LinkedIn First Message Examples and Templates

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Your LinkedIn first message after connecting sets the tone for the conversation and your future relationship with the recipient. A good first connection message can help turn a stranger into a collaborator or a client. However, if your message is too generic, the recipient is more likely to ignore it. And if it is too hard or pushy, they may ghost you altogether. 

LinkedIn interactions are similar to in-person meetings, except that they happen virtually. 

When you meet someone for the first time at an event, you won’t immediately pitch your product. Instead, you’d introduce yourself, find some common ground, and let the conversation flow naturally. You’d keep your sales pitch for later when your relationship with that person is fully grown and trust has been established. 

The same holds true for conversations on LinkedIn.

The goal of your first message after connecting on LinkedIn isn’t to ask for favors right away or to sell your product or service. Instead, it is to begin a conversation that leads to a valuable, mutually beneficial relationship. 

What Makes a Good LinkedIn First Message After Connecting?

Writing a good LinkedIn first message after connecting can be tricky because you want to reach out to a stranger who you’ve just connected with. But don’t worry because with a little bit of practice and the following hands-on tips, you’ll quickly learn how to write LinkedIn message after connecting. 

1. Keep Your First Message Short and Tell Why You’re Reaching Out

People don’t have time to read long-winded messages, so get to the point quickly. A few sentences are all you need. Avoid small talk and mention what caused you to reach out. 

While it is a good idea to provide context, in doing so, don’t overwhelm the recipient with too much information. Writing a thank you message on LinkedIn is a good way to acknowledge your new contact for accepting your connection request but be sure to make it quick and tell why you’re reaching out.

Here’s an example message for your inspiration:

“Hi [Name], Thanks for connecting. I saw your recent post on [topic] and really liked your take on [specific point]. I’m working on something similar and would love to hear your thoughts. Mind sharing your perspective? Let me know if you’re open to a quick chat whenever it is convenient for you!”

2. Personalize Your LinkedIn First Message

Nobody likes generic or copy-paste messages. If you want a response, you have to show that you’ve done your research. 

You can do this by referencing something specific from your target recipient’s LinkedIn profile, such as a post or article, a mutual connection, an achievement, or a project. This will personalize your message, making it feel natural. 

Or maybe you found information about the recipient outside of LinkedIn. You can also use this piece of information to personalize your outreach. 

Example:

“Hi [First Name], I saw your interview on [platform] about [topic]. Your take on [specific point] really stood out to me. What’s been the biggest challenge in implementing that approach?”

3. Give Them a Reason to Reply

The best way to start a conversation on LinkedIn in your first connection message is to make it easy for your contact to respond. People are busy and if your message requires much effort for them to respond to, they may ignore it. 

The best approach is to ask a relevant, open-ended question that is easy to answer and has the potential to start a discussion. The idea is to generate an engagement instead of a simple “Thanks” or “Yes/No” answer.

Example:

“Hi [Name], I saw your post about [topic] and found it so insightful. How do you see this trend evolving in the next few months?”

4. Avoid Making the First Message About You

In your first message, don’t mention your product, expertise, company, or achievements. Always keep the focus on the recipient. 

You could mention their work, ask for their insights, or reference a shared interest. This way, the recipient will feel like the message is relevant to them instead of being an unsolicited sales pitch. 

For instance, instead of saying, “I’d love to tell you about my business and how we can work together,” you could say this, “I saw that you recently started working on [project]. How’s that going so far?”

5. End with a Clear, No-Pressure Next Step

You want the recipient to respond to your message, so don’t leave them wondering what to do next. It is always best to end your message with a clear next step but without being pushy or causing pressure. 

Here are some examples of no-pressure next steps:

• “I would love to hear your thoughts whenever you have a moment.”
• “If you’re open to chatting, I’d be happy to continue the conversation any time you want.”

These next steps make it easy for them to reply on their own terms, without feeling pushed.

Why You Need to Send First Message on LinkedIn After Connecting

Connecting with people on LinkedIn shouldn’t be your end goal. It is the first step to strategic networking on the platform. 

The goal is to engage with your LinkedIn connections, which starts with a first message after connecting. Sending a first message in LinkedIn can help turn a connection into a beneficial relationship. 

Being proactive in sending a message sets the stage for a good relationship because it shows initiative and interest. 

On the other hand, not sending a first message means no engagement, no conversation, and no real value. Your new connection will be just another dormant contact without any real opportunity. 

