How to Write LinkedIn Messages That Get Replies (With Examples)

It may feel like you are just sending out messages to a black hole. Here is how to get responses to your messages on LinkedIn!

I remember before I was looking for a job (in a time of huge job growth) in 2021, I would get tons of messages in my LinkedIn inbox from recruiters with jobs I might be interested in and people looking for work at my company. And while it felt good that people were reaching out to me to get help in their job search or to look at their job posting, very rarely did I ever respond to any of the messages that I received.

Then in 2026 I was on the opposite side of the equation, but this time hiring had slowed down across the country. My inbox was no longer overflowing with job offers but instead it's filled with apparent scams (anyone else constantly being messaged to start a restaurant franchise?) and recruiters who are completely overwhelmed with the number of messages they are receiving.

I quickly learned that maybe there was some karma for all of those messages I left unanswered in the past. It felt like I was now the one throwing messages into an endless void. After months of no responses to the messages I was putting out, I realized my strategy was not getting people interested in what I had to say.

My messages at times were too long, sometimes too vague, and sometimes I was reaching out to a complete stranger and expecting them to hand me the world. I learned that getting a reply is mostly a matter of structure, and structure is something I could fix. Below is a guide to what actually got replies and how you can structure some of your messages to get through the abyss of the LinkedIn messaging system.

This piece is the companion to our guide on building a LinkedIn network (which covers who to contact and in what order) and our post on networking as an introvert (which covers the mindset). Here, we focus on one thing: the words you put in the message.

What Every Good Message Has in Common

Before the specific examples, it helps to understand the four qualities that nearly every reply worthy message shares. Almost any message you send can be checked against these.

•  It is short. People skim LinkedIn on their phones. A message that fits on one screen (a few sentences) gets read, while a wall of text gets saved for later and forgotten.

•  It is personal. Something in the message proves you are writing to them specifically (a shared employer, a post they wrote, a mutual contact) rather than copying and pasting.

•  It has one clear ask. The reader should know exactly what you want and what to do next. Two or three requests in one message usually gets none of them answered.

•  It is easy to say yes to. A small, low effort request (a quick question, a fifteen minute call) is far more likely to get a reply than a large, open ended one.

The Connection Request Note

When you add someone you do not know, the short note attached to the request does the heavy lifting. You only get a few hundred characters (roughly two to three sentences), so every word counts. Skip the introduction of your whole career and get to why you are reaching out.

Example:

Hi Sara, I came across your post on the shift to remote design teams and really appreciated your take. I am a product designer exploring new roles in this space and would love to connect and follow your work.

Notice that this note does not ask for anything yet. It simply opens the door. The goal of the connection request is the connection itself, not the pitch.

The First Message After Connecting

Once someone accepts, resist the urge to immediately ask for a job. Lead with a genuine, low pressure note that acknowledges the new connection. If you have a request, make it small and specific, and give the person an easy way out so it never feels demanding.

Example:

Thanks for connecting, Sara. I have been following the work your team is doing and admire it. I am currently exploring product design roles and would value your perspective on the field. If you ever had fifteen minutes for a quick call, I would really appreciate it, but no pressure at all if now is not a good time.

Reconnecting With Someone You Haven’t Talked To in a While

Some of your most valuable contacts are people you already know but have lost touch with (former colleagues, old managers, classmates). Messaging them can feel awkward precisely because there is history, but a dormant relationship is still a relationship, and these contacts are often the most willing to help. The craft here is in the tone: acknowledge the gap lightly, anchor the message in something specific you shared, and keep it warm rather than transactional.

Resist the urge to spend three sentences apologizing for being out of touch, because that puts the focus on guilt instead of reconnection. A brief, genuine acknowledgment is plenty. Mention a specific memory or shared project (it proves the message is really for them), then explain why you are reaching out now.

Example:

Hi Daniel, it has been far too long since our days on the marketing team at Brightwave. I still think back on that product launch we pulled off together. I am reaching out because I am exploring new roles in the field, and I would love to catch up and hear what you have been working on. Would you be open to a quick call sometime in the next couple of weeks?

If even that feels like too much to ask at once, you can split it in two: send a warm note simply to reconnect first (no agenda), then raise your job search in a follow up once the conversation is flowing. A reconnection does not have to carry your whole request in a single message.

The Request for Advice (Not a Job)

People are far more willing to give advice than to be asked for a job, and an advice conversation often leads to job leads anyway. Frame your ask around their expertise and their experience. This takes the pressure off both of you and makes the person feel valued rather than cornered.

Example:

Hi Marcus, I am hoping to move into data analytics and saw that you made a similar transition a few years ago. Would you be open to sharing how you broke in? Even a couple of pointers over a short call or message would mean a lot.

This kind of message works because it is flattering in an honest way, it is specific, and it asks for something the person is uniquely able to give.

Messaging a Recruiter or Hiring Manager

When you reach out about a specific role, be direct and make their job easier. State the role, give one or two quick reasons you are a strong fit, and signal that you are easy to work with. Keep it tight, because recruiters read a high volume of messages.

Example:

Hi Priya, I noticed the marketing coordinator opening on your team. I have three years of campaign experience and recently led a project that grew engagement by a third, so it looks like a strong match. I have applied through the portal, and I wanted to introduce myself directly. Happy to share more whenever is convenient.

The Follow Up

Most people never follow up, which is exactly why following up works. If you do not hear back, it is almost always because the person got busy, not because they are rejecting you. Wait about a week, then send one short, friendly nudge. Send it once, and if there is still no reply, move on graciously.

Example:

Hi Sara, just floating this back to the top of your inbox in case it slipped by. I know things get busy. No worries at all if the timing is not right, and I appreciate you either way.

After someone does help you, always close the loop with a thank you. A short, specific note of appreciation keeps the relationship warm and makes the person glad they replied (which matters if you ever reach out again).

Mistakes That Get Messages Ignored

Even a well intentioned message can fall flat. Watch out for these common errors:

•  Writing a long autobiography before getting to the point. Lead with why you are reaching out.

•  Asking for a job in the very first message to a stranger. Build a little rapport first.

•  Being so vague that there is nothing to respond to (“Let me know if you hear of anything”). Give a concrete, small ask.

•  Sending an obvious copy and paste with no personal detail. One specific reference changes everything.

•   Following up too many times or too aggressively. One polite nudge is plenty.

Time to Send Some Messages

A LinkedIn message that gets a reply is short, personal, focused on one clear ask, and easy to say yes to. You do not need to be clever or persuasive, you just need to respect the other person’s time and make the next step obvious. Keep a few of these templates handy, adjust them to sound like you, and personalize the opening line every single time.

Pick one person you have been meaning to contact and send a single, specific message today. The hardest part is the blank box, and you have now seen exactly how to fill it.