image
- Write a summary that shows off your personality and skills
- List your job history
- Include your education and any certifications
Now, let’s move to the template:
Hi [NAME],
Hope you’re doing well! I’m [YOUR NAME], and I came across the [POSITION] at [COMPANY]—it caught my eye because of my background in [RELEVANT EXPERIENCE]. I’ve attached my CV—feel free to take a look. 🙂
If you have a moment, I’d love to chat or hear any insights you have about the role.
Thanks a bunch, and I look forward to connecting!
Best, [NAME]
Why it works?
When applying for jobs, a lot of people think sending a long, detailed message will give them an edge, kind of like writing a mini cover letter. From my experience working with recruiters and hiring folks myself, what they really appreciate is a short, clear message.
The template I’ve shared is exactly that—it’s brief, highlights relevant experience, and mentions the attached CV for more info. It’s a great way to make a good impression without overwhelming anyone.
After a brief introduction, the person expresses interest in further discussion which shows motivation to the recruiter.
Also, the message is polite and friendly. No jargon, but no complex or robotic language either.
How to reach out to someone on LinkedIn after applying for a job?
Sometimes it’s not enough to just wait for a response from the recruiter. Of course, you shouldn’t be pushy or persistent, but a short and sweet follow-up after applying is always welcome.
This might remind the recruiter of your application and show how much you’re interested in the position.
Here’s what you can send:
Hi [NAME],
Hope you’re doing well! I recently applied for the [POSITION] at [COMPANY] and just wanted to make sure my application doesn’t get lost in the sea of submissions.
I’m really excited about the role and would love to hear your thoughts on how I might fit into the company. Also, if you need any more information from me, just let me know!
Thanks a bunch,
[NAME]
It sounds simple because it is very simple.
This type of follow-up serves as a gentle nudge without being intrusive. A courteous reminder that keeps your application visible and at the forefront of the recruiter’s mind.
Maybe the recruiter might have overlooked/ignored your application due to missing information. Maybe you forgot to attach your cover letter or answer specific questions.
Including a line in your follow-up like, "If you need any more information from me, just let me know!" increases the chance that the recruiter will inform you if anything else is needed.
Who knows—it can be a positive factor in the decision-making process.
And when you’re applying for jobs, especially to many positions, I’m sure you don’t want to send manual reminders to each recruiter. That’s where automation can help again.
Summary
If I had to give you the final piece of advice on how to reach out to someone on LinkedIn, it'd be: Don't be a weirdo in your outreach.
By "weirdo," I mean overly aggressive or self-centered. Just as you wouldn't approach folks in a park and immediately start talking about your business and boasting around, you shouldn't be pushy or self-promotional on LinkedIn either.
Keep it brief and friendly.
Introduce yourself, be concise, and aim for open-ended conversations. Ask questions, seek advice, and offer genuine compliments. Be a person first and a professional second. Your message should convey "that special something."
After all, only those who have "that special something" can truly sell themselves.
