How to Write a LinkedIn Message

Sending a message on LinkedIn can feel like a high-stakes move. You’ve found the right person - a potential client, a future boss, or an industry expert - but the blank text box staring back at you is intimidating. A great message can open doors, while a bad one gets deleted in a second. This guide breaks down exactly what to write, with examples and templates, so your message starts a real conversation instead of getting lost in a noisy inbox.

Before You Write a Single Word: Do Your Homework

The biggest mistake people make is treating LinkedIn messaging like a numbers game, blasting out the same generic template to dozens of contacts. This never works. Your goal isn't to send the most messages, it's to get the most replies. And that starts with personalization.

Take five minutes to research the person you're about to contact. Five minutes. That's all it takes to go from a creepy, cold pitch to a warm, relevant introduction.

Here’s what to look for on their profile:

• Recent Activity: Did they just post an article, share an update, or comment on something interesting? Mentioning a recent post is the easiest and most effective way to show you’re paying attention.
• Job History &, Description: Look at their responsibilities. Can you find a connection between what they do and what you offer or want to discuss? Note any past companies you have in common.
• Shared Connections or Groups: Mentioning a shared connection (if you actually know them) or a mutual group instantly builds common ground.
• Their Company's News: Did their company just launch a new product, get featured in the news, or hire a new executive? Congratulating them on company success shows you follow their industry.

The point isn't to be a stalker, it's to find one genuine thing to build your message around. This tiny bit of effort puts you ahead of 90% of the messages they receive.

Breaking It Down: The Four Parts of a Message That Gets a Reply

Every effective LinkedIn message, regardless of its purpose, follows a simple structure. It's a formula, but one that leaves plenty of room for your personality. Once you get it, you can adapt it to any situation.

1. The Personalized Opener: Hook Them Immediately

Your first sentence is the most important. It has to earn you the right to have the rest of your message read. Generic greetings like "Hi John, hope you're having a great week" are dead on arrival. They signal that a generic copy-pasted pitch is about to follow.

Instead, lead with the specific detail you found during your research. Show them immediately that this message is for them and only them.

Good examples:

• "Hi Sarah, I just finished reading your latest post on employee retention - your point about regular check-ins really resonated."
• "Hi Mark, congrats to you and the team at Acme Inc. on the successful product launch yesterday!"
• "Hi Emily, I noticed we both used to work at Global Tech a few years back. Hope you had a great experience there."

2. The Bridge: Connect Their World to Yours

After your personalized opener, you need a smooth transition that connects what they care about to what you want to talk about. This is where you explain why you’re reaching out, but you frame it in a way that benefits them or offers them value, not the other way around.

The bridge explains the "why now?" and makes your message feel relevant instead of random.

Continuing the examples from above:

• (From the employee retention post): "Your point really resonated because my team at BuildCo is currently focused on finding tools that make that process simpler for managers..."
• (From the product launch): "Big launches often bring unexpected challenges with customer support. I thought you might find this case study on how [Similar Company] handled their post-launch feedback useful..."
• (From the shared company): "I'm currently looking for a new role in project management, and I saw a compelling opening on your team..."

3. The Ask: Make it Clear, Simple, and Low-Effort

This is where most people get it wrong. They either make their ask too big ("Can we hop on a 30-minute demo call?") or too vague ("I'd love to connect sometime."). A good call-to-action is specific, easy to understand, and requires very little effort or commitment from the other person.

Think in terms of "micro-commitments." Instead of asking for a meeting, ask a simple question. Instead of demanding their time, politely request it.

Good "asks":

• "Would you be the right person to speak with about that? If not, could you point me in the right direction?"
• "Would you be open to a 15-minute chat next week to share your thoughts on [topic]?"
• "Could I ask you one quick question about your experience using [Software X]?"

Bad "asks":

• "Let's schedule a call." (Too demanding)
• "Let me know." (Vague and puts the burden on them to figure out the next step)
• "Check out my company website." (Makes them do work with no clear benefit)

4. The Sign-off: Keep it Professional and Concise

You don't need anything fancy here. Just wrap it up professionally and hit send.

