Personalised LinkedIn Message: How to Write One That Gets Replies
Write a personalised LinkedIn message that gets replies. Includes 3 ready-to-use examples, message structure and the most common mistakes to avoid.
A personal message does not stop at "Hi {name}". Use reviews, mutual connections and specific projects to land the right hook.
A personalised message on LinkedIn is short, relevant and tailored to the person you're reaching out to. What works is a clear reason for contact, a recognisable profile detail and a simple question. You don't need to write a long message or lay on the charm. It comes down to genuine relevance and a natural tone. In this article we walk through exactly what a message like this looks like, and how to write it quickly and at scale within your hiring process.
- Use a profile-based hook, a business reason and one open question.
- Keep it short: for a connection request, 300 characters is usually plenty.
- Match your tone to your audience, in clear, professional English.
- Add something new at every touchpoint: first contact, InMail or follow-up.
- Use templates and tooling to save time without giving up on quality.
What actually makes a personalised LinkedIn message personal?
A personalised LinkedIn message doesn't become personal because of its length or a casual tone. The difference lies in genuine relevance. You reference something specific from someone's profile, such as a technology, a role or a recent post. Because that information is visible on their profile, it feels familiar and considered. No vague compliments or assumptions, just a concrete reason why you're reaching out now.
A genuinely personal message always consists of:
- A hook drawn from profile information that makes sense in your context.
- A short reason why you're reaching out right now.
- An open, easy-to-answer question.
Avoid what we call fake personalisation: including only someone's first name or job title without any real substance. Lines like "you're probably looking for something new" often backfire, especially when there's no indication of that anywhere on the profile.
When do you use a personalised LinkedIn message as a recruiter?
As a recruiter, you'll use a personalised LinkedIn message at three points. You can reach out with a short connection request with a note, a more detailed LinkedIn InMail, or a follow-up message on LinkedIn if a reply doesn't come or you've been in touch before. Each type of message calls for a different tone and length.
- A LinkedIn connection request with a note is short, and you state straight away why you want to connect.
- A LinkedIn InMail gives you a bit more room, but stays compact and specific.
- A LinkedIn follow-up message adds new information or another hook, without any pressure.
Together, these three touchpoints form a fixed part of your LinkedIn Recruiter workflow. The clearer you are about the purpose of each message, the higher your odds of a reply or a connection.
Structure for a personalised LinkedIn message: hook, reason, question
This basic structure helps keep your messages short and consistent. Every message opens with a relevant hook, followed by a reason why you're reaching out now. You close with a simple, open question. That lowers the barrier to a reply and makes every message feel personal and relevant.
Examples of profile-based hooks include:
- Current or previous role: "I saw your work at [company] with [technology]."
- Region or location: "Your profile caught my eye in the Manchester area."
- Shared network or former employer: "We have a few mutual connections from [company]."
State a reason you can actually explain. Think a new role, a project kicking off, or growing your network in a particular niche. Keep it grounded in business terms. Avoid lines like "I want to grow my network" with no context behind them. That reads as spam almost instantly.
A good call to action is low-effort, like "Can I send you something about that role?" or "Are you open to a quick chat?". Asking for coffee or a phone call only works when there's already a clear reason for it.
Write a personal message right here
Enter a name or LinkedIn URL and get a personalised message within 30 seconds. No account needed.
Examples: what a personalised LinkedIn message looks like in practice
Short personal message with a connection request note
You can only send a connection request once, so keep it short and sharp. The messages below combine a hook, a reason and a small question.
Example 1 (senior developer):
Hi James, your experience with Kotlin at scale-ups caught my eye. I'm looking for someone for a team just getting started with it in Manchester. Mind if I send you something about that?
Example 2 (marketing manager):
Hi Amara, your work with food brands really stood out to me. We're looking for someone for a positioning project in FMCG. Fancy connecting?
Example 3 (interim professional):
Hi Peter, I saw you just wrapped up a project in Leeds. I'm working on something new in the same region within the public sector. Mind if I let you know more?
Personal LinkedIn InMail text for first outreach
An InMail gives you a bit more room. The same structure still applies, though: open with a profile hook, explain why you're reaching out now, and finish with a simple question. Subject lines help you stand out, as long as they're specific and understated.
Example 1 (finance & control):
Subject: Financial steering at a housing association (leadership role)
Hi Anne, your experience with financial steering in social organisations caught my eye. For a housing association, we're looking for someone who can lead sustainability strategy on the board. Are you open for a brief chat?
