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LinkedIn is a powerful platform for building professional relationships, promoting your business, and generating leads. However, success on LinkedIn doesn’t come from sending generic messages or making cold sales pitches. To truly grow your business using LinkedIn messaging, you need to adopt best practices that focus on relationship building, personalization, and value.
Here’s how!
1. Personalize Every Message.
A personalized approach is crucial when reaching out to potential clients or partners. Instead of using a templated message, take the time to research the recipient. Look at their profile, identify mutual areas of interest, connections, and find something you can mention in your message, such as a recent post they shared or a project they worked on. This shows that you are genuinely interested in building a relationship, not just selling to them.
2. Be Clear and Concise.
Many people on LinkedIn are busy professionals, so your message should be short and to the point. Avoid long, complex sentences and jargon that may confuse or overwhelm the reader.
Clearly state
why you are reaching out,
how you can provide value,
and a call to action that feels natural, such as a quick chat or a connection request.
3. Offer Value Before Asking for Anything.
To establish trust, you need to offer something of value to the person you’re messaging before asking for their time or consideration. This could be a helpful resource, an industry specific article or newsletter, an industry insight, or even a compliment on their achievements. By providing value upfront, you demonstrate that you’re focused on building a meaningful, mutually beneficial relationship rather than just trying to close a deal.
4. Engage in Genuine Conversations.
Successful LinkedIn messaging is not about making a sales pitch right away.
Instead, engage in authentic, two-way conversations.
Ask questions that spark dialogue, show interest in their business or challenges, and listen to their responses. People are more likely to trust and do business with you when they feel appreciated, heard and valued.
5. Follow Up Professionally.
Persistence is key in business development, but it’s important to balance follow-up messages with respect for the recipient’s time. If you haven’t heard back, send a polite follow-up after a week or so. Keep it light and value-oriented—maybe offer new insights or resources that could be useful to them. However, avoid being too pushy; if you don't receive a response after a couple of follow-ups, it may be time to move on.
6. Leverage LinkedIn Features.
Use LinkedIn's tools to enhance your messaging strategy. Features like voice messages or video can make your outreach stand out and feel more personal. Additionally, sharing relevant content with your network and engaging with your connections' posts regularly helps to keep you on their radar, making future messaging feel more natural.
7. Maintain Your Own Professionalism.
It’s essential to maintain a high level of professionalism in all your LinkedIn communications. Use appropriate language, check for spelling and grammatical errors, and always maintain a courteous tone. Professionalism builds credibility and reflects positively on your business.
Everybody makes typos. Remember to double check ALL MESSAGES BEFORE YOU SEND….
16 Unwritten Rules of LinkedIn Messaging.
1. Always Personalize Your Connection Requests – Always include a note.
2. Personalize Your Messages – Tailor your message to the recipient.
3. Don’t Sell on LinkedIn – It’s too early in the conversation.
4. No Instant Sales Pitches – Build rapport before discussing business.
5. Focus on Building Relationships – Build trust before selling.
6. Offer Value First – Share helpful info before asking for something.
7. Be Concise – Respect their time with brief messages.
8. Limit Follow-ups – Don’t spam with too many messages if you don’t get a reply.
9. Avoid Overly Formal Language – Be professional, but conversational.
10. Respect Boundaries – If they’re not interested, don’t push.
11. Stay Polite – Even if rejected or ignored, be respectful.
12. Limit Attachments – Don’t send unsolicited links or files.
13. Be Patient – Give people time to respond.
14. Engage Beyond Messages – Interact with their posts with meaningful comments.
15. Keep It Professional – Don’t get too personal or intrusive.
16. Don’t Ask for a Date - LinkedIn is NOT a Dating Site.
Summary
LinkedIn messaging can be a powerful tool for growing your business when used strategically. By focusing on personalization, offering value, and fostering genuine conversations, you can develop strong relationships that lead to business growth.
Remember, success on LinkedIn is not just about sending messages—it's about establishing professional relationships, building trust and delivering meaningful conversations that drive long-term results.
Here's to your continued LinkedIn for business success.
Regards from
Derick
P.S. Follow me, Derick Mildred for More LinkedIn for Business Tips & a Daily Dose of Inspiration. 😎😎
P.P.S. Learn more about my Linked Into More Business – Kickstarter course here
P.P.P.S Subscribe to Derickmildred.com here.
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