People use LinkedIn to connect with other professionals for different reasons, such as networking, lead generation, job-hunting, hiring, and collaborations. However, if you don’t send a message after connecting with them, they’ll forget why they connected with you in the first place. And the longer you wait, the harder it gets to start a conversation.

For instance, if you connected with someone today and sent them a message after three weeks, they may not remember you or why they connected with you. This will make your message appear random and out of place. 

For this reason, it is a good idea to send a message to your new LinkedIn contact within 24 to 48 hours after connecting. They will likely respond as your name will be fresh in their mind. 

Never Sell on Your First LinkedIn Message

As we briefly mentioned earlier, it is not a good approach to try to sell on your first LinkedIn message. A salesy first message can turn off the recipient and damage your prospects for building a good relationship.

Think about it, when was the last time you liked reading an unsolicited sales message? Probably never. 

The same is the case with your leads and prospects. They get dozens of cold pitches on LinkedIn with everyone trying to sell them one thing or another. And if your message also sounds like a sales pitch, the recipient is sure to ignore it.

Instead of taking a salesly approach, start a conversation. Ask a question, mention shared interests, or comment on their work. Give value first, and the conversation will naturally lead to opportunities.

LinkedIn First Message Examples

Taking inspiration from examples of the first message to LinkedIn connection is a good way to get started. 

In our previous articles, we shared LinkedIn cold message examples and LinkedIn connect message examples. Now, we’ll guide you on what to say in your message after someone accepts your request. You can customize these examples based on your message recipients and goals. 

First Message After Connecting on LinkedIn

The Quick Compliment

“Hi [Name], I came across your post about [topic]. I appreciate your insights and would love to stay in touch. What’s your take on [related question]?

The Common Interest Approach

Hi [Name], thanks for connecting! I noticed we both worked at startups early in our careers. How did that experience shape your approach to [specific skill or role]?”

The Best First Message on LinkedIn

Mutual Connection Mention

“Hi [Name], I noticed we’re both connected with [Mutual Connection]. It is always great to meet others in [industry]! I’d love to hear your thoughts on [industry trend or topic]. Have you noticed any big shifts lately?

New Role Mention

“Hi [Name], congrats on the new role at [Company]! I’ve followed [Company]’s growth in the [Niche or industry]. Curious, what’s one trend you’re excited about this year?”

First Contact Message on LinkedIn

Shared Group

“Hi [Name], I saw we’re both part of the [Group Name] group on LinkedIn. Your comment on [topic] caught my eye. Have you found [specific tool/strategy] helpful in tackling that?”

Industry-Specific Question

Hi [Name], I see you’re in [industry]. I am always interested in connecting with professionals in this space. What’s the biggest challenge you’re seeing right now with [emerging trend or industry shift]? Do you think it’s a temporary hurdle or something that will reshape the industry long-term?

First Message to Recruiter on LinkedIn

The Direct Introduction

“Hi [Name], I see you recruit for [industry]. I’m currently exploring opportunities in [specific role]. Do you have any openings that might be a good fit?”

The Research-Based Approach

Hi [Name], I see you’re in [industry/role], and I’ve been keeping an eye on some interesting developments in this space. I have a background in [mention your field or industry] and I’d love to hear your thoughts on where things are headed and if there’s any opportunity to collaborate. Looking forward to staying in touch!

Use Dripify LinkedIn Automation Tool

Manually writing and sending personalized messages to too many LinkedIn contacts can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Use Dripify to write and send first message on LinkedIn automatically. 

With the Dripify LinkedIn automation tool, you can:

• Write LinkedIn connection request message using AI;
• Send messages in bulk on LinkedIn automatically without getting flagged;
• Personalize every first message in LinkedIn using 20+ variables, including name, location, job title, or recent activity;
• Track replies and keep conversations organized;
• Use AI to analyze profiles and create hyper-personalized outreach messages;
• Reach global audiences with messages written in over 40 languages;
• Reply to messages directly from your Dripify inbox.

Dripify helps you write and send LinkedIn messages faster without losing the human touch. Rest assured that your message will not sound robotic or lose quality. 

Conclusion

Your LinkedIn first message after connecting is your chance to make a great impression and start a meaningful conversation. Write your first message to start a conversation instead of selling. Once a conversation begins, it could lead to opportunities down the line. 

Use the tips and examples above as a blueprint. Add your own voice and tailor your message for each recipient to increase your message response rates. Plus, consider using Dripify to write and send LinkedIn messages automatically without losing the human element.