14 Best LinkedIn Cold Message Templates for Any Goal

LinkedIn has become the go-to for selling, upselling, GTM strategies, and even hiring and job hunting. 

Yet, there’s a divide. Some earn millions of dollars from LinkedIn cold outreach, while others struggle to have their connection requests accepted. 

And cold message quality is one of the biggest differentiators. It’s arguably the biggest. 

What Makes a Good LinkedIn Cold Message?

A high-converting LinkedIn message is built on four pillars:

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  Personalization

  
  
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  Relevance

  
  
• 

  Brevity

  
  
• 

  Clear intent

  
  

In practice, this means that you’ve done all the following: 

1. 

   Identified a relevant ideal customer profile (ICP) and a buyer persona for a cold message.

   
   
2. 

   Scrolled through their LinkedIn account, activity, and company page to pinpoint clear intent.

   
   
3. 

   Crafted a relevant InMail or a connection request based on intent data.

   
   
4. 

   Balanced your message so that it’s short and super on-point but with a human touch.

   
   

Here’s an example of cold email outreach done right: 

So, why did it work? 

It’s short, tailored to the role, confident, and has a clear objective. 

This outreach template has been accepted many times and has led to great discussions and funding.

If you skip some steps and neglect personalization or relevancy, you’ll end up with LinkedIn outreach that reeks of spam and unprofessionalism. 

Like this one:

Why’s it so bad?

No personalization. No relevance to the intended ICP recipient. It reads as dry and spammy, offering no value to either party. It just gives an all-round negative first impression.

LinkedIn Cold Message Template Best Practices  

Our salespeople send tons of LinkedIn messages, and so do our customers using Artisan. We’ve seen outreach campaigns that worked and that flopped. 

After analyzing those that work, our sales team has distilled a few simple yet effective tips to help your LinkedIn efforts succeed. 

1. 

   Avoid long paragraphs: With InMail messages, you have the freedom to type as much as you can. But brevity is your real strength. InMails under 400 characters get 22% more replies than other emails. And the irony is that 90% of all InMails are around 800 characters, receiving only a 3% reply rate.

   
   
2. 

   Always refer to something specific: This can be the recipient’s job title, post, company name, news, pain points, or common ground. However, “innovative leaders” as in the screenshot above isn’t a shared trait; it’s vague.

   
   
3. 

   Don’t be pushy: Don’t ask for a quick call right off the bat. Evaluate the recipient’s interest first with simple closing lines like “Let me know if you’re interested,” “Let’s connect and talk more,” “Would love to exchange ideas,” etc.

   
   
4. 

   Use smart timing and follow-up cadence: Two follow-up messages in two days is a surefire way to get a reputation as a spammer. Time your sequence and wait at least two days before sending another message. Meanwhile, engage under their or their colleagues’ posts, grow your network, and comment on the content of others. Commit to building a social presence. LinkedIn outreach never works in a silo. 

   
   

You might be wondering if it’s possible to automate LinkedIn outreach while keeping that all-important human touch. The answer is yes. And it’s why sales reps are increasingly turning to AI tools like Artisan.  Our AI BDR Ava offers a suite of features for sending highly personalized LinkedIn messages at scale, at times optimized for maximum engagement. 

Boost Your LinkedIn Response Rate: What to Do Before You Hit Send

Before we look at the templates, there's some important groundwork to put in place before you hit send.

Treat the following tips as your silver bullets for more positive responses from your LinkedIn outreach. Use them when creating messages from the templates below .

1. 

   Use mutual connections to generate referrals, kick off an influencer campaign, or when you’re job-seeking or hiring. People with whom you have had even a small chat will likely recommend you.

   
   
2. 

   Set aside two to three days a week to connect with new people. Aim for five to fifteen connections among your potential clients, investors, etc.

   
   
3. 

   Optimize your LinkedIn profile before messaging. People will click on your profile to learn more about you, so it’s vital that it looks good. 

   
   
4. 

   Post regularly. You are going to be sending lots of connections and that means a high volume of traffic coming to your profile. Give these visitors something to look at. Posting regularly shows you're active and respected in your industry. It doesn't have to be every day—biweekly or at minimum monthly are acceptable standards.

   
   
5. 

   Opt for LinkedIn Premium to increase search limits for new profiles and get access to InMail credits and advanced LinkedIn prospecting tools. With LinkedIn Premium, you’ll also benefit from extended analytics and have access to a wider audience for prospecting.

