LinkedIn Sales Message Templates That Get Replies and Generate Leads

TL;DR:

LinkedIn sales messages are crucial for B2B prospecting, but generic ones don’t get responses. To improve performance, personalize your outreach, test different message structures, time your outreach strategically, and follow up consistently.

Use Sales Navigator for better targeting and combine outreach channels for higher engagement. 

Want to automate your cold outreach? Use Snov.io’s LinkedIn Sales Automation Tool with the ready-made LinkedIn message template from this article to close your deals faster.

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Cold outreach on LinkedIn is dead. There’s no use in sending cold messages to leads on this social platform. Or is there? 

Truth is, when done right, a LinkedIn message grabs recipients’ attention, moves them emotionally, and, as a result, gets responses.

If you’re not buying into the “cold outreach is dead” hype and instead trust competent marketing research, this article is for you. We’ll explore the best practices for writing sales messages and equip you with LinkedIn message templates that work. Let’s get to it!

What makes a LinkedIn sales message effective?

A compelling LinkedIn sales message isn’t just another pitch. It should feel personal, relevant, and worth the recipient’s time. How do you achieve that?

1. Personalization.

Remember that personalizing a message doesn’t mean simply adding the lead’s first name to the generic text. People will spot that, and it won’t do you any favors. 

Instead, I recommend mentioning their company and referencing something specific and relevant to your product or services. It can be a recent event your lead attended, their post on social media, or new content on their company’s website. This shows your interest in their business, not just your own profit.

2. Strong opening line.

Nobody has time to read another message promoting a product that has seemingly no value to them. That’s why you need to capture your leads’ attention with the first sentence or two.

Show your lead that you understand their challenges and offer a solution to their pain points right away. This will help you build a relationship with them and increase the chances of a response.

3. Value.

As for the body of the message, focus on the effectiveness of your deal. Rather than listing various features, highlight how your product or service solves your lead’s problem or makes their job easier. Keep it short and to the point.

From my experience, adding content that’s both useful and shows your expertise works wonders. Think a whitepaper with hot industry trends or a downloadable PDF with a case study that showcases your expertise.

Creating high-value content will help you attract more leads, nurture trust, and position your brand as an expert resource in your industry.

Kateryna Kalnova

Chief Editor at Snov.io

4. Call to action.

Always end your message with a strong CTA, whether a quick question or an invitation to a short call. Without it, your message risks being lost in your lead’s inbox.

10 Best LinkedIn sales message templates for different scenarios

Using the principles I described above and thorough research of your target audience, you can craft converting messages for each segment of your leads. But there’s no need to spend multiple hours per day writing and sending them manually!

In this section, I offer you a collection of tried-and-true LinkedIn message templates. Just copy, paste, and tweak them to suit your needs.

1. LinkedIn connection request message template (cold outreach)

Connecting with potential customers is a crucial part of social selling. This is a perfect opportunity to message your prospects for free, grow your network, and increase your Social Selling Index. The payoff? A better‑ranking LinkedIn profile that gets you noticed by even more of the right people.

When sending a connection request on LinkedIn, your goal should be to introduce yourself and persuade your potential customer to add you to their network. I strongly advise leading with value, not a pitch. This is not the time to start selling.

Hi [Prospect’s first name], 

I am impressed by your work at [Company]. Let’s connect and exchange insights on [relevant industry topic]!

🎁 Need more ideas on how to write connection requests that get accepted?

Grab free 20+ LinkedIn templates suitable for every occasion!

2. LinkedIn follow-up message template

So, the lead has accepted your connection request. Congratulations! What’s next?

Not jumping straight into pitching, that’s for sure. The sales game is just getting started. Now, you need to warm up your new connection and initiate an organic conversation.

Take the following template as a starting point for crafting your post-connection conversation starter.

Thanks for connecting, [Prospect’s first name]!

I’d love to learn how [company] handles the [industry-wide pain point]. 

We’ve already helped [a number] of businesses to overcome it, and I’m curious about other perspectives.

Are you open to a quick chat this week?

3. LinkedIn follow-up InMail template for leads who didn’t connect

Some users will not accept your connection request, and that’s okay. You shouldn’t give up then and there.

Follow them up with an InMail. This is a paid feature, and the number of InMails you can get per month depends on the plan.

Subject: Solving [pain point] at [Company Name]

Hi [Prospect’s first name],

We haven’t connected yet, but I wanted to reach out because I believe [specific reason you’re reaching out — e.g., “your team at [Company Name] might be exploring ways to optimize [process/problem area]”].

