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How many times have you sent a LinkedIn DM (Direct Message) to a potential prospect, only to be met with silence or a polite but firm ‘no thank you’? This common challenge can be discouraging, especially when every single connection counts.
The problem often lies not in the intent but in the approach. Sending a message that doesn’t resonate or capture the context and cues of your prospect’s professional landscape fails to interest them in engaging with you. That’s why understanding the scenarios and their nuances can help you significantly enhance your LinkedIn DM outreach.
I will discuss eleven specific scenario cues that guide you in initiating conversations with your prospects on LinkedIn.
11 Scenarios to Send The First LinkedIn DM
We will now explore 11 scenarios where sending that first LinkedIn DM will feel natural and set the stage for a potential conversion.
1. Sending a question message
You can pose an open-ended question related to their expertise or anything you need some thoughts on. This approach encourages engagement from your prospects right from the start. You can send the LinkedIn DM like this –
“Hi (first name). I just read your post about (topic), and I’ve got a question… Do you think (question about post)? Interested to hear your thoughts on this. (Your name)”
2. Sharing a mutual connection
Referencing a mutual connection can be a great way to build immediate trust from the first message. For example –
“Hey Abdul. Just noticed that we have a mutual connection in ABC. I love what you’re doing at XYZ Company and would love to connect.”
3. Offering pure value
Sharing a resource or piece of information that could be beneficial to them will help you establish a great connection from the get-go. For example,
“Hi, Abdul,
I came across an article that I think you’d find interesting. It talks about how to use AI in sales automation tools.
Here’s the link to check it out – {{LINK}}
There is a ton of great information in this post, and I mainly found the adoption metrics across the industry eye-opening.
Enjoy the read!”
4. Stroking the ego to make them feel important
You can compliment your prospect’s recent work, achievements, or insights to make them feel recognized and important, which can pave the way for further dialogue. A way to send a LinkedIn DM using this scenario would look like –
“Hey Abdul, I noticed your profile was at the top of search results for our industry. I’d love to talk more with an expert in the field and get some solid advice about (topic).”
5. Mentioning a common topic
Having a common topic from the beginning increases the possibility of your prospecting being interested and actually talking to you. You may send the initial DM in the following manner –
“Hi {{firstName}},
I noticed you liked {{Name}}’s post on {{Topic}}. I loved it as well. Especially the part about {{X part}}. I’d like to connect since I can see you know a lot about {{Topic}}.”
6. Providing a reason to reply
Framing your message in a way that necessitates a response, such as asking for their opinion on a pressing industry issue or advice on a challenge you’re facing may come out useful in starting a conversation with your prospect. For example,
“Hi {{firstName}},
I noticed you work as {{role}}. I’m curious what {{Strategy}} has the best {{Result}} from your experience regarding {{specific topic/process/workflow}}.”
7. Mentioning a recent event you both attended
Referring to a recent event or conference you both attended as a conversation starter can help establish a common ground to start the conversation with the prospect. You can use LinkedIn’s search feature to find potential conference prospects or those who attend them by searching with the specific event’s name.
LinkedIn Search based on recent event attendance
Consider sending those prospects who attended the same conference or event a DM like this –
“Hi {{firstName}},
It is great to see you also attended {{Event Name}} last {{Date}}. I really enjoyed {{specific talk or session}}. It sparked some thoughts that I believe we could explore together. Let’s connect!”
8. Congratulating on a career milestone
You can congratulate the prospect on a recent professional achievement to show that you are attentive and supportive of their career progress by sending LinkedIn DMs like this –
“Hi {{firstName}},
Congratulations on your recent promotion to {{Position}} at {{Company}}! Your dedication to {{relevant field or skill}} is truly inspiring. I’d love to learn more about your journey and discuss potential collaborative opportunities.”
9. Highlighting a shared experience
Mentioning a shared experience, whether educational, professional, or volunteer, will be useful in creating a personal connection and initiating a more relaxed conversation.
You can find these people easily by using relevant lead filters on LinkedIn Search.
