21 Effective LinkedIn Cold Message Templates for Sales Prospecting

Cold messaging on LinkedIn can be intimidating, but it's a valuable tool for reaching out to potential clients or business partners.

The key is to use a message that is personalized, concise and shows that you've done your research.

With these effective templates, you'll be able to craft the perfect cold message that will get responses and open up opportunities for your career or business.

Before We Start – The Basics of a Cold Message or Cold DM

Before we dive into the templates, let's cover some basics of crafting an effective cold message.

- Keep it brief: Your cold message should capture your recipient’s attention in just a few sentences. Aim for somewhere between 3 to 5 sentences max.

- Make it personal: Personalize your message with information about the recipient that shows you've done your research.

- Set the context: Let them know why you're messaging them and what you'd like to discuss further — but don't get too specific yet. You can go into more detail once they respond back.

Grab Attention with a Personalized Greeting and Mention Mutual Connections.

A great introduction is a key to an effective cold message on LinkedIn. Start with a personalized greeting that grabs the recipient's attention, and mentions any mutual connections or shared interests to establish a common ground. For example, "Hi, I noticed we're both connected to and share an interest in. I wanted to reach out and introduce myself as someone who may be able to provide value to your business." This sets a friendly tone and shows that you've done some research before reaching out.

Compliment the Prospect or Their Business.

People love to feel good about their achievements and businesses, so use that to your advantage in your cold message on LinkedIn.

Adding a genuine compliment at the start of your message can catch the prospect's attention and make them more receptive to what you have to say.

Try something like, "Hi there, I came across your profile and was really impressed by the work you're doing in.

Your expertise in is impressive and I believe we could collaborate on some great opportunities together."

Remember to keep it authentic and specific to their profile or business to show that you've taken the time to research.

Offer Value: Explain How Your Product/Service Can Help Them.

When crafting a cold message on LinkedIn, it’s important to focus on how your product or service can help the recipient.

Simply stating what you do isn’t enough - you need to explain how it can benefit them.

For example, if you’re offering a social media management service, rather than just saying “I offer social media management”, you could say “I noticed your company doesn’t have much of a social media presence yet - we’ve helped many businesses like yours increase their online visibility and drive more traffic to their website through strategic social media marketing.

Would you be interested in learning more about our services?” By clearly explaining the value of what you’re offering, the prospect is more likely to engage with you and consider your offer.

Provide Evidence of Previous Successes and Happy Clients.

One of the most effective ways to gain credibility and persuade potential clients is by showcasing your previous successes and happy clients.

This social proof can help establish trust with your cold message recipient and make them more likely to respond.

Try opening your message with a short client success story, or featuring a testimonial from a satisfied customer.

By highlighting the value you’ve already delivered to others, you’re positioning yourself as a trusted partner who can deliver results.

Call-to-Action: Be Clear on What You Want Them to Do Next.

When reaching out to potential clients on LinkedIn with a cold message, it’s important to be clear on what you want them to do next.

Are you looking for a meeting, a phone call, or simply aiming to start a conversation?

Make sure your call-to-action is easy to understand and straightforward. You can try using phrases like “Let's set up a time,” “When works best for you?” or “Would you like more information?”

This will encourage the recipient to respond and take the next step towards building your professional relationship.

Remember, an effective call-to-action can make all the difference in converting a potential client into a paying customer.

Now, let's take a look at some of our best LinkedIn cold message templates!

Here are 21 cold messaging or dm templates to give you some inspiration in crafting your next message:

1. Hi {FirstName}, I noticed you’re a {Hobby/Interest} and thought you might be interested in learning more about {Product/Service}. Would you like to chat and learn more?

2. Hi {FirstName}, I recently saw your profile and wanted to reach out. We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and believe we can help you with your current needs. What do you think?

3. Hi {FirstName}, I saw that you’ve been looking for a solution to {Problem}. Our team specializes in this area and has helped many other businesses achieve great results. Would it be worth setting up a call to discuss this further?

4. Hey {FirstName}, It looks like we have a lot in common! We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and I think you’ll really enjoy our product/service. Are you open to discussing it further?

5. Hi {FirstName}, I recently saw your post about {Topic}. Our team is highly experienced in this area and can offer a lot of value. Would you like to hear more?

6. Hi {FirstName}, I noticed that you’re interested in {Topic}. We specialize in this area and have had some great success with other businesses. Would you be open to discussing it further?

7. Hey {FirstName}, I recently saw your profile and wanted to reach out about our services. We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and have a lot to offer. Would you be interested in a call?