At [your company], we help [similar companies/industry peers] achieve [specific benefit or result] through [your solution/service].

I’d be happy to share a few quick insights or examples that could be relevant to your role at [company name].

Would you be open to a brief conversation? Choose a time slot here: [Calendly link]

Best regards,
[your full name]
[your job title] | [your company]

💡Expert tip:

InMails can significantly enhance your social selling efforts. Learn how to implement them in your sales outreach effectively:

4. LinkedIn sales soft pitch message template

After you’ve successfully captured your lead’s attention, it’s time to introduce your product or service without being pushy. Base your pitch on the information you’ve learned from the previous conversation about your lead’s company’s challenges and goals.

Let the following template be your starting point for crafting a soft pitch.

Thank you for sharing your experience with [Specific problem]. 

I work with [similar companies/industry peers] to help them [solve a specific pain point or achieve a goal]. If it’s relevant, I’d be happy to share some quick insights or examples — no strings attached.

Are you open to a quick call?

Best regards,
[Your Name]

5. LinkedIn follow-up template after no response

Don’t get discouraged if a lead doesn’t respond to your soft pitch. It doesn’t necessarily mean they are not interested. After all, studies show that the first follow-up email increases the response rate by 49%! This experience can also be applied to direct messages (DMs).

The following template will help you to re-engage a lead who hasn’t responded.

Hey [Prospect’s first name]! 

I know things can get busy, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on [previous message topic]. 

I reached out because I believe [specific pain point or opportunity] could significantly impact [company name], and we’ve successfully helped similar companies achieve [specific result].

If now isn’t the right time, no worries. Simply book any time slot that works for you here: [Calendly link]

For omnichannel outreach, I recommend sending one initial message and one to two follow-ups via email and LinkedIn. This way, you stay on your prospect’s radar without overwhelming them and increase your chances of getting a response.

Dmytro Krasiuk

Ounbound Outreach Expert at Snov.io

6. LinkedIn referral request message template

Sometimes, you find out that your lead is not a decision-maker. This doesn’t mean you have to cut the conversation short. Social media is all about networking, and in this case, you might be closer to the relevant person than you think. 

Try asking your connection for an introduction to the right contact using this simple template.

Hi [Prospect’s first name], 

I noticed that you’re connected with [referral’s name] at [company name].

Recently, I’ve helped a company like theirs achieve [Impressive result] and I’d love to do the same for [Your referral’s company name]. 

Would you be open to introducing me to [Another prospect’s name] so I can talk to them about it?

7. LinkedIn free value message template (providing a resource)

We’ve talked earlier about the importance of offering immediate value to leads who are not yet warmed up towards you. You can easily position yourself as an experienced problem solver.

Use the following message template to share valuable content and establish trust with a lead after connecting on the platform.

Hey [Prospect’s first name], 

Thanks for connecting! I know [role/industry] leaders like you are often looking for ways to [achieve goal/overcome pain point].

I just wrote a guide on [resource name — e.g., “our latest industry report on B2B email personalization trends”] that can help you overcome [problem].

Here’s the link: [link].

Please let me know your thoughts. I would be happy to discuss it.

8. LinkedIn sales demo invitation template

After you’ve built trust with your lead and got them interested in your offering, it’s time to start selling. The main key here is not to be pushy. Make sure your lead can schedule the call when it’s convenient for them. 

Invite a prospect to a product demo with this handy LinkedIn message template.

Hi [Prospect’s first name], 

Thanks for connecting with me!

We’ve been helping [similar companies/industry peers] achieve [specific result, e.g., “increase qualified leads by 30%”] using [your product/service].

I’d be glad to give you a quick demo of [your product/service] and explore if it could be a fit for your team. This will only take about 15 minutes.

Would you be open to a quick 15‑minute session next week?

9. LinkedIn event invitation template

Events are bustling with business opportunities. It’s also a great place to strengthen relationships with your business partners, customers, and prospects. 

Don’t hesitate to invite your leads to a webinar or event using the message template below.

Hey [Prospect’s first name], 

I wanted to personally invite you to [event name], happening on [date]. It’s a [short description: e.g., “live session/webinar/panel discussion”] where we’ll cover [main topic or benefit — e.g., “practical strategies to boost B2B outreach in 2025”]. 

Here’s the link to register: [event link]

Would love to see you there!

10. LinkedIn closing message template (final follow-up)

Frustrating as it may be, not all conversations end with a deal. Sometimes, you must let go of a particular lead – at least for a while. Still, you can try to win them over one last time with the right message.

