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Saniya Sood
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Published October 6, 2026 · Updated October 6, 2026
The short answer: LinkedIn messages that get replies are shorter than emails, refer to something the person actually did or said, and ask one easy question. A connection note has to fit in 200 characters, and a basic account can only add a note to three requests a month, so most outreach starts with the message after someone accepts. The ten templates below cover the note, the first message, the follow-up and the reply, each with the situation it suits.
Who wrote this: Valley runs outbound for 1,000+ LinkedIn accounts and has sent 30M+ messages. The examples below are patterns we see get replies, written out so you can copy them. Valley appears once, near the end, clearly marked.
Stage | Limit to know | Templates |
|---|---|---|
Connection note | 200 characters; three notes a month on a basic account | 1 to 3 |
First message after they accept | Keep it under 60 words | 4 to 6 |
Follow-up | One new thing each time | 7 and 8 |
Reply to interest | Answer, then one next step | 9 and 10 |
Limits read from LinkedIn Help, October 6, 2026.
Connection notes (under 200 characters)
1. The shared context note
Use it when: you have something real in common: an event, a group, a mutual connection.
Hi [Name], we were both at [event] last week. Your question about [topic] stuck with me. Would be good to connect.
Why it works: it gives a reason that is true and checkable in one line.
2. The content note
Use it when: they posted or commented on something relevant.
Hi [Name], your post on [topic] was the clearest take I have read on it. I work on the same problem at [Company] and would like to follow your thinking.
Why it works: it is about them, and it asks for nothing.
3. The no-note request
Use it when: you have no specific reason yet.
(Send the request with no note.)
Why it works: a blank request is better than a generic note. Save your three monthly notes for people you have a real reason to write to.
First message after they accept
4. The thank-you and question
Use it when: they accepted and you know one thing about their work.
Thanks for connecting, [Name].
I saw [Company] is [specific thing, e.g. opening a second sales office]. How are you handling [related problem] as you grow?
Why it works: it opens a conversation about their work. No pitch, no link.
5. The engagement follow-on
Use it when: they liked or commented on your post.
Hi [Name], thanks for the comment on my post about [topic].
You mentioned [what they said]. Is that something your team is dealing with now?
Why it works: you are continuing a conversation they started in public.
6. The direct offer
Use it when: the fit is obvious and you would rather be upfront.
Hi [Name], I will be direct: we help [type of team] [outcome], and [Company] looks like a fit because [reason].
Worth a short call, or not a priority this quarter?
Why it works: honesty about the pitch, plus an easy way to say no, reads better than a fake compliment.
Follow-ups
7. The resource
Use it when: no reply after four or five days.
Hi [Name], no need to reply. We just published [resource] on [their problem] and I thought of you: [link].
Why it works: it adds value and removes the pressure to answer.
8. The clean exit
Use it when: no reply after two follow-ups.
Hi [Name], I will leave it here. If [problem] comes up later, you know where I am. All the best with [specific thing].
Why it works: it ends well and keeps the connection usable later.
Replies
9. When they say “tell me more”
Use it when: they have shown interest.
Happy to. In two lines: [what you do]. [One result for a similar company].
Easiest next step is a 20-minute call. Does [day] or [day] work?
Why it works: it answers before it asks, and offers two concrete times.
10. When they say “not now”
Use it when: the timing is wrong.
Understood, thanks for telling me. When would be a better time to check back, if ever?
In the meantime I will send anything useful on [topic] your way.
Why it works: it respects the answer and gets a date, which turns a no into a later.
Templates give you structure. On LinkedIn they also carry a risk: people recognize the same phrasing across their inbox. Do not use one when:
The bracket would be filled with something generic. “I came across your profile” is not a reason. If you cannot name something specific, send no note at all.
The person is senior and gets a lot of outreach. Write two original sentences. It takes three minutes.
You are sending the same message to hundreds of people. That is where reply rates fall to the category average and where accounts get reported.
More on the first step: LinkedIn connection message templates. For paid messages to people you are not connected to, see LinkedIn InMail templates for sales.
Where Valley fits (our product, marked as promised). Each template above works only when the bracket is filled with something true about the person. Valley fills it: it finds people from live buying signals, qualifies them against your ICP, researches each one and drafts a personalized LinkedIn message that you review before it sends. Signal-based messages get 15-45% reply rates against a category average of about 2%. See how post engagers become conversations. Plans start at $149 per seat per month billed quarterly ($199 monthly). Valley pricing.
FAQ
What is a good LinkedIn message template for sales? One that refers to something specific the person did, stays under 60 words, and ends with a question they can answer in a line.
How long can a LinkedIn connection note be? Up to 200 characters, according to LinkedIn Help. A basic account can add a note to three connection requests a month.
Should I send a connection request with or without a note? Without one, unless you have a specific reason to mention. A generic note performs worse than none.
What should I say after someone accepts my connection request? Thank them and ask one question about their work. Do not pitch in the first message.
How many LinkedIn follow-up messages should I send? Two is usually enough. Add something new in the first and close politely in the second.
Can I automate LinkedIn messages? Tools exist to do it. What matters is that each message is still specific to the person and that volumes stay within LinkedIn's limits.
Why are my LinkedIn messages not getting replies? Usually the targeting, not the wording. Messages to people with a reason to care get answered far more often than messages to a cold list.
How this page was made: the facts were read from the sources named in the text on October 6, 2026; drafted with AI assistance; fact-checked, reviewed and edited by Saniya Sood.
