LinkedIn Outreach Messages: 12 Templates for Networking, Sales & Partnerships
LinkedIn has over 1 billion members, but most outreach messages on the platform are terrible. Generic connection requests, copy-paste sales pitches, and "I'd love to pick your brain" messages fill every inbox. Whether you're building strategic partnerships or doing blogger outreach, LinkedIn is often where the relationship starts.
These 12 templates cover every LinkedIn outreach scenario, from connection requests to InMails to follow-ups, and they actually get responses because they're specific, short, and lead with value.
LinkedIn message types and limits
Before you start, know the constraints:
| Message type | Character limit | Cost | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connection request note | 300 characters | Free | First contact, networking |
| Direct message (1st connections) | 8,000 characters | Free | After they accept your request |
| InMail | 1,900 characters (body) | InMail credits (Premium) | Reaching non-connections |
| Group message | 8,000 characters | Free | Members of shared groups |
Connection request templates
These need to be under 300 characters. Every word counts.
1. Networking, shared interest
Template (280 chars)
Hi [Name], I saw your post on [specific topic] and it resonated with the work we're doing at [Your Company]. Would love to connect and follow your insights on [topic]., [Your name]
2. Networking, mutual connection
Template (260 chars)
Hi [Name], I see we're both connected with [Mutual Connection]. I work in [your field] and have been following your work on [topic]. Would be great to connect., [Your name]
3. Networking, same event or community
Template (270 chars)
Hi [Name], I noticed you also [attended/spoke at/are part of] [event or community]. Your take on [specific topic] stood out. Would love to connect and continue the conversation., [Your name]
4. Sales, cold connection request
Template (290 chars)
Hi [Name], I help [their role type] at [company type] companies [achieve specific outcome]. Saw [Their Company] is [specific observation, e.g., "scaling your sales team"]. Happy to share what's working for similar teams., [Your name]
You want to connect with a VP of Marketing on LinkedIn. Your connection request says: "Hi, I'd love to add you to my professional network." What acceptance rate should you expect?
Right. Generic connection requests without context get the lowest acceptance rates. Senior professionals are selective. Reference something specific about them, their content, or a shared connection.
Generic requests like "I'd love to add you to my network" perform poorly (10–20% acceptance). Busy professionals need a reason to connect. Mention their content, a mutual connection, or a specific shared interest.
InMail templates
InMails give you more space (1,900 characters) and can reach people outside your network. Use them for high-value targets where a connection request might get lost.
5. Sales InMail
Template
Subject: [Specific observation] at [Their Company]
Hi [Name],
I noticed [Their Company] recently [specific trigger event: launched a product, expanded to a new market, posted a job for a specific role]. That usually means [related challenge they're likely facing].
We help [type of company] [specific outcome, e.g., "reduce churn by 15–25%"] through [brief method]. Companies like [1–2 similar companies] are using us for this.
Would it be useful to see how they're doing it? Happy to share the specifics in a 15-minute call.
[Your name]
6. Partnership InMail
Template
Subject: [Your Company] x [Their Company], partnership idea
Hi [Name],
I run [Your Company], we [one sentence]. Our audiences overlap significantly: we both serve [audience type] in [industry].
I'd like to propose [specific partnership: co-hosted webinar, content swap, integration, referral arrangement]. We did something similar with [partner name] and it drove [result].
Worth a quick conversation?
[Your name]
7. Content collaboration InMail
Template
Subject: Your take on [topic] for our [content format]
Hi [Name],
I've been reading your posts on [topic], your perspective on [specific angle] is different from what most people in [industry] are saying.
We're putting together a [blog post/podcast episode/report] on [related topic] and I think your viewpoint would make it much stronger. It would take about [time commitment, e.g., "15 minutes for a quick interview" or "a few paragraphs"].
We'd promote it to our [audience size] followers and link back to your profile.
Interested?
[Your name]
Automate your outreach beyond LinkedIn
MentionAgent finds relevant blogs, drafts personalized emails, and gets your product mentioned automatically.
Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFollow-up message templates
Send follow-ups 3–5 days after your initial message (LinkedIn moves faster than email). Keep them short.
8. Follow-up after connection accepted (networking)
Template
Thanks for connecting, [Name]. I really enjoyed your recent post on [specific topic]. Curious, what's the biggest challenge you're seeing in [their area] right now?