Simple but effective sign-offs:

• Thanks,
• Best,
• All the best,
• Appreciate your time,

Real-World Templates for Common Scenarios

Let's put the four-part structure into action. Steal these templates, but remember to customize them with your own research and voice.

Template 1: For Networking and Building Your Circle

This is for when you genuinely admire someone's work or share an interest and want to establish a professional relationship.

Subject: Enjoyed your post on product-led growth

Hi [Name],

Loved your recent article on product-led growth strategies. Your insight about treating the free trial as part of the onboarding process was brilliant - it's something my own team has been discussing lately.

I've been following your work for a while and always get a ton of value from your perspective.

Just wanted to reach out and say keep up the great work.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Why it works: It's based on genuine admiration. The “ask” is non-existent - you are simply offering well-deserved praise, which makes it far more likely to get a warm response and start a real connection.

Template 2: For Sales &, Business Development (Without Being Cheesy)

The key here is to lead with value and focus on a problem they likely have, rather than shoving your product down their throat. Prove you understand their world.

Subject: Question about your tech stack

Hi [Name],

I saw on your profile that you manage the marketing technology stack for [Their Company]. Big fan of what your team is building over there.

Many of the martech leaders I speak with in the [Their Industry] space are finding it tough to smoothly integrate their customer data across platforms like Salesforce and Marketo.

We recently put together a short guide on how our clients, including [Similar Company], have solved this. Is that something you'd find useful?

No sales pitch, just happy to share it if it's a priority for you right now.

Thanks,

[Your Name]

Why it works: It shows you understand their role and a common challenge. The ask is low-pressure and offers free value ("would you find this useful?") instead of demanding a demo. It solves a problem for them, not for you.

Template 3: For Reaching Out About a Job

To stand out from the hundreds of other applicants, show that you're passionate about the company and have done your homework on the person you're contacting.

Subject: Question about the Product Manager Role

Hi [Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I hope you don't mind me reaching out. I saw the opening for the Product Manager position on your team and was really excited to see it, as I've been following [Their Company]'s journey for a while - especially the recent launch of [Specific Feature or Product].

My experience in [Your Relevant Skill] at [Your Previous Company] seems to align closely with the responsibilities in the job description.

I’ve already submitted my application through the official portal, but I wanted to connect personally to express my interest. Would you be the right person to contact about this role?

Appreciate your time,

[Your Name]

Why it works: It’s respectful, shows specific interest in the company, connects your experience directly to the role, and has a simple, low-effort ask.

The Pitfalls: 5 Mistakes That Guarantee You'll Be Ignored

Sometimes, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Avoid these common mistakes at all costs.

1. The Wall of Text

Long, multi-paragraph messages get deleted on sight. Most people read LinkedIn on their phones. Keep your message short, easy to scan, and to the point - three to five sentences is perfect.

2. The "Me, Me, Me" Message

Don't make your message all about you, your needs, or your product. Frame everything around the other person: their work, their company, their challenges, and how you can offer value to their world.

3. The Impersonal Template Blast

If your message could be sent to 1,000 other people just by changing the first name, it's a bad message. That lack of personalization is obvious and shows you don’t value their time.

4. The Vague Ask

"Let's connect," "Let me know your thoughts," and "I'd love to pick your brain" are not clear requests. They create work for the other person. Always tell them exactly what you’re asking for.

5. Pitching in the Connection Request

The little message box in a connection request is for explaining why you want to connect, not for delivering a sales pitch. Use it for a short, friendly introduction. "Hi Sarah, I really enjoy your content on marketing leadership and would love to follow your work." Save your actual message for after they accept.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a great LinkedIn message isn't about finding a magic script, it’s about treating the person on the other end like a human being. Show genuine interest, respect their time, offer value first, and make your request simple and easy to act on. When you approach it with personalization and empathy, you'll be amazed at how many doors will open.

Once you’ve started these conversations and built new relationships, managing all your social DMs and comments can quickly become a juggling act. At Postbase, we found ourselves drowning in notifications, so we designed a unified inbox to bring all your social messages - from LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and more - into one centralized, organized stream. Our goal is to make engagement feel manageable, not overwhelming, so you can focus on building the connections that matter instead of constantly switching between apps. You can try Postbase for yourself and see how it helps keep your social media conversations tidy.