How To Write A Follow Up Message On LinkedIn

The perfect follow-up message is concise, non-invasive, and offers prospects a way out.

Every single day, CEOs, CMOs, VPs of Sales, and many other decision-makers get tons of LinkedIn requests and emails. Everyone wants to use LinkedIn to their advantage. But it’s tough to stand out and meet your sales goals when your messages are like…

“Hi _____, we know great people in common. Open to connecting?”

“Hey _____ , glad to connect, noticed you’re doing some interesting work.”

“Hey _____, curious to see if you read my previous message. Do you have 30 minutes next week to go over the demo?”

To really make a mark, your LinkedIn messages have to stand out. But before we get into the nitty-gritty of follow-up messages, there’s something important we need to get straight.

LinkedIn vs. Email: Understanding the Difference

LinkedIn's Informal Nature:

Unlike emails, LinkedIn’s strength lies in its nature as a social media platform. Think of it as the Instagram or Facebook of the professional world. This means, your approach needs to be less formal, more conversational – just like chatting with a friend or colleague.

Message Visibility:

Here’s the difference between email and LinkedIn:

Emails can quickly get lost, especially in the inboxes of busy executives. However, LinkedIn messages are more like Instagram DMs – they will likely be noticed and read eventually. This visibility is a crucial advantage of LinkedIn over traditional email.

Crafting Your Follow-Up Message Strategy

Keep the First Message Short:

Your initial message sets the tone. Keep it brief to allow easy scrolling and quick context grasp when your prospect revisits the conversation thread.

Soft and Precise Follow-Ups:

The essence of follow-up messages on LinkedIn is subtlety. There’s no need to re-pitch; a gentle reminder or a new piece of information should do the work. Your second, fourth, and fifth messages are all about soft touches, while the third can introduce a new angle or benefit – but concisely. Let’s look at some examples below.

Proven LinkedIn Follow-Up Message Examples

We’ve found these soft follow-ups perform really well, based on our experience working with different B2B companies:

Simple Check-In

Direct and to the point, this works wonders with the right audience.

Friendly Greeting

A casual hello can make your message stand out.

Reminder

This is a classic; effective for keeping the conversation alive.

Circling Back

This invites a response and re-engages the prospect.

Gentle Nudge

Perfect for rekindling their interest.

The Third Message

Your third message can have one line about either reframing the same value prop or positioning in a slightly different way. Keep it simple and direct, don’t overload with too many details.

The Fourth Message

For your fourth message, asking for a referral can be highly effective. Personalize this request by naming specific individuals. For example:

This approach shows you’re informed and genuine, significantly improving response rates.

The Final Message

Your last message should acknowledge the possibility that they’re busy or not currently interested. A message like the one below leaves the door open for future communication and ends the conversation on a positive note.

Improving Your LinkedIn Messaging Strategy For Good

The secret to LinkedIn success lies in crafting follow-up messages that are short, non-intrusive, and respectful of the prospect’s time and space. Remember, in a world where decision-makers like CEOs and CMOs are swamped with messages, your aim is to be noticeable yet not overbearing.

With its social media vibe, LinkedIn offers a unique platform to connect more casually and effectively. Your messages should be like a tap on the shoulder rather than a knock on the door.

Keep it light, keep it simple, and most importantly, keep it genuine. Whether it’s a soft check-in or a gentle nudge, the goal is to keep the conversation flowing and leave a lasting impression.

In case you need help refining your lead gen strategy, get in touch with our sales team today. We’ve been helping tons of B2B companies generate revenue by building a scalable and predictable sales pipeline. Check out some of their stories.

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