Messaging Tips

One of the most important aspects of your outreach is the messaging component. It is imperative that when using automation, your tone remains conversational and does not come off as "spamming" contacts.

Following these messaging tips will ensure your personal voice shines through, despite the software automation running in the background. Utilizing proper messaging etiquette will help you build rapport, gain credibility and ultimately, secure meetings quicker.

• Accessing Your Connector Campaign Copy
• Messaging Steps
• Additional Tips & Tricks
• Response Variables
• InMail/Group Messaging

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How Does It Work?

Accessing Your connector campaign copy

1. Navigate to your dashboard & click on the associated campaign

2. Click on Steps

Messaging steps

• Connection Message: This is the message that goes out with a connection request. Keep in mind that only some contacts receive this initial connection message as many connection requests are sent via an alternative Email Invite method (refer to the Settings card for more details). For this reason, we want this message to remain brief and friendly.

• Welcome Message: This is arguably the most important message within your sequence. This is the first message every contact will receive after they accept your connection request. The purpose of the welcome message is to prompt contacts to engage in a conversation. Thus, it is imperative this message doesn't sound robotic or "salesy." The ideal time frame for sending this message is 12-24 hours after connecting if no reply.
• Option 1 - Acknowledgement of accepted connection request + hook question
• A hook question should have a networking approach and only require a short response, easy to answer and positive response.
1. Example - Awesome to have you as a connection now. Has business been going well for you so far this year?
2. Example - Thanks for connecting, {FirstName}! How long have you lived in the area?
3. Example - Great to have you in my network. Has your industry been effected by the recent economic turbulence?
• Option 2 - Buffer approach
• A buffer approach encourages contacts to put their guard down and provide assurance that they aren't going to be spammed.
1. Example - Hey {FirstName}, I appreciate the connection! Looking forward to keeping in touch.
2. Example - Happy to be connected! Hope you're having a great day, {FirstName}.
3. Example - Thanks for connecting! I really appreciate it. Hope all is going well so far this year.

• Message 1: This message will follow the welcome message, for any contact(s) who haven't responded. This step is often used to share one tidbit about yourself or your company as well as a pitch for a virtual meeting. The ideal time frame for sending this message is ~3 days after previous message if no reply.
1. Example - Hi {FirstName}. I'm an expert in the marketing arena and noticed you have a lot of experience there too. I'd love to bounce ideas around with you sometime. Are you available in the next week or two for a quick chat?
2. Example - Hey there {FirstName}. I believe that building a productive team starts with investing in their mental health. I'd love to further connect and see if we can be helpful to one another. Are you open to chatting sometime in the near future?

• Message 2: This message acts as another follow-up attempt if the contact hasn't responded. The ideal time frame for sending this message is ~7 days after previous message if no reply.

1. Example - Just wanted to circle back once more. Let me know if you'd be open to a quick chat to get to know each one another. Cheers!
2. Example - No pressure at all, but wanted to ping you here one more time to see if you'd still be interested in connecting. Let me know when you get the chance.

Additional tips & tricks

• Try A/B Testing: Setting up a split test with alternate copy can be very beneficial to get data driven insight on two differing approaches. Please visit Split Testing for more information.
• Keep It Casual: These are direct messages, not an email. The tone should replicate a texting conversation.
• The Shorter, The Better: The messaging length should not exceed one line or a couple of sentences, if possible. You also shouldn't separate your greeting, message body, and closure into separate line items like you would in an email format. You want it to seem like you just jumped in and quickly typed out this message.

Feature Attributes

Response variables

Response variables are used take message personalization one step further. For example, if wanting to include a contact's first name in your copy, you can input {FirstName} and the software will autofill that cell based on an individual's profile.

"Hey {FirstName}. It's nice to see we know some of the same people. I'd be happy to have you in my network."

Without reviewing your contact results, {FirstName} is the only recommended response variable, as the others data sets often contain emojis, symbols, or inaccurate information and can be unnatural when used in a messaging sequence.

Please visit Response Variables for more information.

Inmail/group messaging

To access your copy for InMail and Group messaging, navigate to the tab labeled "INMAIL/GROUP." These steps are utilized when your activity manager defaults to an Open InMail or Group Messaging approach, based on your prioritization (refer to Settings for more details).

The biggest difference is including a Request Subject such as, "I'd love to connect with you!"

Additionally, you can re-purpose your standard Connection Message as your InMail/Group Request Message.

FAQ

Why is a direct sales approach not recommended?

Think of this software as an aid for a virtual networking event. If you were networking in person, you wouldn't walk up to a stranger and immediately pitch your services. Instead, you would ask some questions to get to know each other and create small talk. Your goal would be to build rapport in effort to increase their receptivity when business comes into the conversation. The same ideology applies to LinkedIn.

Related Topics

• Split Testing
• Settings
• Response Variables

For more information, contact your Admin or Account Manager.