   
   
6. 

   Use AI-powered sales writing tools to speed up the creation of personalized messages. Artisan’s sales writing assistant, for example, scrapes LinkedIn profiles and fetches intent data to craft targeted cold emails. 

   
   
7. 

   Write as a human being! Don’t use ChatGPT to design outreach templates without any human input. This will result in surface-level, generic messages that will never convert. Work with AI and inject your tone of voice into every template. You can then let an AI outreach tool like Artisan use your template to scale outreach if you wish. 

   
   
8. 

   Explore LinkedIn outreach services if you feel like you don’t have enough time to invest in LinkedIn outreach. 

   
   

LinkedIn Cold Message Templates for Growing Your Network

Expanding your professional network is a tested way for businesses to drive sales, build brand awareness, and facilitate hiring.

Studies show that sales teams that prioritize LinkedIn-driven social selling are 51% more likely to reach their sales quotas than those who don’t. 

Let’s help you make the most out of LinkedIn with three message templates tailored to growth, with guidance on when to use them and why. 

1. For Sending a LinkedIn Connection Request With No Prior Contact

When to use: You’ve never interacted before, but you want to connect based on shared interests, industry overlap, or simply admiration for their work. This is not the time to pitch—just to plant the seed of a relationship.

Template:

Why it works: It’s highly specific (refers to an actual post or challenge), authentic, and under four hundred characters. No generic praise or vague value props. This sets the tone for organic engagement later on.

2. For Networking or Starting Professional Conversations

When to use: You’re looking to grow your network within your niche, start a professional conversation, or brainstorm together on the topic that troubles both of you. 

Template:

Why it works: It sounds like something you’d say over coffee or at a conference. The tone is relaxed, and the shared professional interest is real. It opens a door to a conversation without pressure. You can also tweak the tone to be more official if that’s what your niche or their job title requires.

3. For Reconnecting with Old Contacts

When to use: You knew each other in a past role or project, or exchanged some DMs in the past, but haven’t spoken in a while. Now you want to rekindle the connection without making it awkward.

Template:

Why it works: It sounds like dropping a line to an old friend. You make it easy for them to reply without feeling cornered or obligated. Again, you can tweak it to be more formal.

LinkedIn Cold Message Templates for Lead Generation and Partnerships

LinkedIn works wonders for B2B growth, whether through account-based marketing (ABM) campaigns, social selling, or active cold outreach. The data backs it up, too. 62% of marketers say that LinkedIn produces high-quality leads for their business. 

But no matter the channel, it all starts with breaking the ice. 

4. For B2B Lead Generation

When to use: You're reaching out to decision-makers at businesses who might benefit from what you offer. The focus should be on relevance and fit, not a hard sell.

Template:

Why it works: It’s personalized, specific, and benefit-focused—but not aggressive. It frames the offer in terms of relevance and support, not pressure. That helps build credibility while respecting their space.

5. For Requesting a Partnership or Collaboration

When to use: You see an opportunity to collaborate, co-create, or cross-promote with someone whose work aligns with yours.

Template:

Why it works: It’s friendly but focuses on mutual value, which makes it easier for the recipient to respond. You’re also bringing up a concrete point (the specific type of work you mention) to discuss.

6. For Inviting Someone to a Webinar or Event

When to use: You’re hosting an event and want to invite people who would genuinely find it useful. This is best when you already share an interest or niche.

We also advise you to send out an invitation to your 1st degree connections (via a direct message) to increase the character limit and be more descriptive of the event.

Template for connection request:

Template for DMs:

Why it works: It makes the recipient feel seen and considered, not marketed to. The message also implies that the invitation is selective and relevant, which increases the likelihood they’ll say yes.

7. For Following Up After No Response

When to use: You’ve already sent an initial message via InMail or had a connection request accepted but haven’t heard back. Now, you need to send a polite reminder. The trick is to stand out with your follow-up message.

Template:

Why it works: It’s respectful and low-pressure. It gives the person an easy out while also gently reminding them of your initial message. You acknowledge that you may be perceived as annoying with outreach and share your vulnerability, which happens so rarely in follow-ups. All that makes it more likely they’ll respond (or at least appreciate your approach).

We also suggest setting up a LinkedIn automation tool to follow up automatically if you’ve still received no response after two to three days. This cuts manual work and keeps your pipeline hygiene and CRM records up to date. 

