Writing LinkedIn outreach that books a first meeting.
English for Sales and Account Management. Lesson 2.
You are reaching out to a potential buyer on LinkedIn after seeing a relevant trigger (a hiring plan, a product launch, or a comment they posted). In this lesson, you practise writing a short, human message that gets a reply and moves towards a meeting. The focus is not on sounding clever. It is on sounding relevant, specific, and easy to say yes to.
You will work with a realistic message thread and notice the wording that creates value without exaggeration: a clear reason for contacting them, one simple insight, and a low-pressure next step. You will also practise handling the classic response: Please send information. You will learn how to reply in a way that keeps the conversation alive and still aims for a short call.
By the end, you will produce two outreach messages: one to a cold contact and one to a warmer lead, both tailored to your own case file.
1. Situation brief and your first outreach draft.
Today you are an SDR or AE reaching out on LinkedIn after spotting a genuine trigger. The goal is very specific: write a short message that feels human, clearly relevant, and easy to reply to. Not a mini pitch. Not a brochure. A message that earns a response and gently moves towards a 15‑minute chat.
Here is the situation we will stay with for the whole lesson. You’ve seen that Priya Singh, Director of Revenue Operations at a mid-sized SaaS company called NimbleHR, has posted about hiring three new SDRs and improving their outbound process. That is your reason to contact her. Your job is to connect that trigger to one clear benefit you can offer, and then propose a low-pressure next step.
As you work, keep asking yourself: if I were Priya, would I understand why this person is messaging me in the first two lines? And would the final line be simple to answer? In this first block, you will build the opening hook and the “easy yes” question, using the phrases you’ll reuse later.
The situation we’re practising.
You are sending a LinkedIn message to Priya Singh (Director of RevOps at NimbleHR). You are reaching out because you noticed a relevant trigger: they’re hiring SDRs and talking about improving outbound quality.
This lesson is not about sounding impressive. It’s about sounding:
Relevant (you have a real reason for contacting them)
Specific (one concrete point, not five vague claims)
Low-pressure (easy for them to reply without feeling trapped)
A simple structure that works (and doesn’t sound salesy).
A strong B2 outreach message often follows this rhythm:
Trigger + relevance: “I noticed…” / “Saw your post about…”
Value in one line: “We’ve helped similar teams…” (no exaggeration)
A light question: “Out of curiosity…” / “How are you handling…?”
Low-pressure next step: “Would you be open to a quick 15‑minute chat?” + “No worries if not a priority.”
Notice what is missing: long product description, too many benefits, and pressure.
Model mini-message (short and natural).
Below is a short model you can adapt. Read it like a real person wrote it.
> Hi Priya, I noticed you’re hiring SDRs and looking at outbound quality at NimbleHR.
>
> We’ve helped RevOps teams tighten messaging and improve reply rates without adding more tools for reps.
>
> Out of curiosity, how are you handling messaging consistency across new SDRs at the moment?
>
> If it’s useful, I can share a short example. Would you be open to a quick 15‑minute chat next week? No worries if now isn’t a priority.
Useful phrases for this lesson (keep them nearby).
“I noticed you are currently focusing on X.”
“I thought I would reach out because we have helped similar teams with Y.”
“Out of curiosity, how are you handling Z at the moment?”
“If it is useful, I can share a short example.”
“Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat next week?”
“No worries if now is not a priority.”
In the next blocks, we’ll build this into a full thread and practise the difficult moment: “Please send information.”
Practice & Feedback
Write your first draft of the opening LinkedIn message to Priya.
Keep it short (45–75 words) and follow the structure on the screen:
Start with the trigger (hiring SDRs / outbound quality).
Add one specific value line (what you help with, in plain language).
Ask one light question OR suggest a low-pressure next step.
Try to use at least two phrases from the useful list (for example, “I noticed…”, “Out of curiosity…”, “Would you be open to…”, “No worries…”). Don’t add links yet. Write the message exactly as you would send it on LinkedIn.
Lead details (for this lesson).
