Sending personalized messages on LinkedIn has many benefits over sending mass or generic messages. Personalized messages show the recipient that you care enough to craft a unique message just for them. This makes the recipient feel valued and more likely to respond positively. Sending generic messages comes across as spammy, lazy, and less likely to get a response. Let’s explore in more detail why personalized messages are the way to go on LinkedIn.
Shows the Recipient You Did Your Research
When you send a personalized message on LinkedIn, it demonstrates to the recipient that you took the time to review their profile and learn about them. You can reference details from their work experience, education, interests, or recent activity to show you are reaching out for legitimate reasons, not just spamming your network.
For example, you may say:
“Hi John, I see you recently started a new role at ABC Company. Congratulations! I know from your profile that you have a background in digital marketing and I’d love to connect to discuss ways we could potentially work together.”
This level of personalization makes the recipient feel seen and valued. It’s much better than a generic message like “I’d like to connect!” which reveals nothing about why you want to connect.
Increases Open and Response Rates
Personalized messages have much higher open and response rates compared to generic outreach. According to Experian, personalized subject lines in emails improve open rates by 26% and click rates by 29%. It’s reasonable to assume similar trends apply to personalized messages on LinkedIn.
When recipients get the sense that a message was tailored just for them, they feel inclined to at least open it and see what it’s about. If they open a thoughtful, relevant message, they’re also more likely to respond. Generic messages are easier to ignore and delete.
Allows for More Meaningful Conversations
Sending a generic introductory message may help you connect with someone, but it likely won’t spark a substantive conversation. Personalized messages allow you to dive right into a meaningful dialogue.
For example, instead of saying “I’d like to connect,” you could say:
“Hi Michelle. I noticed you have experience in copywriting for the fashion industry. I’m working on a campaign for a new clothing line and would love any advice you may have on writing copy that resonates with our target demographic of women ages 18-25.”
This gives the recipient context for why you are reaching out and an interesting conversation starter. A generic message would not provide any basis for a meaningful discussion.
Positions You as Thoughtful and Personable
Taking the time to craft personalized messages shows the recipient that you are thoughtful, personable, and interested in creating a real connection. Mass outreach gives the impression that you are casting a wide net just hoping for a bite. When you personalize, it signals that you are selective about who you reach out to and intentional in how you do it.
People want to connect with others who take personal interest in them. Personalized messaging helps position you in this light. You’ll stand out from others taking more generic approaches.
Increases Chances of Getting a Response
At the end of the day, the main reason to personalize your LinkedIn messages is to increase the chances the recipient will respond. According to ResponseTap, personalized emails generate 6 times more conversions compared to generic emails. It’s reasonable to apply this same principle to personalized vs. generic LinkedIn messages.
When recipients feel seen, valued, and engaged, they will be more motivated to respond. Personalized messages tick all these boxes, while generic messages fall flat.
Best Practices for Personalized Messaging
Now that we’ve covered the many benefits of sending personalized messages on LinkedIn, here are some best practices to employ:
Research the recipient’s profile
Be sure to thoroughly research the recipient’s profile before reaching out. Look for key details to reference like current job title and company, education, experience, interests, groups, recent activity and posts. The more relevant personal details you can weave in, the better.
Personalize the subject line
Don’t just put “LinkedIn message” or leave it blank. Craft a subject line that references something unique about the recipient to capture attention.
Acknowledge common connections (if any)
If you have any shared connections, mention them by name in the greeting. For example, “Hi Mary, I see we are both connected with John Smith. I wanted to reach out because…” This immediately gives the recipient context.
Explain why you are reaching out
Don’t let the recipient wonder why you messaged them. Be clear on your purpose for connecting right up front. Share what sparked your interest in their profile.
Ask an open-ended question
Give the recipient something substantive to respond to. Ask an open-ended question related to their work, interests or background to spark conversation.
Keep the message succinct
Personalized doesn’t mean long. Get to the point concisely in a few sentences or paragraphs max. You don’t want the recipient overwhelmed by a super long message.
Proofread for errors
Before sending your message, carefully proofread it. Make sure there are no embarrassing typos or grammatical errors. You want to come across polished and professional.
Examples of Great Personalized LinkedIn Messages
To pull everything together, here are a few examples of highly personalized, effective LinkedIn outreach messages:
Example 1
Subject: Hello from a fellow UNC alum!
Hi Sarah,
I hope you’re doing well! My name is John and I see we both graduated from UNC Chapel Hill – go Tar Heels! I wanted to reach out because I noticed you work in social media marketing for retail brands. I run a boutique social media agency focused on the retail vertical. Would you have any time for a quick call to discuss best practices? I would love to learn from your experience!
Best,
John
Example 2
Subject: Advice on transitioning careers to marketing?
Good morning Michael,
I came across your profile and saw that you transitioned from teaching to a marketing career a few years ago. I’m currently looking to make a similar career change in the next year. Would you have any advice on skills to develop or steps to take to shift into marketing? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Mary
Example 3
Subject: Coffee with a fellow dog lover?
Hi Lisa,
My name is Sarah and I see we share a love of dogs – I have a golden retriever named Leo who brings me so much joy! I also noticed you work in fundraising for animal shelters. My company is looking to partner with a shelter for an upcoming charity drive and I’d love to chat with you about best practices for effective campaigns. Perhaps we could meet for coffee this week? My treat!
Let me know if you have availability. Hope to connect soon!
Sarah
Tips for Personalization at Scale
Personalized messaging is very effective, but also time consuming. When looking to scale your outreach, here are some tips:
– Use templates with placeholder fields you can easily customize
– Personalize one or two key sentences, keep rest of message consistent
– Build profiles on prospects with details to reference
– Use automation tools like mail merge or mass mention to customize at scale
– Segment prospects based on common interests or attributes you can message to
The key is mixing standardized language with customized, unique content for each prospect. This allows more efficient personalization across many messages.
Conclusion
Personalizing your outreach messages on LinkedIn takes more effort up front, but pays off in the long run with higher response rates, more meaningful connections, and increased chances of converting contacts into opportunities.
While generic messages may seem easier, they are likely to be ignored and ineffective. The research shows that personalization is well worth the effort.
Take the time to craft messages tailored just for each recipient. Research their profile for unique details to reference and customize your approach. You’ll be amazed at how much better the response will be compared to sending mass generic messages.
In summary, personalized messaging helps you:
- Demonstrate you did your research on the recipient
- Increase open and response rates
- Spark more meaningful conversations
- Position yourself as thoughtful and interested
- Boost chances of getting a response
So do your research, get personal, and make your LinkedIn messages count!