In an age where buyers are flooded with generic sales messages, LinkedIn prospecting is either your best friend or your biggest waste of time—depending on how you use it.
At Sales Hatch, we’ve seen firsthand how effective LinkedIn can be when used as part of a thoughtful, multi-channel outreach strategy. But success doesn’t come from sending a connection request and pitching immediately. It comes from intentionality, personalization, and patience.
Here’s how to prospect on LinkedIn in a way that actually starts real conversations.
Your profile isn’t just your digital resume—it’s your personal landing page. Before you connect with anyone, make sure your headline and “About” section clearly explain who you help and how. Use a friendly, professional photo and include social proof like client wins, endorsements, or featured content.
Tip: Focus on being approachable and helpful—not just a salesperson.
The goal is to connect—not pitch. Keep your connection message short and relevant to the prospect. Mention mutual interests, shared groups, or something specific from their profile. Avoid copy-paste intros that scream "sales pitch."
Bad Example:
“Hi [Name], I help companies like yours increase revenue by 50%. Let’s connect!”
Good Example:
“Hi [Name], I saw your recent post on [topic] and really appreciated your perspective. Would love to connect and stay in touch!”
You wouldn’t ask someone to marry you on the first date—so don’t push a meeting as soon as they accept your connection. Instead, focus on engaging with their content, commenting thoughtfully, or sending a thank-you message that asks nothing in return.
Once you've warmed up the relationship, share something of value—like an article relevant to their industry, a short insight, or even a one-liner that shows you understand their pain points.
When it comes time to make the ask, frame it as a conversation, not a pitch.
Example Message:
“Hi [Name], I work with other [role/industry] leaders who are navigating [challenge]. Would you be open to a quick call to see if we might be able to help? No pressure either way.”
LinkedIn alone won’t fill your calendar. It works best when paired with email, phone, and even SMS. Your prospect may not reply on LinkedIn—but they might if they’ve already seen your name in their inbox or voicemail.
Use tools like Salesloft, Apollo, or HubSpot to track your outreach performance. See which messages drive responses and which ones fall flat. Tweak your cadence, personalize more, and test different approaches.
LinkedIn is a goldmine for prospecting—but only for reps who take the time to build real rapport. The shortcut is doing it the right way: with value, empathy, and timing. When your prospects feel like you actually understand them, they’re far more likely to respond—and even more likely to buy.
Want help building a LinkedIn playbook that gets results?
Contact Sales Hatch to learn how we build winning outbound strategies that drive pipeline.