Name: Priya Singh
Role: Director of Revenue Operations
Company: NimbleHR (SaaS)
Trigger you saw: Priya posted about hiring 3 SDRs and improving outbound quality.
Your goal.
Start a LinkedIn conversation that earns a reply and moves towards a short call.
Reminder.
Keep it human, specific, and easy to reply to. No long pitch, no attachments, no link in the first message.
2. Read a realistic LinkedIn thread and notice the wording.
Now let’s look at a realistic message thread, because seeing the whole exchange helps you understand what “success” looks like. In LinkedIn outreach, you’re not trying to close the deal. You’re trying to open a door. That means your wording needs to do two things at the same time: sound relevant enough that the person replies, and feel low-pressure enough that replying doesn’t feel risky.
As you read, pay attention to how the sender avoids big claims. Instead, they use a clear trigger, one simple insight, and then they ask a question that is easy to answer. You’ll also see some useful softeners, like “Out of curiosity…” and “If it’s useful…”, which keep the message warm and professional.
After you read the thread, you’ll answer a few short questions to check you’ve noticed the structure. This is important because once you can see the structure, you can reuse it with your own product and buyer in a very controlled way.
A model LinkedIn thread (message + reply).
Read the full thread below. Imagine you are Priya receiving this in a busy week.
Message 1 (Alex → Priya).
> Hi Priya, I noticed you’re hiring SDRs and focusing on outbound quality at NimbleHR.
>
> I thought I’d reach out because we’ve helped RevOps teams reduce message sprawl and improve reply rates, especially when onboarding new reps.
>
> Out of curiosity, how are you handling messaging consistency across the team at the moment?
>
> If it’s useful, I can share a short example. Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat next week? No worries if now isn’t a priority.
Message 2 (Priya → Alex).
> Hi Alex. Thanks. We’re busy right now. Can you send some information?
What makes the first message work?.
A few details are doing a lot of heavy lifting:
1) The first line gives a reason. “I noticed…” ties directly to Priya’s world (hiring SDRs, outbound quality). This avoids the feeling of random spam.
2) The value line is believable. It doesn’t promise miracles. It says what kind of teams, and what kind of outcome, in normal language.
3) The question is easy to answer. “How are you handling… at the moment?” invites a short reply (even a one-liner).
4) The next step is low-pressure. “Would you be open to…?” plus “No worries…” reduces friction.
What is happening in Priya’s reply?.
“Can you send some information?” is very common. It can mean:
“I’m interested, but I don’t want a long sales process.”
“I don’t have time right now.”
“I’m not sure what you actually do.”
“I want to see if this is relevant before I talk.”
So, your reply needs to keep momentum without pushing. You’ll practise that in the next block.
Quick noticing task.
Before you write anything, make sure you can point to these four parts in Message 1:
Trigger line
Value line
Curiosity question
Low-pressure next step
Practice & Feedback
Answer the questions below in short sentences. This is a noticing and comprehension check.
In Message 1, what is the trigger (the reason for contacting Priya)?
What is the specific outcome Alex mentions (in the value line)?
What is the question Alex asks?
In Priya’s reply (“send information”), give two possible meanings (for example: too busy, not sure it’s relevant).
Write your answers as a numbered list (1–4). Keep each answer brief, but clear.
The model thread (for reference).
Alex → Priya:
Hi Priya, I noticed you’re hiring SDRs and focusing on outbound quality at NimbleHR.
I thought I’d reach out because we’ve helped RevOps teams reduce message sprawl and improve reply rates, especially when onboarding new reps.
Out of curiosity, how are you handling messaging consistency across the team at the moment?
If it’s useful, I can share a short example. Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat next week? No worries if now isn’t a priority.
Priya → Alex:
Hi Alex. Thanks. We’re busy right now. Can you send some information?
3. Listen to the pushback and write a momentum-saving reply.
Here comes the key moment: “Please send information.” If you handle this badly, the conversation dies. If you handle it well, you stay helpful and still keep a path to a call.