Example 2 (data engineer):
Subject: Looking for a first data engineer
Hi Jeremy, your work with streaming data really stands out. For a start-up, we're looking for someone who can build everything from the ground up. Mind if I send you something about the tech stack?
Example 3 (health tech):
Subject: An innovative project in community care
Hi Simone, I'm reaching out because you've done a lot of work with tech in healthcare settings. We're launching something new in community care. Want to hear what that looks like?
A follow-up message on LinkedIn without pushing
People not replying, or accepting your invite but staying quiet? Then you can send one follow-up. Just make sure there's something new in it, and don't repeat your first message word for word.
Example 1 (no reply to an earlier InMail):
Hi Evelyn, I sent you something last week about the role at [X]. Just checking you saw it. The team is now actively looking to bring someone on board. Does that match what you're after?
Example 2 (after an accepted connection):
Hi Ben, thanks for accepting. What caught my eye is your UX background coming from front-end. We're looking for someone who combines that with strategy. Mind if I send you the role?
Example 3 (new content after an earlier attempt):
Hi Nora, I wanted to send you something more about that role. The brief's just been updated. You'd now get a lot more room for strategic work. Does that sound like something for you?
Boosting your reply rate with the right tone and follow-ups
Want to boost your reply rate? Then tone matters just as much as content. A good tone of voice in English is clear, polite and to the point. Too many buzzwords or over-the-top compliments make messages feel vague or, worse, pushy. An example:
- Avoid: "You'd be a great fit for this amazing opportunity!"
- Better: "I think this role lines up well with your experience."
Send no more than two messages. That keeps your outreach tidy and stops anyone feeling pressured. Every follow-up needs to add real value. Repeating yourself without adding anything lowers your chance of a reply and can damage your reputation.
Use KPIs like connection acceptance rate and reply rate to sharpen your approach. Check, for example, which call to action performs best or which message length gets the strongest results.
Writing a personalised LinkedIn message at scale across your team
In recruitment teams, you want speed and quality at the same time. That's easier when you segment your audience up front. Split your candidates into groups such as developers, marketers or finance professionals. You then just adjust a single line each time in your message template for recruiters. That's how you make personalisation achievable in outreach, even at higher volumes.
For recruitment agencies working at volume, this approach keeps messaging consistent. It also helps teams share better templates with each other and compare results.
Working with LinkedIn Recruiter? Our English-language co-pilot can help you write a personalised LinkedIn message. You select several profiles and get a suggestion for each one. Every message includes a relevant hook and matches your tone of voice. You decide what to adjust or send. That saves you typing time while keeping you fully in control of tone and reply rate.
Staying within the rules: GDPR and careful LinkedIn outreach
The same rules apply when approaching candidates via LinkedIn as for any other form of recruitment. LinkedIn is a professional network, so you can use business-relevant profile information that's publicly visible. Think work experience, job title and shared networks. Don't include sensitive personal data or assumptions based on a photo.
When it comes to GDPR and LinkedIn outreach, the rule is simple: you're responsible for how and why you use information. Keep it factual and professional, and respect a clear "no", or the absence of any reply. That's how you work carefully and without legal risk.
Next step: less typing, more conversations from your personalised LinkedIn message
A strong personalised LinkedIn message is short, clear and grounded in profile details. By working with fixed building blocks and making small adjustments per profile, you raise your connection acceptance rate and get more replies. That turns every message into a real chance at a conversation.
Our software works as a light-touch integration with LinkedIn. You keep working in your existing LinkedIn environment and adjust every suggestion yourself before sending anything. That gives you speed without giving up on tone or substance.
Want help sharpening your own messages, or looking for an approach for your whole team? Get in touch. We're happy to think through what approach works for your situation.
Frequently asked questions about a personalised LinkedIn message
1. How long should a personalised LinkedIn message be?
A connection request should ideally stay under 300 characters. For an InMail, you can use a bit more room, but keep it short and to the point.
2. What should I put in a LinkedIn connection request note?
Use a profile-based hook, a business reason for reaching out right now, and close with a simple question. Keep it human and specific.
3. How often can I approach a candidate on LinkedIn without pushing too hard?
Twice at most: an initial message and one follow-up with new content. No reply usually signals no interest.
4. What's the difference between an InMail and a personal message to a connection?
An InMail is built for cold outreach. Messages to connections tend to feel more direct, since a network relationship already exists.
5. Can I use personal information from a profile in my message?
Any publicly visible, business-relevant information is fine to reference. Avoid private details or assumptions based on photos or family ties.
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