How to Use LinkedIn Messaging Professionally

Stop Sending Bad LinkedIn DMs! Here’s How to Network the Right Way As my LinkedIn has grown, I’ve been getting tons of DMs from people asking for tips, tricks, and advice on professional development. And I love helping when I can! But… I’ve also seen some really bad outreach messages—ones that could easily be ignored or leave a bad impression. So to save y’all from making the same mistakes, here’s exactly how to write LinkedIn messages that actually get responses: 🚫 The Wrong Way: “Hey.” Just one word. No introduction, no context, no question. It feels impersonal and makes it hard to know how to respond. ✅ The Right Way: “Hi [Name], I’m Abby, a sophomore at VCU studying Information Systems. I came across your profile and noticed your experience at [Company]. I’m really interested in [Industry] and would love to hear about how you got started. Would you be open to a 10-minute chat? Thanks for your time!” 💡 Why This Works: It’s clear, polite, and respectful of their time. It shows you’ve done your homework and have a genuine interest in learning from them. 🚫 The Wrong Way: “Can you refer me for a job?” This is a big ask from someone you’ve never interacted with before. It can come across as entitled and might make the person feel uncomfortable. ✅ The Right Way: “Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing well! I saw your work at [Company] and was really inspired by [specific project or initiative]. I’m currently exploring opportunities in [Industry] and would love any advice on how to break into the field. If you’re open to it, I’d appreciate a 15-minute chat to hear your insights!” 💡 Why This Works: It’s relationship-first instead of immediately asking for something. By showing genuine interest in their work, you open the door to a more natural conversation. Foster and Nurture Your Relationships One of the biggest mistakes I see is people not maintaining relationships once they’ve made a connection. A connection is not really a relationship unless you actively foster and nurture it. I truly appreciate when people consistently engage with my content, comment, reply, or even ask to set up a virtual coffee date. These small, regular interactions build rapport and make it feel like we’re genuinely building a relationship over time. Final Tips: ✅ Be Specific and Respectful of Time – Keep your message clear and concise. ✅ Personalize Your Approach – Reference details from the person’s profile to show you’ve done your homework. ✅ Don’t Rush for a Referral – Build rapport first before asking for favors. ✅ Nurture Your Connections – Engage regularly; remember, networking is about long-term relationships, not one-off interactions. Networking the right way opens doors. Let’s make sure you’re knocking in a way that leaves a lasting, positive impression. What has been your best and worst LinkedIn DM experience? Share below ⬇️

I tested 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (During my last job search and as a career coach). These 𝟱 get the highest response rates, especially from hiring managers👇 1. The Profile Viewer Message Check who viewed your LinkedIn profile. They’re already aware of you, don’t let that warm lead go cold. Try this: "Hey [Name], I noticed you stopped by my profile, appreciate you taking a look! Curious, was there something specific that caught your eye, or are you open to conversations around [industry/topic you're exploring]?" 👉 Tip: Warm > Cold. Always start with people who’ve already shown interest. 2. Acknowledge + Ask Find something unique about their background or a recent post, and ask a question. "Hi [Name], I saw your talk on [topic], your insight on [specific point] stuck with me. How did you land your current role at [Company]?" People love talking about themselves, especially when you show genuine interest. 3. Value First Offer a useful insight, article, or trend that aligns with their work. No ask, just value. "Hey [Name], I saw your post about [topic]. Just came across this article, it touches on a similar trend. Thought you might find it interesting." Position yourself as thoughtful, not transactional. 4. Mutual Connection Approach Bridge a real mutual connection or shared experience. "Hi [Name], I noticed we both worked with [Person] / went to [School] / worked in [Company or Industry]. I'd love to learn more about your path, especially how you made the transition to [Role/Company]." Relatability opens doors faster than credentials. 5. Compliment + Curiosity Start with a specific compliment, then open the door. "Hi [Name], really enjoyed your article on [topic], especially your point about [detail]. Are you open to connecting with people exploring similar roles in [industry]?" It’s respectful, direct, and makes it easy for them to respond. Reminder: You don’t need to spam 100 strangers. Start with 10 meaningful messages a week. Track responses. Iterate on what works. Focus on warm leads, shared interests, and genuine curiosity. What template would you like to see next? If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want. ➕Follow Jaret André for more daily data job search tips.