The mistake many people make is to react like a robot: they send a long paragraph, a PDF, three links, and a calendar link. That creates work for the prospect. Another mistake is to push back too hard, like “We don’t send information. You need to take a call.” That damages trust.
Instead, you want a middle path: acknowledge, offer something short, and ask a simple question so you can tailor what you send. Then, very gently, you re-offer the 15-minute chat as the easiest way to make it relevant.
In a moment you’ll listen to Priya’s message. Notice her tone: polite, but busy. Your reply should match that. Think: calm, efficient, and professional.
What a good reply to “Send information” should do.
When a prospect says, “Can you send some information?”, aim to include four moves:
Move 1: Acknowledge and make it easy.
Show you heard them and you’re not going to waste their time.
Move 2: Offer a short overview (not a data dump).
One or two sentences on what you do, plus a promise to keep it brief.
Move 3: Ask one tailoring question.
This is the secret: a single question turns “send info” into a conversation.
Move 4: Keep the call option open (low pressure).
You can suggest a 15‑minute chat as an easier route, but without pushing.
Useful phrases you can reuse.
Here are some ready-to-use chunks that sound natural:
“Happy to send a short overview.”
“To make it relevant, what is your main goal right now?”
“Which of these is more important for you: speed, cost, or risk reduction?”
“If it helps, I can suggest two times.”
“No worries if now is not a priority.”
Two model replies (choose the style that fits you).
Option A: Question-first (best for starting a dialogue).
> Of course, happy to send a short overview. Just so I make it relevant, what’s the main goal behind the SDR hiring right now: more pipeline volume, better quality, or faster ramp-up?
>
> If it’s easier, I can also share a quick example on a 15-minute chat next week. No worries if timing is tight.
Option B: Brief overview-first (best if they seem sceptical).
> Sure, happy to. In one line, we help RevOps teams standardise messaging and coach reps at scale, so new SDRs ramp faster.
>
> To tailor what I send, are you more focused on reply rates, meeting quality, or time-to-productivity right now?
Both replies are polite. Both keep momentum. Both avoid pressure.
Your job in this block.
You will write one reply to Priya. Keep it short. One question. One low-pressure next step.
Practice & Feedback
Listen to Priya’s message, then write your reply on LinkedIn.
Write 60–90 words. Include:
A polite acknowledgement (for example, “Happy to…”).
A promise to keep it short (one line is enough).
One question to tailor the information (use either “main goal” or the “speed/cost/risk” question).
A low-pressure next step (optional call next week, or “I can suggest two times”).
Keep the tone calm and efficient. Do not add attachments or links. You are trying to keep the conversation alive, not to close the deal today.
4. Sound confident, not salesy: upgrade your wording.
Let’s sharpen your tone, because on LinkedIn you’re judged very fast. Two messages can have the same meaning, but one sounds credible and the other sounds like spam. Usually the difference is specificity and restraint.
Salesy messages tend to be full of big adjectives and vague promises: “boost revenue”, “transform performance”, “best-in-class”, “revolutionary”. The reader can’t picture anything, so they don’t trust it. In contrast, a strong B2 message uses normal words, clear outcomes, and a realistic scope. It also uses softeners in a professional way: “If it’s useful…”, “Out of curiosity…”, “No worries if…”. These phrases reduce pressure without sounding weak.
In this block you’ll practise rewriting. This is a practical skill: you will often have a draft that feels a bit pushy, and you’ll need to quickly edit it into something more human.
As you rewrite, keep the same structure: trigger, value in one line, question, and low-pressure next step. Just make the wording cleaner and more believable.
The difference between “salesy” and “credible” language.
At B2 level, you already have the grammar. The key is choice of wording.
A message sounds salesy when it:
uses hype words with no proof ("game-changing", "world-class")
makes big promises ("guarantee", "double")
adds too many benefits in one message
pushes for a call without relevance
A message sounds credible when it:
names a real trigger ("I noticed you’re hiring SDRs")
states one believable outcome ("improve reply rates", "faster ramp-up")
asks one simple question
gives a low-pressure next step
Quick before/after examples.
