Anyone can reach out to someone on LinkedIn. You just find the person you want to message, hit connect, wait for them to accept, type out a quick message, and press send. Easy, right? Well…not quite.

Most companies have tried LinkedIn lead generation in one way or another – whether that’s doing it themselves, using automation tools, or working with a marketing agency. But very few get it right the first time. Or the second. Or even the third.

So, the real question should be: “How do you reach out to someone on LinkedIn AND get a response?”

After years of testing different strategies, analysing data, and understanding what truly drives engagement, we’ve developed a proven approach that consistently works. As a leading LinkedIn marketing agency, we’re pulling back the curtain to share some of our top insights with you.

How to Reach Out to Someone on LinkedIn?

Reaching out on LinkedIn is a powerful way to connect with decision-makers and grow your network. But to be effective, you need a strategy. Here’s how to reach out to someone on LinkedIn the right way.

1. Find the Right Person to Reach Out To

It might sound obvious, but one of the biggest mistakes businesses make when using LinkedIn for outreach is targeting the wrong people. If you’re not speaking to someone with decision-making power, your message won’t get you very far.

  • Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator: This tool is a game-changer. Sales Navigator lets you filter prospects by job title, company size, and location, helping you zero in on the right people. You can also check the business hierarchy to make sure you’re reaching out to key decision-makers from the start.
  • Connect with Multiple People in the Same Company: Decision-making isn’t always down to one person. Engaging several stakeholders can spark internal conversations about your product or service, increasing your chances of getting a response.
  • Leverage 2nd-Degree Connections: These are “friends of friends” on LinkedIn. Having mutual connections makes your outreach feel more familiar and boosts the likelihood of engagement.

2. Personalise Your Message for Maximum Impact

Finding the right person is just step one. The next challenge? Getting them to actually read and respond to your message. Too many outreach messages get ignored because they’re generic, overly long, or simply irrelevant.

  • Make It Personal: A copy-paste template won’t cut it. Address them by name and mention specifics about their role, company, or recent achievements. The more relevant your message, the better.
  • Focus on Their Priorities: Different roles have different concerns. A CFO cares about cost savings, an Operations Manager prioritises efficiency, and a Sales Director wants more leads. Tailor your message to what they care about.
  • Keep It Short and to the Point: No one has time for an essay. Stick to 2-3 short sentences in your first message. If they’re interested, they’ll respond, and then you can expand the conversation. Remember, the goal isn’t to sell in the first message – it’s to start a conversation.
  • Think Mobile-Friendly: Many professionals check LinkedIn on their phones between meetings or while commuting. Keep your message easy to scan and quick to respond to. (Bonus Tip: Try sending your message during commuting hours for better engagement!)

If your message sounds mass-produced, it’s likely to be ignored. That’s why non-automated outreach campaigns rely on personalisation to stand out. By using smart targeting and a genuine, tailored approach, you can significantly increase your chances of getting a response—and turn a LinkedIn connection into a real conversation.

3. Follow Up (But Do It Right)

One of the biggest reasons LinkedIn outreach fails? People give up too soon. Just because someone didn’t reply to your first message doesn’t mean they’re not interested, it just means they’re busy.

  • Expect to Follow Up More Than Once: A single message often isn’t enough to get on their radar. Most decision-makers need at least two touchpoints before they respond, which is why StraightIn’s outreach campaigns always include strategic follow-ups to keep the conversation going.
  • Be Polite, Not Pushy: There’s a fine line between persistence and being annoying. A simple follow-up like “Hey {{Name}}, just circling back on my last message. Would love to hear your thoughts when you have a moment” keeps things professional and low-pressure.
  • Add Value with Each Follow-Up: If they didn’t respond the first time, why would they now? Give them a reason! We often share a relevant article or case study our copywriters have created – content that speaks to their pain points. Great content marketing positions you as a resource, making your follow-ups feel helpful, not salesy.

Consistency and value-driven follow-ups can turn silence into engagement, so don’t stop after just one try!

The Art and Science of LinkedIn Outreach

Successful LinkedIn outreach isn’t just about sending messages – it’s about creating meaningful conversations that lead to real relationships. It requires the perfect balance of strategy, personalisation, persistence, and continuous refinement based on data.

We spoke with Shannon Townsend, Head of Operations here at StraightIn, to get her expert take on how to reach out to someone on LinkedIn. She explained:

“Successful LinkedIn outreach isn’t about selling – it’s about starting meaningful conversations that lead to lasting relationships.”

Too often, businesses focus solely on the end goal – closing a deal. But as Shannon explains, the key to success is building connections first.

Rather than bombarding prospects with sales pitches, effective outreach should feel like the start of a natural, engaging conversation. It’s about understanding what matters to your audience, offering value before asking for anything in return, and establishing trust over time.

By shifting the focus from selling to relationship-building, businesses can create more authentic connections, spark genuine interest, and ultimately, drive higher engagement and conversions. As Shannon likes to tell her team, “the best outreach doesn’t feel like outreach – it feels like a conversation worth having.”

Why Partnering with a LinkedIn Marketing Agency is the Smart Move

Let’s be honest – most businesses know LinkedIn is a goldmine for lead generation, but actually getting results? That’s a whole different story. Finding the right people, crafting messages that don’t get ignored, and following up without sounding pushy – it all takes time, strategy, and consistency. And let’s face it, most business leaders just don’t have the hours in the day to do it properly.

That’s where a LinkedIn marketing agency like StraightIn comes in. We don’t just send connection requests and hope for the best – we build non-automated outreach marketing campaigns that spark real conversations. Instead of blasting out generic, automated messages that get lost in inboxes, we take a personalised, strategic approach that makes people actually want to respond.

We’ve got a range of services to help you get noticed on LinkedIn, including Outreach Marketing, LinkedIn Advertising, Content Marketing, and Personal Branding. So, if you’ve been wondering how to reach out to someone on LinkedIn – and actually get a response – we’ve got the expertise to make it happen. Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can help you. Call 0161 518 4740 or email grow@straight-in.co.uk.