LinkedIn message templates for every stage of a DM sale
The best LinkedIn template is one line long and about them. And templates belong to a stage of the conversation, not a sequence. Most of the templates ranking for this search were written for recruiters, job seekers or automation tools that fire five messages at a stranger on a schedule. These are written for a founder replying to real people, one conversation at a time.
Every template below is ours, written for this page. Placeholders are in [square brackets]. Character counts include the placeholders, so your real message will be a little longer or shorter.
Rules before templates
- One line at Open. If it doesn't fit in a tweet, cut it.
- One idea per message. One question, not three.
- Ask, don't offer. "How are you handling X?" beats "We can help with X".
- Stay in the stage. Move on only when the stage's checkpoint is met.
The data backs short and individual. LinkedIn's recruiter InMail data found messages under 400 characters got 22% higher response rates than average, and individually sent InMails did about 15% better than bulk ones (LinkedIn Talent Blog):
InMail response rate uplift (LinkedIn recruiter InMail data)
Both figures are relative uplifts, not response rates. The individual-versus-bulk figure is 'about 15%'.
Source: LinkedIn Talent Blog, 2022 (recruiter InMail data, not sales)
And buyers notice the opposite: 73% of B2B buyers in a 2024 Gartner survey said they actively avoid suppliers who send irrelevant outreach (Gartner).
Open: 5 templates
The job: earn a reply. Short, about them, one question.
| Situation | Template | Why it works | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| They posted about a problem you solve | "Saw your post on [topic]. The bit about [specific detail] matched what I hear from other [their role]s. How long has that been going on for you?" | Refers to something they said, asks about them | 144 |
| Shared connection or group | "[Mutual name] mentioned you'd been working on [thing]. I'm doing similar work with [type of company]. What got you started on it?" | Gives a real reason for the message and hands them the floor | 129 |
| They viewed your profile | "Thanks for stopping by my profile. Curious what caught your eye: are you looking at [problem area] at the moment?" | Low pressure, one question | 113 |
| They commented on your post | "Thanks for the comment on [post]. You said [their point]. Is that something you're dealing with at [company] right now?" | Continues a conversation they started in public | 119 |
| Cold, no prior contact | "Hi [name], quick one: how are you handling [specific task] at [company] since [change you noticed]?" | One line, about their situation | 99 |
Not connected yet? Write the connection note first. Our free generator drafts notes that fit LinkedIn's 300-character limit, and you send them yourself.
Engage: 5 templates
The job: get them talking about their world, so they describe the problem in their own words.
| Situation | Template | Why it works | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| They gave a short reply | "Makes sense. What made you go that way rather than [obvious alternative]?" | Invites a story, not a yes or no | 73 |
| They described their setup | "Interesting. What's the part of that you'd change first if you could?" | Lets them name the problem in their own words | 69 |
| They asked what you do | "Short version: I help [who] with [outcome]. But I'm more curious how you're handling it, as it sounds like you've tried a few things." | Answers honestly, then returns the focus to them | 133 |
| They mentioned a recent change | "How's the [change] going? I'd guess it's moved [related task] around a bit." | Shows you listened; gives them an easy opening | 75 |
| Conversation stalled after a pleasantry | "Out of interest, what does a good month look like for you on [area]?" | Turns small talk into something specific | 68 |
Qualify: 5 templates
The job: learn the problem, the timing and who decides. One question per message.
| Situation | Template | Why it works | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem mentioned, timing unknown | "Is fixing [problem] on the list for this quarter, or more of a someday thing?" | Finds timing without pressure | 77 |
| Unclear who decides | "If you did change how you handle [problem], who else would want a say?" | Finds the decision-maker politely | 70 |
| Size of problem unclear | "Roughly how much time does [problem] take each week at the moment?" | Puts a number on the problem | 66 |
| They've tried something before | "What happened with [previous solution]? Useful to know what didn't work before I suggest anything." | Learns objections early, shows restraint | 98 |
| Budget unclear | "Is this the kind of thing you'd pay to fix, or would you rather handle it in-house?" | Asks the money question plainly | 83 |
Invite: ask a favour, not a demo (5 templates)
The job: ask for a short call, once the Qualify checkpoint is met.