Artisan is an AI outbound sales platform with a powerful set of features for handling lead generation, LinkedIn and email outreach, and follow-ups. AI BDR Ava (the virtual employee at the heart of the platform) also provides intent data on your prospects so you know when to send the first message.

LinkedIn Cold Message Templates for Job-Related Outreach

We find it noteworthy that approximately 72% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates who are a strong match for their roles. And they use personalized messages to attract potential hires. 

Here are three templates you can use to land your next job or find your next employee. 

8. For Job Seekers Reaching Out to Hiring Managers

When to use: You’re applying (or considering applying) for a role and want to stand out from the noise.

Template:

Why it works: It’s respectful and shows that you’ve done your homework. It opens with curiosity and a clear desire to understand the role and culture. This helps you stand out in what is probably a large pool of applicants.

9. For Asking for a Referral or Recommendation

When to use: You know someone who works at the company where you want to apply, or who used to work there. You want their help getting your application in front of the right people.

Template:

Why it works: It’s clear and low-pressure, making it easier to say “Yes” or “No, man, sorry.”

10. For Reaching Out to Potential Job Candidates

When to use: You’re hiring and have found a potential fit on LinkedIn. The goal is to spark their curiosity and assess their interest in the position, even though they work for another company.

Template:

Why it works: The message expresses a genuine reason for reaching out and invites them to share their goals with no pressure. It is also a subtle power move where the candidate gets to decide whether to keep the conversation going.

LinkedIn Cold Message Templates for Outreach to Influencers and Investors

Like cold emails, LinkedIn messages can put you on the radar of potential investors. In fact, LinkedIn was ranked the most impactful digital channel for shaping future investment decisions, according to Business Insider. LinkedIn even creates its own ratings of top industry voices in different verticals, including finance. 

So, what does an effective LinkedIn outreach strategy to high-profile investors and influencers look like?

11. For Building Relationships with Influencers and Thought Leaders

When to use: When aiming to collaborate with leaders, don’t go for the hard sell in your very first cold outreach message. To start, you want to build rapport, and this is where the following templates can help.

Template:

Why it works: It doesn’t sound like empty flattery. It leads with real appreciation and a specific reference point. Then, you show you're genuinely interested in their perspective by asking a smart, open-ended question. As a result, it will likely kindle a conversation.

12. For Reaching Out to Potential Investors

When to use: You’re building a startup or working at one. You want to secure your first round of investments or attract more attention for subsequent rounds. 

Before using the template, thoroughly research the recipient’s interests and portfolio. For a message like this to be solid, it needs to highlight fit and traction.

Template:

Why it works: It’s concise and tailored to their investment lens. You make it easy for them to evaluate interest without digging. The tone is confident but not pushy, which is key for cold investor intros.

LinkedIn Cold Message Templates for Community Building or Brand Awareness

Community building has moved far beyond posting in LinkedIn groups. Nowadays, you build your brand or community around real humans and subject matter experts. To do that, you’ve got to post original, practical content and connect with new people, ideally every day.

Here’s how to avoid generic community and brand-building outreach messages. 

13. For Inviting Someone to Join Your Community or Slack Group

When to use: Alongside your personal brand, you’re growing a professional community and want to bring in people who would find it useful. The community may be deployed on Slack, Discord, or another platform. 

Keep in mind that it’s important to avoid a sales pitch in your first message. Send a softer intro first and use this template on your second or third touch.

Template:

Why it works: It’s a casual opt-in that isn’t pushy. You also talk about the community value and give them a reason to care (topic relevance).

14. For Promoting a Free Tool or Resource (Without Being Spammy)

When to use: Your marketing team has created a free tool, template, or article. You believe that your resource will help you connect with your target audience or even move qualified leads down your pipeline. A simple post wouldn’t cut it, so you need to push it through direct messages.

Template:

Why it works: It’s essentially free value. There’s no catch, which makes it more likely to be received as a favor, not a sales pitch.

How Artisan Can Help You Personalize and Optimize Cold Messages

AI is changing the way businesses generate leads on LinkedIn. It’s helping an array of people—sales reps, marketers, solopreneurs, CEOs, and more—scale their outreach without sacrificing the human touch. 

Artisan, a next-gen AI platform powered by AI BDR Ava, has a suite of tools for researching, connecting with, and converting prospects on LinkedIn. Even better, it does all this at scale and for a fraction of the cost of a human rep. 

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