People love to tell you: “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁.” Cool. Reach out and say what? 🤷♂️ If you’re leaving the military (or changing careers), here’s a simple way to network on LinkedIn without asking for a job. Not “Can you hire me?” Not “Can you refer me?” Not “Can I pick your brain?” Your goal is: 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and earn the right to keep it going. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝟯-𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵: 1) Connection request (300 characters) Keep it specific, respectful, and low-pressure. 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: Hi [Name]. I’m leaving the the military this year into [field] and I’m learning from people doing the work. Your background in [specific thing] stood out. Open to connecting? 2) After they accept (the “no ask” message) This is where most people mess up. Don’t pitch. Don’t ask for time. 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: Appreciate the connect, [Name]. I’m not asking for a job, but trying to learn the landscape. What’s one skill, habit, or credential you’ve seen separate top performers in [role/industry]? 3) If they respond (go deeper, still no job ask) 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: That’s helpful, thank you. When you were hiring or working with someone new, what would make you say, “This person is ready”? Then: 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, apply what they said, and stay connected. Make sense? Look-- Here's what I've learned from 7+ years on this platform: Most people aren’t active on LinkedIn. So if you message 10 people and 3 respond… 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝟯 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. Focus there. Build real relationships with the ones who 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦. Networking isn’t a volume game. It’s a 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲. So... If you’re transitioning or pivoting careers: What’s the hardest part of “reaching out” for you? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, or 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀? P.S. You can send about 𝟮𝟬-𝟮𝟱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 on a free LinkedIn account. But it's best to spread them out to stay under the weekly limit of roughly 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀, as LinkedIn monitors for spam. Was this valuable? 💾 Save this for later (...) ♻️ Repost for your network. 🔖 Follow Matt Quick for more Military to Project Management advice. #QuickNote #Networking #MilitaryTransition

Last week, someone asked me: "Keith, I've sent 100+ connection requests. But my conversations keep dying after 'Thanks for connecting!'" I smiled, because I used to be that person. Sending generic messages. Getting generic responses. Going nowhere fast. Until I cracked the code that turned my dead-end chats into real opportunities. THE REALITY: → Everyone can say "hello" → Few can turn it into real value → Most blow it in the first 3 messages Here's my proven framework that works: 1. The First Touch ↳ Reference something specific (takes 30 seconds) ↳ Ask about THEIR work (not yours) ↳ End with a question they'd enjoy answering 2. The Bridge Message ↳ Build on their response ↳ Share a relevant insight ↳ Create a natural next step 3. The Value Exchange ↳ Offer something specific ↳ Make it easy to say yes ↳ Keep it professional, not pushy WHAT KILLS CONVERSATIONS: • Immediate pitching • Generic "picking your brain" requests • Forcing unnatural next steps • Making it all about you Remember: Great conversations aren't accidents. They're carefully crafted bridges. Want more career insights like this? ↳ Follow me for daily content ↳ Repost this to help others on their career journey. #careers #linkedin #business #creativity #careeralchemy

Most LinkedIn messages fail because they ask for too much too soon. Think about this: how do you feel about messages that jump straight from "Hi" → "Can I sell you something?" It’s overwhelming. It's spammy. And honestly? It's an instant delete. But there’s another way—a better way. Successful Linkedin messages are built on three key principles: 1. Give vs. Get Start with value. Share an article, introduce them within your network, or offer something useful (like that free tool you’ve been working on). When you give first, you build trust—and trust opens doors. 2. Keep Messages Conversational Long, bulky paragraphs? They scream “sales pitch.” Instead, think like texting your friends: short, engaging, and back-and-forth. People are on their phones; meet them where they are. 3. Don’t Fear Follow-Ups Most opportunities happen after follow-up #3 or #4. Life gets busy, inboxes overflow, and good intentions get buried. That doesn’t mean they’re not interested—it means they need reminding. Here’s what happens if you follow these principles: → Your messages feel human, not salesy. → You become someone worth responding back. → You build real connections that lead directly (or indirectly) toward your dream clients. It’s simple, but not easy. Consistency is key. Every message is part relationship-building, part value-giving, and part persistence. Want more insights like this? Let’s connect. I’ve got plenty more strategies that help you master Linkedin outreach without feeling pushy. What’s worked best for YOU so far? PS - The event we just hosted with the former CEO of Blue Bell Ice Cream (a company with estimated sales of over $657M/yr) happened because of a DM on LinkedIn. Your dream clients and opportunities are just one LinkedIn message away. All it takes is the right strategy and the right process. 🎯

I've analyzed 10,000+ LinkedIn messages that booked meetings. The top performers always share these 5 patterns (bookmark this for later): After managing LinkedIn outreach for 500+ B2B companies, I can spot a winning message in seconds. Here's what the best ones consistently have in common: (1) Pattern Interrupt Opening Stop saying: "Hi [Name]" or "Thanks for connecting". Start with: "I know this is random..." or "Really quick..." These get 40% more opens. (3) Problem-oriented messaging (Not Solution) Bad: "We help companies generate leads" Good: "Chatting w/ some VPs of Sales who know they should be using LinkedIn more to bring in new revenue." Focus on the pain they feel, not what you sell. (3) Keep It Under 75 Words Anything longer kills your response rate. Get to the point. Fast. (4) Soft CTA Don't ask for a meeting immediately. Try: "Would it be alright if I shared a few ideas for [solving their problem]?" When they say yes, THEN share your calendar link. (5) No Links in First Message Keep everything native. Share links after they respond. tldr formula; Pattern interrupt → Problem statement → Soft ask → Sign off That's it. Thoughts? PS - Click 'Visit my website' to learn how you can turn LinkedIn into a top revenue channel for your company.