8. Hi {FirstName}, I saw your profile and noticed that you’re looking for help with {Topic}. Our team is highly experienced in this area and can provide valuable insights. Are you open to a short call?

9. Hey {FirstName}, After checking out your profile, I wanted to reach out about our services. We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and have helped many businesses achieve great results. Would you like to learn more?

10. Hi {FirstName}, Do you need help with {Topic}? Our team specializes in this area and can provide a lot of value. Would you be open to discussing it further?

11. Hey {FirstName}, I recently noticed your profile and wanted to reach out about our services. We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and have had some great success with other businesses. What do you think?

12. Hi {FirstName}, After seeing your post about {Topic}, I thought you might be interested in learning more about our product/service. We’ve helped many businesses achieve great results and would love to share more with you too! Are you up for a chat?

13. Hey {FirstName}, Our team specializes in {Area of Expertise}. We’ve achieved amazing results with other businesses and thought you might be interested in hearing more. What do you think?

14. Hi {FirstName}, I noticed that you’re looking for help with {Topic}. Our team is highly experienced in this area and can provide valuable insights. Are you open to learning more?

15. Hey {FirstName}, I saw your post about {Topic} and wanted to reach out about our services. We specialize in this area and have had some great success with other businesses. Would you like to discuss it further?

16. Hi {FirstName}, Do you need help with {Topic}? Our team specializes in this area and can offer a lot of value. Would you be open to discussing it further?

17. Hey {FirstName}, I recently saw your profile and wanted to reach out about our services. We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and believe we can help you with your current needs. Would you be interested in a call?

18. Hi {FirstName}, It looks like we have a lot in common! We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and thought you might be interested in learning more about our product/service. Are you open to chatting it over?

19. Hi {FirstName}, I noticed that you’re looking for solutions to {Problem}. Our team is highly experienced in this area and has helped many other businesses achieve great results. Would you be open to setting up a call to discuss this further?

20. Hey {FirstName}, After checking out your profile, I wanted to reach out about our services. We specialize in {Area of Expertise} and have a lot to offer. Would you like to learn more?

21. Hi {FirstName}, After seeing your post about {Topic}, I thought you might be interested in hearing more about our product/service. We’ve helped many businesses achieve great results and believe we can do the same for you too! Are you up for a chat?

Final Thoughts

- Avoid Duplicate Messages: It’s important to avoid sending duplicate messages, as this can come off as spammy and unprofessional.

- Personalize Your Messages: Personalization is key when it comes to cold messaging. Take the time to customize each message so that it speaks directly to your target audience.

- Use Relevant Keywords: Make sure you include relevant keywords in your messages to ensure they are seen by the right people.

- Test Different Variations: Try different variations of your message and track which ones get the best results. This will help you determine which template works best for you and your business goals.

- Follow Up Effortlessly: Following up can be a great way to engage with prospects, so make sure you keep track of all your interactions and follow-ups.

- Have a Clear Goal in Mind: Before sending out any cold messages, it’s important to have a clear goal in mind. Having a goal will help you focus your message and make it more effective.

- Use Incentives When Possible: Offering incentives such as discounts or free trials can be an effective way to get people interested in what you have to offer. Just make sure the incentive is valuable enough that they are willing to take the time to talk with you.

You can use these cold dm templates on any social media platform especially where your clients are hanging out the most. These LinkedIn cold message templates are a great way to make your outreach more personalized, efficient, and effective.

Important Things To Remember When Using LinkedIn Cold Message Templates:

Conversion Happens in Conversations:

By now, you’ve probably seen why conversations are so important in the sales process. Conversations give you the opportunity to understand your customer’s needs and show them how your product/service can meet those needs. If you want to increase conversions, start having more conversations with potential customers today!

Remember Specificity Equals Believability:

When you’re having conversations with potential customers, make sure to be as specific as possible.

The more specific details you can provide, the more believable your product or service will seem. Provide real-life examples and success stories that relate to the customer’s needs and watch conversions go up!

Be Open to a Short Call:

Finally, when you reach out to potential customers in conversation, don’t hesitate to be open to a short call. Having a call allows you to have an even deeper conversation about their needs and how your product/service can meet those needs. This is also where you can answer any questions they may have and further build credibility for your brand. So always be open to a short call if the customer is interested!

These LinkedIn cold message templates should give you some good ideas on how to reach out to potential clients and start meaningful conversations. With a bit of practice and experimentation, you can create cold messages that are both effective and engaging.

Happy selling without selling 😉!