9. Follow-up after connection accepted (sales)
Template
Thanks for connecting, [Name]. I mentioned we help [company type] with [outcome], I put together a quick [case study/guide/comparison] that's relevant to what [Their Company] is doing with [specific initiative]. Here it is: [link]
Happy to walk through it if any of this resonates.
10. Follow-up on no response
Template
Hi [Name], just bumping this in case it got buried in notifications. [One sentence recap of your original message]. No pressure, just wanted to make sure you saw it.
Scenario-specific templates
11. Job seeker, reaching out to a hiring manager
Template (connection request, 295 chars)
Hi [Name], I saw [Their Company] is hiring for [role]. I've spent [X] years doing [relevant experience] and your team's work on [specific project] caught my eye. Would love to connect and learn more about the role., [Your name]
12. Reconnecting with a dormant connection
Template
Hi [Name], it's been a while! I saw your post about [recent update/achievement], congratulations. I've moved into [new role/focus] since we last connected. Would love to catch up, are you free for a quick call sometime this month?
You connected with a potential sales prospect on LinkedIn 3 days ago. They accepted but didn't respond to your note. What should your first message be?
Right. Lead with value before asking for anything. Share something genuinely useful to them, a case study from a similar company, a relevant industry report, or a short tip. This builds trust before you pitch.
Don't pitch immediately after connecting. LinkedIn relationships need warming up. Share a relevant resource first, then transition to a business conversation once they've engaged. Jumping straight to a demo request feels transactional.
LinkedIn outreach dos and don'ts
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Reference their specific content or activity | Send blank connection requests |
| Keep connection request notes under 300 chars | Write a novel in your first message |
| Follow up once after 3–5 days | Send 4+ follow-ups on LinkedIn |
| Lead with value (resource, insight, introduction) | Lead with a pitch or demo request |
| Move to email for detailed business discussions | Try to close deals entirely in LinkedIn messages |
| Personalize the first 1–2 sentences | Use obvious template language ("I came across your profile") |
| Check their recent activity for conversation starters | Reference their job title as if it's personalization |
When to move from LinkedIn to email
LinkedIn is great for starting conversations, but email is better for detailed proposals. Knowing how to write a pitch becomes essential at this stage. If you want to run LinkedIn and email together in one sequence, tools like Lemlist support multichannel workflows. Move to email when:
- You need to send a detailed proposal or pitch
- The conversation requires attachments or longer formatting
- You're discussing pricing, contracts, or partnership terms
- They've engaged positively and you want to formalize the relationship
To find their email, check their LinkedIn profile's contact info section, their company website, or use email finding methods. Tools like Wiza can extract verified emails directly from LinkedIn profiles, making the transition from LinkedIn message to email follow-up much smoother. Always verify the address before sending.
For email templates to use after the LinkedIn conversation, see our cold email campaign guide, sales prospecting templates, or business partnership email templates.
You've been messaging a potential partner on LinkedIn and they seem interested in your co-marketing idea. They ask for more details. What's the best next step?
Correct. LinkedIn messages aren't built for detailed proposals. Move to email where you can format properly, attach documents, and create a professional thread they can forward internally.
Move to email for detailed discussions. LinkedIn is great for starting conversations, but email is the professional channel for proposals, contracts, and partnership details. Ask for their email: "Happy to send over a proper proposal, what's the best email?"
Frequently asked questions
What is the character limit for LinkedIn connection requests?
300 characters for the personal note. That's roughly 2–3 sentences. If you need more space, accept the constraint and send a follow-up message after they connect.
Should I send a connection request or InMail?
Start with a connection request, it's free and creates a lasting connection. Use InMail only when you can't connect directly or need to reach someone urgently. InMails cost credits but allow longer messages (1,900 characters).
How many LinkedIn connection requests can I send per day?
LinkedIn limits you to roughly 100 per week (about 20 per day). Sending too many triggers account restrictions. Personalized requests have a much higher acceptance rate, so quality beats quantity.
What is a good LinkedIn connection request acceptance rate?
30–50% is good. Highly personalized requests to relevant contacts can reach 60–70%. Generic requests without a note see 10–20%.
Is it better to message on LinkedIn or email?
LinkedIn is better for initial networking and relationship building. Email is better for detailed business proposals, partnerships, and sales pitches. Many people use LinkedIn to start the conversation, then move to email for the business discussion.