Example 1.
Salesy: “We can dramatically transform your outbound performance and boost revenue quickly.”
Credible: “We help teams improve outbound quality so new SDRs ramp faster and messaging stays consistent.”
Example 2.
Salesy: “I’d love to show you our platform. Are you free tomorrow?”
Credible: “Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat next week? No worries if now isn’t a priority.”
Example 3.
Salesy: “Our award-winning solution is best-in-class for all companies.”
Credible: “We’ve helped similar RevOps teams reduce message sprawl and improve reply rates during SDR onboarding.”
Language tools for tone control.
You can keep confidence while reducing pressure with:
Softening phrases: “Out of curiosity…”, “If it’s useful…”, “Would you be open to…?”
Precision: one outcome, one question, one next step
Honesty about scope: “happy to send a short overview” (not “everything you need to know”)
Your micro-skill today.
You will rewrite a few lines so they sound:
relevant to the trigger
specific but not too detailed
easy to answer
This is exactly what you need when you’re writing outreach quickly between meetings.
Practice & Feedback
Rewrite the three lines below so they sound more credible and human for LinkedIn.
Guidelines:
Keep each rewrite one sentence.
Remove hype words and big promises.
Make the outcome more concrete (reply rates, messaging consistency, faster ramp-up, risk reduction, etc.).
Use at least one softener across your three rewrites (for example, “Out of curiosity…”, “If it’s useful…”, “Would you be open to…?”, “No worries…”).
Write your answers as A, B, C.
Focus on the NimbleHR scenario (hiring SDRs, outbound quality).
Rewrite these lines.
A) “We have a revolutionary platform that will massively boost your sales outcomes.”
B) “I want to jump on a call tomorrow to show you what we do.”
C) “Our solution is perfect for every RevOps team and guarantees results.”
5. Chat simulation: keep the thread moving to a meeting.
Now we’ll run a short LinkedIn chat simulation. This is where many people lose momentum, because they either over-explain or they don’t make the next step easy.
In the thread, you’ve already earned a reply. Good. Your next job is to guide the conversation towards a clear next step: a quick call, with suggested times. The language we’re practising is “light control”: you’re friendly, but you still move the process forward.
Two practical tips. First, when you suggest times, make it effortless for the other person: give two options and a clear time zone. Second, keep each message short, like real LinkedIn chat. One idea per message.
You’ll see Priya’s messages in a moment. Reply as Alex. Use the chunks you’ve practised: “Would you be open to…?”, “If it helps, I can suggest two times.”, and “No worries if now isn’t a priority.”
Aim for professional warmth. You’re speaking to a senior operator, not a friend, and not a robot. After you write your turns, I’ll help you tighten tone and improve clarity.
Chat-style outreach: what “good” looks like.
In LinkedIn chat, shorter is usually stronger. The best messages feel like a natural conversation, not an email.
A useful mini-structure for moving to a meeting is:
Confirm and tailor: “Got it. Just so I send the right thing…”
One small value offer: “I can share a short example…”
Make scheduling easy: “Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat?” + two times
Scheduling language that sounds natural.
Here are a few clean ways to propose times:
“Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat next week?”
“If it helps, I can suggest two times: Tuesday 10:00 or Thursday 15:30 (UK time).”
“Which works better on your side?”
“No worries if now isn’t a priority.”
The thread so far (context).
You messaged Priya based on the hiring trigger. Priya asked you to send information. You replied with a short overview and asked one tailoring question.
Now Priya is responding. Your job is to keep momentum and respect that she is busy.
Micro-goal for this simulation.
By the end of your next two messages, you want:
a clear understanding of what she cares about (one priority)
a low-pressure agreement to a short call or permission to send a tailored example
If Priya cannot commit to a call, you still keep the conversation alive with one clear next step.
Practice & Feedback
Continue the LinkedIn chat. Write your replies as Alex.
You will write two short messages (like real LinkedIn), labelled:
Alex 1: (your next reply)
Alex 2: (your follow-up after Priya’s next message)
Keep each message 25–45 words.
