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Account Executive

Arsonist

Politicker

Executive

Cold InMails - Do or do not?

Hey Soldiers,

Just wanted to reach out with a question about cold messaging on LinkedIn.

Is this something preferred, or would you say to steer clear of cold InMails?

If anyone has had any success with booking meetings through cold InMails, I would love to hear about some of your messaging strategies.

Looking forward to some input here!

Thanks!

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59 comments

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softwarebro

Politicker

Sales Director

You gotta send them. I don't think they work as well as they used to but you still gotta send em.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Would you say that is because of the saturation that LinkedIn has experienced when it comes to sales and marketing content?

softwarebro

Politicker

Sales Director

My comment is really specific to anything IT. I’m sure your Fortune 500 IT director gets hundreds of in mails a month.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

As I would assume most leaders in the F500 do, just trying to nail down the best way to get that message in front of the target prospect on this medium.

Thank you for your input, softwarebro!

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Agreed

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

I gotta say I agree, I mean for me linkedin outreach has been really poor in terms of number of covnersations that led to meetings, just one. But I found a post in linkedin, i actually put it in the waroom that talks about how we can better our outreach in general terms by simply reaching out to everyone that meets a buyer persona.

Here's the link to that
https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/for-1st-yr-in-sales-development-role-or-anybody-trying-to-up-their-li-prospecting

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Thanks for the link!

LordBusiness

Politicker

Chief Revenue Officer

They are a necessary communication channel, but like all mediums and channels if good quality outreach goes out, good quality response comes in.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

I think Inmail is a bit more of a crapshoot than an email. I’m not sure that crafting a high response message here is really possible. My experience is like 999 misses and 1 hit.

But, I would love to be wrong!

LordBusiness

Politicker

Chief Revenue Officer

Depends on your target market as well. A lot of buyers simply never go on LInkedin.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Target market would be anyone in recruitment or talent acquisition. So many of the prospects I reach out to are regularly on LinkedIn. I get responses, they're just rarely ideal.

Biznasty

Opinionated

Lead Business Development Manager

I also call on TA and Recruiters and I agree. I find it ironic that they too send inmails on linked in but don't have the decency to send back a positive message.

ZebraStripe

Opinionated

Sr Sales Director

They don't always work, but they do work - and that's all you need. If you get even 1 deal from an InMail it could all be worth it. Another valuable touch that isn't an email or call.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Thank you for your input!

RahRahBooty

Executive

Business Development

I only leverage LinkedIn messages if I’m connected with them so it doesn’t come as inMail. I’m not even a decision maker and I get so many inmails I don’t even look at them, I just decline.

I also don’t message them right away and I’ve sent voice messages on there which have been pretty successful.

Salespreuner

Big Shot

Regional Sales Director

Yes, this is pretty much same at my end, too!

Tres

Politicker

Account Executive

Have you tried video messages as well? Instead of doing voice messages (which is a great idea too), I've done some direct video messages to my 1st degree connections, which has a pretty high success rate.

RahRahBooty

Executive

Business Development

I have had 0 success with Video messages. They see my message but they never watch the video.

Tres

Politicker

Account Executive

Good to know. I've gotten a handful of new meetings booked from sending the person video introductions.

YoursTruly

Politicker

Account Executive (SaaS)

Absolutely do cold InMails. Just make sure the messaging is targeted and not some shitty copy paste message.

Salespreuner

Big Shot

Regional Sales Director

+! for targeted and I hope including the personas here?

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Thank you! I try to make sure my messages are targeted, but I seem not to have any success. I try to keep my messaging to be educationally centric to just build on relationships, but usually get no where. I currently work for a SaaS provider in the Talent Acquisition space, so most of my target personas are high up in either HR, TA, or Employer Branding roles. Based on that, I try to personalize the best that I can when it comes to those roles, and the prospect in question, specifically. However, I do not know how I can start getting more positive responses. My response rate with inMails is decent, but never have I converted anything here when it comes to outbound work. Any input on what type of messaging I should be using would be great. I typically lead with an insightful question catered to that specific person, or just try to set up an educational discussion, but I just can't make anything happen here.

breezyboiii

Politicker

Sales Boiii

I do it, but it can't be all salesy. End of the day half the people on LinkedIn are just there for the sake of it and don't wanna be bombarded with more sales pitches.

Salespreuner

Big Shot

Regional Sales Director

+1 for this thought!

Trinity

WR Officer

BusDev

I do and have booked meetings from there. I don't 'connect and pitch' more like a nudge about my cold outreach.

overheard_sales

Politicker

CEO - Overheard_Sales

absolutely do it

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Arsonist

Account Executive

I do it, just need to know how to do it successfully. Thank you for the input!

P.S. Love your social channels!

RoiPurdy

Opinionated

Business Development Manager

these comments have been reassuring, i need to start doing this - i just got sales nav

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Sales Nav is gold! Good luck with getting started!

Smithy

Politicker

Director of Sales

I think they work well, but it comes down to the same as everything else, it's all about the execution.

They don't work any better than a message in a cold connection request if the message is turd.

targeting, personalisation, and relevance are the key to all forms of outreach. Just another weapon in the arsenal

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Any advice on how to stay relevant without sounding redundant in comparison to all the messaging that prospects may be receiving from competitors?