Filters on LinkedIn
You may send them a DM like this –
“Hi {{firstName}},
I see we both went through the {{Program or Experience}} at {{Institution or Company}}. Going through those challenging days was quite a journey! I’m eager to connect and share insights from our common experiences.”
10. If they have viewed your profile
You can acknowledge that they’ve viewed your profile and use it as an opportunity to introduce yourself and suggest a reason for further engagement based on shared interests or opportunities. LinkedIn’s “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” feature helps you find these prospects, and it is accessible from your LinkedIn homepage and even on free accounts.
Send a LinkedIn DM to these prospects like this –
“Hi {{firstName}},
I saw you viewed my profile on LinkedIn. Let’s connect and chat.
Perhaps we discover we can collaborate.”
Or
“Hi {{firstName}},
I saw you viewed my profile on LinkedIn. Curious about what caught your eye about my profile? I’d love to be of help!
Best
{{Your name}}”
11. Re-engaging with old connections
You can send a LinkedIn DM in the following style when you’re trying to re-engage with any of your old connections with whom you weren’t in touch for quite a time.
“Hi Marc,
We’ve connected here on LinkedIn for a while but don’t really know each other. As much as I love all this social media stuff, I actually like to get to know my connections.
Would you be open to a call or maybe grabbing a coffee sometime soon? I just want to get to know each other’s businesses and see how we might be able to help each other.
Thanks!”
Bonus: 4 More LinkedIn DMs templates + Examples
Let’s look at some of the best approaches you can take to send that LinkedIn DM to your prospect.
1. A Direct Approach
Template:
“Hello {{NAME}},
{{METRIC}} of companies in {{INDUSTRY}} have {{PROBLEM}}.
By doing {{SOLUTION}} we helped {{COMPANY EXAMPLE}} achieve {{Result}}.
Are you facing the same issue?”
Example:
“Hello Abdul,
75% of startups in the tech industry struggle with scaling efficiently. By implementing agile project management frameworks, we helped XYZ reduce its time-to-market by 50%.
Are you facing the same issue?”
2. Asking for Help Approach
Template:
“Hello {{NAME}},
I saw you’re {{JOB TITLE}}, so I decided to reach out.
Let me ask, is your team using {{TOOL}}?
If yes, which one?
(if you wouldn’t mind sharing that info).”
Example:
“Hello Abdul,
I saw you’re a Marketing Director, so I decided to reach out.
Let me ask: is your team using a customer relationship management (CRM) system?
If yes, which one? (if you wouldn’t mind sharing that info)”
3. Information Sharing Approach
Template:
“Hello {{NAME}},
{{INDUSTRY}} trends are showing that {{KPI or METRIC}}.
You can find a report with detailed information attached {{link}}.
Inside, you can find {{DATA A, B, C}}.
Best,
{{YOUR NAME}}”
A template for a follow-up message for this approach:
Thoughts on the {{content}}?
Example:
“Hello Abdul,
Data privacy regulations are tightening, and our recent study shows that 78% of financial services firms are not fully compliant with GDPR.
You can find a report with detailed information attached here {{link}}
You’ll find issues like inadequate data encryption, poor user consent management, and lack of regular audits highlighted.
Best,
Nafisa”
Example for a follow-up message for this approach:
Any thoughts on the GDPR compliance report?
4. A Curious Approach
Template:
“Hello {{NAME}},
As {{title}}, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the impact of {{TOPIC}} on your business. How has {{ITEM}} impacted your business?”
Example:
“Hello Abdul,
As Director of Operations, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the impact of remote work on your team’s productivity. Have you noticed any significant shifts in project timelines or employee output?”
Conclusion
Reaching out to prospects by sending a LinkedIn DM is all about starting a conversation that feels relevant and meaningful to them. The scenarios discussed in this article aren’t cookie-cutter templates; they’re strategic opportunities to align your outreach with what matters to your prospect.
Prospects are more likely to engage when they feel the outreach is thoughtful, timely, and adds value to their professional goals. They will also be more likely to convert to your solutions and contribute to your business growth. Remember, LinkedIn is a platform for trust and relationship-building, not hard sales, and the key is to focus on building rapport rather than rushing to pitch.
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