| Situation | Template | Why it works | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem, timing and decider are clear | "Would you do me a favour? I'd like 15 minutes to hear how you run [process] and see if what I'm building fits. Thursday or Friday?" | Asks a favour, offers two times | 130 |
| They're warm but busy | "No rush on this. If a 15-minute call next week would help, pick a time that suits and I'll work around you." | Removes pressure, keeps momentum | 107 |
| They asked about price | "Depends a bit on how you'd use it. Easiest is 15 minutes on a call; I'll give you a straight number at the end. Does Tuesday work?" | Moves price to a call without dodging it | 130 |
| They want to bring a colleague | "Of course. Would it help if I sent two lines you can forward to [colleague] first?" | Makes the internal sell easy | 82 |
| After a useful exchange | "This has been useful for me. Want to keep going on a quick call? I can do [day] at [time]." | Natural next step after real value | 90 |
Re-opening a conversation that went quiet (3)
The job: give them a new reason to reply. Never "just bumping this".
| Situation | Template | Why it works | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| They went quiet after Engage | "Was thinking about what you said on [topic]. Did [their plan] end up happening?" | Adds a reason to reply based on their words | 79 |
| They went quiet after Invite | "Totally fine if now's not the time. Should I check back after [their stated timing]?" | Gives them a polite yes or no | 84 |
| Months since last contact | "Saw [news about them or their company]. Congrats. Is [problem they mentioned] still on your plate?" | New reason to reply, references the old thread | 98 |
More in our LinkedIn follow-up message guide, including timing.
Before and after rewrites
Three hypothetical rewrites of the mistakes we see most.
| Mistake | Before (hypothetical) | After |
|---|---|---|
| Pitchy opener | "Hi Sam, I hope this finds you well! I'm the founder of a platform that helps agencies scale their operations with AI-powered workflows. Would you be open to a quick demo next week?" | "Saw your post on hiring your first project manager. How's the first month been?" |
| "Happy to hear more" | "Thanks for replying! Happy to hear more about what you're working on whenever suits." | "Makes sense. What made you go that way rather than hiring someone senior?" |
| Demo ask | "Can I show you a demo of everything our product does?" | "Would you do me a favour? 15 minutes to hear how you run onboarding and see if what I'm building fits. Thursday or Friday?" |
Swipe file download
Templates are a starting point. You still need to know which conversations deserve one today: our warm leads guide covers that, and the LinkedIn lead generation playbook covers the whole process.
Where DealGate fits
DealGate drafts the next message for the conversation you're in, at the stage it's at, in your voice, rather than from a fixed template. It also shows who's warming up or waiting on your reply. Coming soon: replies auto-send within caps and pacing, with a safety pause if LinkedIn shows a warning. Pricing: $0.99 for your first month, then $29/mo founding price ($49/mo list).
FAQ
How do you message someone on LinkedIn you're not connected to?
Either send a connection request with a short note, or use InMail, which is a paid feature that uses message credits. Free members can add a personalised note to five connection requests a month; Premium members can add notes to every request.
What should my first LinkedIn message say?
One line about them and one question they can answer without thinking. Refer to something they said, posted or did. No link, no pitch, no feature list.
How long should a LinkedIn message be?
Short. LinkedIn's recruiter data found InMails under 400 characters got 22% higher response rates than average. Our opening templates are all under 150 characters.
Should I pitch in a connection request?
No. A connection request note has one job: give them a reason to accept. Pitching in it makes it less likely they accept and more likely they ignore everything you send afterwards.
How do I ask for a call on LinkedIn?
Wait until you know the problem, the timing and who decides. Then ask for a favour, not a demo: 15 minutes to hear how they handle the problem, with two specific times to choose from.
Sources
Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- LinkedIn Talent Blog, "These InMails get the best response rates" (recruiter InMail data): https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-strategy/these-inmails-get-best-response-rates
- Gartner, "Gartner Sales Survey Finds 61% of B2B Buyers Prefer a Rep-Free Buying Experience", 25 Jun 2025: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-06-25-gartner-sales-survey-finds-61-percent-of-b2b-buyers-prefer-a-rep-free-buying-experience
- LinkedIn Help, "InMail message credits and renewal process": https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a543695
- LinkedIn Help, "Invitation limit reached" (personalised notes): https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a550555
- All templates and before-and-after examples are written by DealGate.