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Boost your sales & growth every month 🚀

The best of the best in sales, growth & automation strategies.

2 min read
Founder & CEO of La Growth Machine, Brice is passionate about data & automation. Since 2012, he has supported 500+ companies with his growth hacking agency (deux.io) and has launched several SAAS related to growth hacking, including La Growth Machine since 2020.

Let’s be honest – reaching out to someone on LinkedIn can feel daunting. But here’s the thing: with the right approach, you can craft messages that not only get noticed but actually start meaningful conversations.

At La Growth Machine, we’ve mastered the art of LinkedIn outreach, we know what works (and what definitely doesn’t).

Ready to learn how to connect with purpose? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about who to reach out to, what to say, and most importantly, what to avoid.

Who should you connect with on LinkedIn?

Let’s identify who you actually want to reach out to on LinkedIn. LinkedIn offers powerful filtering options (especially with Sales Navigator), but it’s not just about finding leads. Here’s who you should consider connecting with:

  • Potential clients: Use LinkedIn’s filters or La Growth Machine to build targeted lead lists matching your ideal customer profile
  • Event connections: Turn those coffee chat conversations into lasting relationships
  • Industry peers: Build your network within your field
  • Content engagers: People who’ve already shown interest in your posts or articles
  • Former colleagues: They’re often your best advocates and referral sources

Perfect your profile before you reach out

Here’s something crucial that too many people skip: optimizing their LinkedIn profile. What’s the first thing someone does when they get your connection request? They check your profile.

Make sure yours includes:

  • A professional, approachable profile photo (this is non-negotiable)
  • An engaging headline (ditch generic titles like “Sales Manager”)
  • A summary that showcases your expertise
  • Updated work experience and achievements
  • Recommendations that build credibility

Quick Tip 💡

Your profile is your first impression. If it’s not polished, even the perfect outreach message won’t get results.

Writing messages that actually get responses

reach out linkedin

Let’s get into the meat of it – how to write messages that people actually want to respond to. Here are our battle-tested best practices:

1. Personalize your subject line

Stand out in their inbox by referencing something specific about their profile or work. Generic subject lines scream “mass outreach” – and that won’t get you responses.

2. Start with a genuine compliment

Noticed their recent article? Impressed by their work? Say so! But be specific – vague compliments feel insincere and won’t get you far.

3. Be specific and relevant

Generic messages are the fastest way to get ignored. Use La Growth Machine’s Custom Attributes to personalize at scale while maintaining authenticity.

variables & attributes LGM

4. Keep it concise

Your first message isn’t a sales pitch – it’s an invitation to connect. Keep it short, focused, and easy to respond to.

Quick Tip 💡

Your profile is your first impression. If it’s not polished, even the perfect outreach message won’t get results.Never start with your sales pitch. Focus on building a relationship first – the business conversation will follow naturally.

5. Master the follow-up

Didn’t hear back? That’s normal. With La Growth Machine, you can create sophisticated follow-up sequences that feel natural and get results.

6. Go multichannel (this Is where the magic happens)

Here’s something most people miss: combining LinkedIn outreach with email can increase your response rates by 3.5x. La Growth Machine makes this easy with our enrichment tools and unified inbox.

The secret weapon: voice messages

Want to stand out instantly? Use voice messages. They’re surprisingly effective and underutilized. Here’s why they work:

  • They build trust faster than text
  • They make you stand out (in a good way)
  • They feel more personal and authentic

Best practices for voice messages:

  • Keep them under 30 seconds
  • Be concise and clear
  • Smile while recording (yes, it makes a difference!)
  • Don’t overthink it – authenticity beats perfection

What NOT to do (learn from others’ mistakes)

After analyzing thousands of outreach campaigns, here are the biggest mistakes we see:

1. The “I” problem

Starting messages with “I” immediately makes it about you. Focus on them instead.

2. The premature ask

Asking for favors in your first message is like proposing on a first date. Build the relationship first.

3. The generic approach

“I saw your profile and would love to connect” might be the least compelling message ever written. Be specific about why you’re reaching out.

4. The hard sell

Your first message should start a conversation, not close a deal. Save the pitch for later.

5. The sloppy send

Always proofread. Nothing kills credibility faster than typos or grammatical errors.

Next steps: Start reaching out!

Remember, successful LinkedIn outreach isn’t about perfecting a single message – it’s about starting genuine conversations that lead to valuable relationships. Here’s your action plan:

  1. Optimize your profile
  2. Identify your target connections
  3. Craft personalized outreach messages
  4. Set up a follow-up sequence
  5. Track and measure your results