How to Follow Up on LinkedIn Outreach Without Being Pushy
When it comes to developing business contacts, LinkedIn serves as a significant source of outreach in marketing because it helps you find clients, partners, or even employers. However, the core strategy isn’t simply limited to sending a decent message, but rather, how the sequence of messages, particularly the follow up, is constructed. Follow-up messages can be difficult – while it’s good to keep appearing in someone’s sight, it’s not good to come out as being too aggressive. This twain has to be maintained well so that professional ties are built, developed and sustained. This guide is intended to shed light on how to make follow-ups to LinkedIn outreach without being too intrusive.
Timing Is Everything
The promptness with which you follow-up considerably matters. Nobody wants to look impatient, therefore following up too soon is discouraged. On the other hand, if you wait too long, your reply may become irrelevant. Allowing a time span of 5-7 business days after the initial outreach before sending a follow up is good practice. This period allows the recipient sufficient time to understand your message without feeling rushed.
Personalize Your Follow-Up Message
A customized notification indicates that the recipient wants to initiate contact, not just send a routine follow up. Cite a part on your initial contact or one of their LinkedIn pages. For example, if you initiated communication regarding a mutual interest in fintech, then you should mention the document that they posted not long ago or perhaps mention some developments in that industry. This tactic implies that you are considerate and involved which is much better than the repetitive unsolicited call.
Offer Value, Don’t Just Remind
Say that you promised the recipient that you would respond or follow up to a discussion, still you need to understand what you should add of value in your email. And this could be, for example, sending a relevant piece of the article or an industry report, or even inviting them to a webinar that could be of interest to them. Providing value builds you as a provider of goods rather than someone who only looks for benefits.
For instance, you may say, “Hi [Name], I wanted to get back to you and also sent this recent research on [topic](if there is any that you want to get such contact) − which I thought you might be interested in — and wanted to invite you to discuss that.”
Be Respectful and Understanding
It is worthwhile to note that the individual you are trying to contact might be engaged in other tasks. Demonstration of courtesy and polite attitude can enhance the effectiveness of your communications. You could say, ‘I realize you may be overly busy, but I just wanted to check in to see if you had time to think about my last message. If this is not the most appropriate time, we can get in touch at a different time in the future or listen to what works for you most.’
This approach shows that you value and do not expect them to reply to you immediately.
Keep It Short and Sweet
People tend to skip long answers to follow-up messages and this is why you need to be brief and to the point. State the essence of your previous message along with one deeper thought or the added offer. In this way, the recipient will be able to comprehend and make a decision fairly quickly.
For instance, “Hello [Name], I would like to chase up on my last message concerning [subject]. When you’re free, I’d like to hear what you think. Also, here is something about [related topic] that might interest you. See you soon!”
Know When to Step Back
In case you have waited for a couple of days, weeks, or even a month and are still not getting a response – it’s best to simply walk away. After all, there is always that fine line between being persistent and being aggressive. A good number is two follow-ups after the first; after that, it’s best to let things be, as repetition can be tiresome. If all else fails, wait a couple of months and try again if appropriate.
Use LinkedIn Features to Stay Top of Mind
If you aren’t getting an answer, try to engage about their posts instead of sending another message regarding the follow-up. Commenting and sharing their content is another way for them to remember your presence. This would also keep you engaged in a conversation without actively seeking to do so in some contexts.
It helps if you have the right mindset: There is a fine line between being pushy and following up. Combine persistence, politeness, and value addition into your approach, and you’re golden. Tailoring your outreach messages, valuing other people’s time, and knowing when to dial it down is what helps improve professional outreach. Keep in mind that networking is about relationships and not just about adding people to the database, so try to engage in every single interaction as if the goal is to establish meaningful exchanges that will be beneficial for both parties.