Goals:
Confirm what Priya wants (reply rates vs ramp-up vs quality).
Offer a low-pressure call and make scheduling easy (two times).
Stay polite and not pushy.
Use at least two chunks from the lesson (for example: “Happy to…”, “To make it relevant…”, “Would you be open to…?”, “If it helps, I can suggest two times…”, “No worries…”).
Incoming LinkedIn messages (Priya).
Priya: Thanks. Main focus is ramping new SDRs faster, but we also need more consistent messaging. I can look at a short overview.
Priya (later): Next week is a bit hectic. If we do a call, it needs to be very short. What would you want to cover?
6. Final task: write two outreach messages you can reuse.
Let’s finish with your deliverable for the lesson: two LinkedIn outreach messages you can actually reuse. One is to a cold contact, like Priya, where you have a clear trigger but no relationship. The second is to a warmer lead, where there is a small sign of interest, such as a webinar attendance, a comment, or a mutual connection.
Your objective is the same in both cases: sound relevant, specific, and easy to say yes to. The warmer message should feel slightly more direct, because you already have a reason to believe they might engage, but it still needs to stay low-pressure.
As you write, keep the structure simple. First line: relevance. Second line: value in plain language. Third line: a curiosity question or a small choice question. Final line: a 15-minute chat, with a softener.
After you write both messages, I’ll give you feedback on clarity and tone and I’ll also give you a polished version you can compare with your own. Aim for something you’d be happy to send today.
Your performance check (end-of-lesson task).
You will now write two complete LinkedIn outreach messages.
Message A: Cold contact (trigger-based).
This is the NimbleHR scenario: you saw the hiring trigger and outbound quality focus. Priya does not know you.
Message B: Warmer lead (light prior engagement).
Same target person and role, but now there is an extra reason to reach out. For example:
Priya liked your post about SDR onboarding, or
Priya attended a webinar your company ran, or
A mutual connection suggested you speak.
The warmer lead message can be slightly more direct, because the context reduces the “who are you?” friction.
Mini rubric (what “good” looks like).
When I assess your two messages, I will check:
Relevance in the first line: clear trigger or context
Specific value, no hype: one believable outcome
One easy question: tailored, not generic
Low-pressure next step: 15 minutes, optional language, no pushing
Length and readability: short, simple sentences, human tone
Reference chunks (use them naturally).
“I noticed you are currently focusing on X.”
“I thought I would reach out because we have helped similar teams with Y.”
“Out of curiosity, how are you handling Z at the moment?”
“If it is useful, I can share a short example.”
“Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat next week?”
“No worries if now is not a priority.”
“Happy to send a short overview. To make it relevant, what is your main goal right now?”
“If it helps, I can suggest two times.”
A final tip.
Don’t try to say everything. If they reply, you can earn the right to share more. Your message is just the door-opener.
Practice & Feedback
Write two LinkedIn outreach messages.
Label them clearly: Message A (cold) and Message B (warmer).
Each message should be 55–85 words.
Message A must mention the hiring / outbound quality trigger.
Message B must mention the warm context (webinar, post like, comment, mutual connection, etc.).
In each message:
Start with relevance.
Add one specific value line (plain language).
Ask one question OR offer a simple choice question.
End with a low-pressure meeting ask (15 minutes, next week) and a softener.
Try to include at least three chunks across the two messages. Don’t add links.
Details you can use (or adapt).
Target: Priya Singh, Director of Revenue Operations, NimbleHR
Cold trigger (use in Message A): Hiring 3 SDRs and improving outbound quality.
Warm context ideas (choose one for Message B):
Priya liked your post: “Onboarding SDRs without message sprawl”.
Priya attended your webinar: “Ramping new SDRs faster in 30 days”.
A mutual connection (Jordan Lee) suggested you speak.
Optional outcome vocabulary (pick one):
faster ramp-up
messaging consistency
higher reply rates
better meeting quality
risk reduction during onboarding
Optional low-pressure close:
“Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat next week? No worries if now isn’t a priority.”
