Growing a solid base of connections on LinkedIn is a valuable tool in itself, but once you possess them, further action is required to truly reap the rewards of the platform. You need to reach out effectively, and there’s more to it than just a standard social media greeting.
Establish your hook early
Any message should contain something of a hook to garner attention
- If you fail to gain and hold a contact’s attention early, whatever you plan to follow up with is irrelevant
- Pick a few hook strategies and play with the form until you feel like it’s ready for action
Use urgency to your advantage
Set time limits or urgency to motivate action
- This forces the other party to decide if they want to proceed or pass on the project
- Fear of missing out is a powerful motivator
- If you can prove that you provide solutions to their common problems, then all the right pieces are there for a mutually good fit
Cut the fluff
Make your messages short and impactful to start.
- Mastering your message writing skills will come with steady practice and application. Once you have a strong grip on it, it’s a skill that will bring value to yourself and your career like nothing else.
Introduce yourself
Briefly introduce yourself and share any relevant credentials that will support your capabilities as a professional
- Inquire about their background and goals, and then it’s safe to move into the pitch section
- Be sure to highlight how both sides benefit from this, and take care to not come across as too needy or pushy
Adapt to your intended audience
Templates can come across as spammy if they are relied on too heavily without any personalization
- Add some customized elements to your messaging to display you took some time to craft it
- Take the time to review the connection’s profile and see if you have an overlap in interests or background