Smithy

Politicker

Director of Sales

Depending on what you sell, it can be good to lead with problems/language that your ICP have/use, but not follow up with how your company or product can solve them.

I think the whole 'lead with value' thing is overplayed and if you can show that your message is relevant to them and then have a good hook for them to answer; then you could be on the way.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Thank you for this. I believe I have led a little too much with what my company can offer, but taking this into perspective and leaving all that out for now just to establish the relationship sounds like it could definitley help with conversion rates. Thank you Smithy!

Smithy

Politicker

Director of Sales

No problem, man. Keep me posted on whether it works any better.

Always happy to have a chat outside of this too, if it would help.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

Will do!

Captain_Q

Arsonist

Sr. Account Executive

I will typically send a request. When they accept, wait a few days. Then come at them with something topical, not straight sales, ease into it.

But definitely need to utilize every tool in the box!

Happy Hunting:)

TheLoneGun

Opinionated

Extremely Rad Product Offloading Specialist

Do, but realize it takes a lot to be effective. People are so inundated with them that unless you send a ton you just won't reap any benefits.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

It's a numbers game!

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

I feel like its too late for those now, years ago I thought they were highly effective, and now they have just become another automated form of spamming.

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Arsonist

Account Executive

From your perspective, what would be the best way to go about utilizing LinkedIn in your sales toolbelt, other than just research?

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

Promotion of events or webinars that would be relevant to your targeted audience. I feel like most people are open to connecting with someone in a similar industry and the connection and a post will show up in their feed. My biggest gripe about LinkedIn now as that there are so many companies automating the messaging like I am just in SalesLoft or Outreach. They have all given even a genuine thought out message a bad name.

mkleebs

Executive

Enterprise AE

Has never been nearly as effective for me as cold emailing or calling - usually an effective medium *after* that first disco call.

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

You can still book good meetings through them even with the numbers falling off. Also, I've had people come back to me that I've reached out to via InMail and contacted the company directly. They saved us for a rainy day and the rainy day arrived.

The_Sales_Badger

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

I have a much better reply rate when I send a video introduction in an InMail. Have a sign that has the prospect's name and company name underneath it. Video prospecting got me to my quota last year. I reduced the number of cold dials I did because video introductions with customized messaging were proving much more effective.

Woody

Politicker

Business Development Executive

In general I'd say whatever means you can attempt to connect with someone you try it. Usually if I can find someone on linkedin I can work out where they're located and get their office phone number to give them a call.

Chep

WR Officer

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

Like receiving them much better than I like sending them

marebears007

Valued Contributor

Sr. Account Executive

Back when being an SDR we would have InMails as part of our cadence. I have booked calls from them, but it is like cold emails. Spray and pray

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Arsonist

Account Executive

I feel like cold emails are less spray and pray these days if you can hit close to home. Inmails are most certainly spray and pray, from my experience.

goose

Politicker

Sales Executive

cold in mails with relevant messaging (how do you know so-and-so; what a great post) will always work. pitches do not.

Rallier

Politicker

SDR Manager and Consultant

It's necessary. But it's better if you've engaged with their posts (if they post) first

Salespreuner

Big Shot

Regional Sales Director

Haven't been lucky, yet!. Bookmarking this thread for leads

ElCapitan

Good Citizen

Senior Sales Development Representative

As an SDR, I swear by Sales Navigator for prospecting (use Skrapp.io to export lists), and the way I see it: if you're not spending every single InMail credit you have each month then you're flushing value that you're already paying for.

You only have 20-50 credits per month (I pay out of pocket but corporate plans give more), and I've only found success when reaching out to DMs or potential champions who are very obviously spending time on LinkedIn (check their activity, like their shit, tie posts into messaging).

My goal is to get a connection/accepted InMail so messaging on LinkedIn becomes a free channel of communication. I've found I end up getting ~5 connections and at least 1-2 Qual calls a month from InMails alone, and almost twice as many from emails/cold calls to people I sent an InMail to.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Not effective. Personalization is still key- leveraging LI to find triggers to leverage in personalized messaging to prospects. This has worked again and again on my team. for initial contact, stay away from pitching/ product related messaging. Try and connect w/ the person as a person (not as a salesperson first) then develop it into a meeting if it makes sense. LI= play the long game

BCD

Politicker

BDR

Always worth a shot if you've done your research, just one more way to get in front of them

JuicyKlay

Celebrated Contributor

Use your monthly Inmail allowance but don’t expect a lot of results from them. I’m seeing a 5% Inmail success rate at best. The key is getting them to become a first degree connection and sending them a personalized video.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

No harm in sending though the response rate can be very very less. For me it makes sense as I'm looking for one prospect to reply as the ticket size is big

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

They are a necessary communication channel, but like all mediums and channels if good quality outreach goes out, good quality response comes in.

Error32

Politicker

ISR

I have never used Outreach, but it has given me insight to not use a seemingly annoying add-on.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

ISR

Outreach sucks, always had problems with it regardless of Gmail or outlook… even started throttling my sequence. Switch to SalesLoft if you can…

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Cold InMails - Do or do not?

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