Save the following template to utilize when you need to create urgency in your last follow-up attempt.

Hey [Prospect’s first name], 

I haven’t heard back, so I assume now isn’t the right time for you. Just a quick reminder: our sale ends in [specific timeframe].

But if you ever need help with [pain point], feel free to reach out – I’m happy to chat anytime!

How to automate LinkedIn sales messages with Snov.io

As I’ve mentioned earlier, there’s no need to send your prospects messages manually. We’ve already taken care of this process so that you can build connections and nurture leads at scale while staying safe on the platform!

🤔 Why use Snov.io LinkedIn automation tool?

• Generate leads with multichannel outreach (email + LinkedIn) to get more replies and improve campaign performance.
• Add automatic LinkedIn actions to your sequence, such as profile views and connection requests, to boost engagement.
• Personalize your email copy and messages to appeal to each prospect.
• Secure your LinkedIn outreach with built‑in safety measures to avoid LinkedIn’s restrictions.

Here’s a step-by-step on how to automate your LinkedIn sales messages with Snov.io.

Step 1. Connect your LinkedIn account to the Snov.io app.

Step 2. Create a sequence of LinkedIn actions.

With Snov.io, you can automate the following activities on LinkedIn:

• Profile views
• Post likes
• Follows
• Connection requests
• Messages
• InMails

You can also add emails to create a multichannel sales campaign:

Step 3. Choose a prospect list

I recommend collecting your contact list with LinkedIn Email Finder. With this handy Chrome extension, you can collect pre-verified emails from the platform for targeted outreach.

Step 4. Set up the sending options

Here, you need to choose your LinkedIn and/or email accounts that you want to use for your cold outreach. Then, select the start and/or end date for your campaign if needed.

You can also choose sending priority (i.e., prioritize LinkedIn messages) and schedule your campaign to ensure your prospects receive your messages during their working hours.

Step 5. Review your campaign performance

To get a full overview of your LinkedIn automation performance, head over to the Reports dashboard. In the LinkedIn tab, you’ll find detailed insights on activities across all your campaigns and accounts.

You can also review a general report with email and LinkedIn data on one intuitive dashboard.

How to improve your LinkedIn sales message performance

Let’s say you’re following all of the best practices and using relevant templates for your outreach. How do you measure if your outreach is working to its full potential? And is there a way to increase its effectiveness even further? Of course. 

1. A/B test different message structures

Each audience requires a specific tone of voice and reacts to different triggers. It’s crucial for your success to find out which message structure, tone, and themes your leads respond to.

Try two variations of each text, and send them to pretty similar segments of your target audience. 

For example, in one version, you’ll focus on a problem, in another – on a success story. You can also test different intros, CTAs, and text lengths. Track which version gets more replies, then refine your approach based on real data. Over time, small tweaks can lead to significantly better engagement.

2. Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator for better prospecting

Don’t waste your effort on the wrong people. LinkedIn Sales Navigator will help you zero in on the right leads with advanced filters like job title, company size, and recent activity.

You can also see who’s engaged with your content. This will enable you to start a conversation with warm leads rather than cold messaging people who may not be interested.

3. Schedule your outreach for higher engagement

Timing matters because LinkedIn users see the newest DMs first. Sending a message at the wrong time can get it buried in the recipient’s inbox, no matter how well-crafted it is.

Studies suggest that users are most active on LinkedIn during weekday mornings.

Keep in mind that each audience is different, so it’s best to test at different times and track when your audience is the most responsive. 

4. Combine different outreach channels

LinkedIn is powerful, but relying on it alone limits your reach. After all, not every user spends much time on this platform. Use LinkedIn to get to know your leads, but get through to them via their preferred channel. Send an email, connect on another platform like Twitter, or give your lead a call.

A multi-channel approach increases your chances of getting a response. Just remember to keep it natural: too much outreach too fast can feel pushy.

Bottom line

So, as you can see, cold outreach on social media is not dead. On the contrary, sales messaging is a must for B2B prospecting when done right. A well-crafted outreach campaign helps you stand out, start real conversations, and turn cold contacts into warm leads. All of it can be achieved through personalization, smart timing, and consistent follow-ups.

To make your LinkedIn outreach even more effective, add Snov.io’s LinkedIn Automation solution to boost your efforts. And if you’re looking to sharpen your lead-sourcing skills, join Snov.io Academy. There, you’ll find expert tips on finding and converting B2B leads on LinkedIn with the help of automation.