How to Cold Message on LinkedIn: Tips and Best Practices

An image illustrating How to Cold Message on LinkedIn — How to Cold Message on LinkedIn/PHOTO: Files

Did you know? You can get up to an 85% response rate to cold messages on LinkedIn if you do it right.

But sending a good message takes more than just finding leads and writing the first thing that comes to mind.

Things that can make people ignore your cold message include:

Being too pushy
Having a boring subject line
Not personalizing your message

Cold messaging on LinkedIn is a great way to connect with possible clients, partners, or employers.

It helps you start conversations, build relationships, and create business opportunities.

To be successful, you need to plan your first message well and write it thoughtfully.

Table of Contents

Research and Targeting for your LinkedIn cold Message

How to Cold Message on LinkedIn (1)

Define Your Ideal Prospect

Finding the right people to connect with on LinkedIn is important for reaching your goals.

Here’s how to identify your ideal contacts:

Industry and Role: Look for people working in industries that match your target market. Pay attention to their job titles to ensure they fit your product or service.
Company Size: Decide if you want to connect with people from small businesses, mid-sized companies, or large enterprises.
Location: If your offering is region-specific, consider where they are located.
Challenges and Needs: Learn about the common problems your ideal contacts face and how your solution can help them.

Highlight the Importance of Research

Researching your target audience and their needs is crucial for successful cold messaging.

Research involves:

Profile Analysis: Look at their LinkedIn profiles to understand their professional background, interests, and recent activities.
Company Research: Investigate their company’s website, blog, and news mentions to gather insights.
Engagement: Notice what kind of content they share and engage with on LinkedIn.

How Do You Craft Your Cold Message?

Personalize your message

Personal touches make cold messages successful.

They show you care about the person you’re reaching out to.

Here’s how you can do it:

Use Their Name: Start with their first name.
Mention Their Work: Talk about a recent post, article, or project they did.
Find Common Ground: Point out mutual connections or shared interests.

Structuring Your Message

A compelling LinkedIn cold message has to have a certain structure.

Here is a simple sample way of doing it:

Opening

Begin with a friendly greeting and something that catches their interest:

Ex: “Hey [Recipient’s First Name], I just read your article on [Topic]—it was great!”

Body

Share your main message and how you can add value:

Ex: “I’m [Your Name] from [Your Company]. We do [Your Service/Product] that helps with [Specific Benefit]. For instance, we helped [Another Company] get [Result].”

Call to Action (CTA)

Wrap up with a clear and easy-to-respond-to CTA:

Ex: “I’d love to chat about how we can help with [Specific Benefit]. Are you free for a quick call next week?”

Pro Tips and Best Practices for Successful Cold Messages

_Tips for Successful Cold Messages

1. Use Social Proof to Build Credibility

Testimonials: Mention any good reviews from happy clients.
Case Studies: Talk about successful projects or campaigns.
Mutual Connections: Point out any shared contacts who can vouch for you.

2. Make Your Message Easy to Read

This is how you can achieve that:

Bullet Points: Break up your text with bullet points.
Short Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs short and sweet.
Clear Language: Skip the jargon and use simple, clear language.

Examples of Successful Cold Messages

Example 1 – Flattery and Connection

“Hi Jacob, I loved your recent blog post on [Topic]. Your insights were great. I’d love to chat more about [Related Topic].”

Example 2 – Shared Connection

“Hey John, I see we both know [Mutual Connection]. I really admire your work at [Company] and would like to connect to explore possible collaborations.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Being Too Salesy: Focus on building a relationship, not just making a sale.
Generic Messages: Don’t use generic, copy-paste messages.
Too Long: Keep your message short and to the point.
No Clear CTA: Always include a clear call to action.

By following these tips, you can write LinkedIn messages that get noticed and get replies.

This will in turn help you reach your networking and business goals.

Conclusion

Cold messaging on LinkedIn can greatly expand your professional network and create new opportunities.

Improving your profile, personalizing your messages, and following best practices, can get you more responses and build valuable connections.

Start writing your messages now and see your LinkedIn activity grow.

Did you find this article impressive? Follow for more on our blog as sampled below: