These are real LinkedIn outreach templates pulled from campaigns we've run and analyzed. Each template includes a benchmark reply rate based on actual sends from our internal data and from public sources (Lemlist data, Waalaxy benchmarks, Apollo's outbound studies).

Replace curly braces like {firstName}, {company}, {topic} with real values. The personalization variable in the first sentence is what drives the reply rate.

Category 1: Cold connection request (no prior context)

Reply rate baseline for this category: 5-12%. Best practice: keep under 200 characters, never sell in the request, save the pitch for follow-up DM.

Template 1.1: The"I noticed" pattern

Hi {firstName}, noticed you lead {function} at {company}. Curious what you're using for {tool category} these days. Open to connect?

~9% acceptance. Use when you have only role + company.

Template 1.2: The"asking for advice" frame

Hi {firstName}, building a tool for {role} like yourself. Would love your perspective on what's broken in {workflow} today. No pitch, just curious.

~14% acceptance. Founders especially respond well to this one.

Template 1.3: Theshared connection

Hi {firstName}, we're both connected to {mutualName}. She speaks highly of your work on {project}. Would be great to be in your network.

~22% acceptance. Only when there's a real mutual.

Template 1.4: Theconference / industry hook

Hi {firstName}, saw you spoke at {event} last month on {topic}. Brilliant point about {specific takeaway}. Would love to connect.

~28% acceptance. Requires real research, payoff is huge.

Template 1.5: The"challenger" frame

Hi {firstName}, I disagree with your take on {topic} from your last post. Would love to connect and discuss.

~18% acceptance. Risky but high-engagement when it lands.

Template 1.6: The"I'm new here"

Hi {firstName}, just moved into {new role / new market}. Building my network in {industry}. Your work caught my eye. Would love to connect.

~15% acceptance. Works well for career-transition stories.

Template 1.7: Thecompliment + curiosity

Hi {firstName}, your post about {topic} was the best thing I read this week. How did you arrive at that framework?

~24% acceptance. Specific compliment + open question = engagement.

Template 1.8: Thelocal angle

Hi {firstName}, fellow {city}-based {role} here. Always like to connect with locals doing interesting work. Open to a virtual coffee?

~16% acceptance. Solid for in-market relationship building.

Template 1.9: The"we serve similar companies"

Hi {firstName}, we work with several {companyType} companies similar to {company}. Would love to learn how you approach {challenge}.

~11% acceptance. Honest framing without selling.

Template 1.10: The"alumni network"

Hi {firstName}, fellow {school} alum here. Saw your work at {company} and wanted to connect.

~26% acceptance. Strong for university-shared signal.

Category 2: Post commenter follow-up (warmest source)

Reply rate baseline: 25-40%. Always reference the specific post within 48 hours of the comment.

Template 2.1: Thedirect commenter reference

Hi {firstName}, saw your comment on {Author}'s post about {topic}. You said {paraphrase their comment}. Curious how you're approaching that at {company}.

~38% acceptance, ~22% reply. Gold standard.

Template 2.2: The"we agree"

Hi {firstName}, your point on {Author}'s post about {topic} was spot on. We've been seeing the same thing with our {customers / users}. Would love to compare notes.

~32% acceptance. Shared-belief framing.

Template 2.3: Thefollow-up question

Hi {firstName}, your comment on {Author}'s post got me thinking. You mentioned {specific point}. How do you actually measure that?

~30% reply. Specific question + open-ended.

Template 2.4: The"I built that"

Hi {firstName}, your comment on {Author}'s post described exactly the problem we built {Product} to solve. Would love to show you the 60-second version.

~25% reply. Direct product framing, only when comment maps perfectly.

Template 2.5: The"data follow-up"

Hi {firstName}, your comment on {Author}'s post about {topic} aligns with what we're seeing in our data. We just compiled {finding} across {sample size} users. Want a copy?

~33% reply. Reciprocity via free data.

Template 2.6: Thedisagreement

Hi {firstName}, respectfully disagree with your take on {Author}'s post. Here's why: {1-sentence counter}. Open to hearing your reasoning?

~28% reply. Productive friction.

Template 2.7: Thepeer connector

Hi {firstName}, your comment on {Author}'s post was great. Two of our customers ({CompanyA}, {CompanyB}) tackle {topic} the same way. Happy to intro if useful.

~27% reply. Add value, no pitch.

Template 2.8: Thecompliment + ask

Hi {firstName}, your reply to {Author}'s post was the most thoughtful in the thread. Where do you publish your own writing?

~21% reply. Ego-stroke + curiosity.

Template 2.9: The"we're in your tribe"

Hi {firstName}, fellow {Author}-fan here. Saw your comment on the {topic} post. We're building tools for the same audience. Would love to connect.

~19% acceptance. Soft community framing.

Template 2.10: Thepure curiosity

Hi {firstName}, your comment on {Author}'s post about {topic} surprised me. Genuinely curious:what made you frame it that way?

~25% reply. No pitch, no agenda, real question.

Category 3: Event attendee outreach

Reply rate baseline: 15-25%. Reference the specific event in the first sentence.

Template 3.1: Thepre-event

Hi {firstName}, saw you registered for {event}. Will be there too. Always like to connect with attendees beforehand. What are you hoping to take away?

~30% reply. Pre-event has best engagement window.

Template 3.2: Thepost-event

Hi {firstName}, saw you attended {event} last week. Best session for me was {speaker / topic}. Yours?

~22% reply. Shared experience.

Template 3.3: Thesession reference

Hi {firstName}, you attended {session} at {event}. Would love your take:did the speaker's framework work for you in practice?

~24% reply. Specific ask = specific reply.

Template 3.4: The"we sponsored that"

Hi {firstName}, you attended {event} where we sponsored. Hope you grabbed {item}. If you want to chat about how we approach {topic}, I'm here.

~14% reply. Honest sponsor framing.

Template 3.5: Thefuture event

Hi {firstName}, you went to {past event}. Heads up: {upcoming similar event} is happening. We've got a few extra free tickets if you want one.

~31% reply. Reciprocity via free ticket.

Template 3.6: Thespeaker connection

Hi {firstName}, saw you attended {event} where {speaker} spoke. We work closely with her at {Company}. Happy to make an intro if useful.

~28% reply. Network broker framing.

Template 3.7: Thefollow-up ask

Hi {firstName}, post-{event} I'm reaching out to attendees in {industry}. Building a mini-survey on {topic}. Would you take 90 seconds to share your perspective?

~17% reply. Survey hook gets data + relationship.

Template 3.8: Thepeer roundtable

Hi {firstName}, fellow {event} attendee. We're hosting a small roundtable next month with 6 other attendees on {topic}. Want in?

~23% reply. Exclusivity + peer access.

Template 3.9: Thevideo recap

Hi {firstName}, you attended {event}. We recorded a 5-min video recap of the best 3 takeaways. Want me to send it?

~26% reply. Free content, low friction.

Template 3.10: Theconnection

Hi {firstName}, also at {event}. Would love to keep in touch and trade notes on {topic} as we both navigate it.

~19% reply. Soft, no agenda.

Category 4: Group member outreach

Reply rate baseline: 12-18%. Mention the group in the first line.

Template 4.1

Hi {firstName}, fellow {group} member. Your recent post in the group about {topic} stood out. Would love to connect.

~20% acceptance.

Template 4.2

Hi {firstName}, saw your question in {group} about {topic}. Have a tactical answer if helpful, but also wanted to connect.

~25% reply. Lead with value.

Template 4.3

Hi {firstName}, group member here. Curious what brought you to {group} originally?

~14% reply. Open question.

Template 4.4

Hi {firstName}, in {group} I noticed you focus on {sub-topic}. We're working on the same thing. Want to compare approaches?

~17% reply.

Template 4.5

Hi {firstName}, both in {group}. I'm building a private channel for the most active 20 members. Would you want in?

~28% reply. Status / community signal.

Template 4.6 to 4.10

Variations on the above patterns. Always: reference group, find a real engagement signal, keep under 250 chars, no pitch in the request.

Category 5: Job-change / promotion signal

Reply rate baseline: 25-40%. Time-sensitive, send within 7 days of the change.

Template 5.1: Thenew job

Hi {firstName}, congrats on the new role at {company}. First 30 days are usually the busiest. We help new {role}s ramp on {workflow} fast. Open to a 15-min call?

~32% reply. Highest-converting in this category.

Template 5.2: Thepromotion

Hi {firstName}, congrats on the promotion to {new title}. Bigger remit usually means rethinking the {tool stack / process}. We work with several {peer companies}. Want a 10-min call?

~28% reply.

Template 5.3: Thefunding

Hi {firstName}, congrats on {company}'s {funding round}. Series {X} usually means scaling {function}. We help with {specific outcome}. Worth a chat?

~22% reply.

Templates 5.4 to 5.10

Variations: company expansion, new product launch, new market entry, hiring spree, leadership change, rebrand, exit / acquisition.

Category 6: Profile visitor inbound

Reply rate baseline: 30-50%. They already looked at you. Easiest category.

Template 6.1

Hi {firstName}, saw you viewed my profile yesterday. Anything specific I can help with, or just exploring?

~42% reply. Direct, honest.

Template 6.2

Hi {firstName}, you visited my profile. We're working in similar spaces. Always happy to connect with peers in {industry}.

~31% reply.

Templates 6.3 to 6.10

Variations on the visitor-acknowledgment theme. Always acknowledge the visit. Never pretend you didn't see.

Category 7: Recruiter pitches

Template 7.1: Theopportunity (no resume ask)

Hi {firstName}, recruiting for {role} at {company}. Your background in {specific skill} matches what they need. No resume needed yet:open to a 15-min chat first?

~35% reply. Removing the resume friction is what wins.

Templates 7.2 to 7.10

Variations: passive candidate, pipeline build, contract role, leadership pitch, equity-heavy startup, remote-first, return-to-work, candidate referral, internal mobility.

Category 8: Agency partnership outreach

Template 8.1: Thewhite-label

Hi {firstName}, your agency works with {client type}. We have a tool that solves {problem} for that exact audience. Open to white-label or affiliate setup. 30% recurring 12-month commission.

~22% reply.

Templates 8.2 to 8.10

Variations: case study collaboration, co-marketing, agency tier discount, referral program, joint webinar, content swap, podcast guest, founder intro request, customer intro exchange.

Category 9: Follow-up sequences (no reply yet)

Always 3-message sequence. 4-day gaps. Never more than 3 follow-ups before pausing 60 days.

Template 9.1:Follow-up 1 (4 days after initial)

Hi {firstName}, no rush, but wanted to make sure my last note didn't get buried. Quick recap: {1-line value prop}. Want a 10-min call this week or next?

Template 9.2:Follow-up 2 (8 days after initial)

Hi {firstName}, last ping from me. We just published {relevant article / case study}. Might be useful even if you don't take a meeting: {link}.

Template 9.3:Follow-up 3 (14 days after initial, soft close)

Hi {firstName}, completely understand if not the right time. I'll stop pinging. Door's always open if {trigger} comes up.

Templates 9.4 to 9.10

Variations: humor break ("I'll send a meme next time"), referral ask ("anyone you know who'd benefit?"), single-question close ("worth 5 mins or not at all?"), case-study drop, competitor comparison drop, peer drop, time-sensitive expiring offer, partnership pivot, content recommendation, pure value gift.

Category 10: Re-engagement (cold connections)

Connections you have on LinkedIn but haven't talked to in 6+ months. Reply rate: 12-20%.

Template 10.1

Hi {firstName}, been a while. Saw your recent post on {topic}. Reminded me to reach out. How's {company / role} treating you?

~18% reply.

Templates 10.2 to 10.10

Variations: shared news, milestone congrats, "thinking of you because of X", referral ask, intro offer, content share, life update.

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Final notes on using these templates

  1. Personalization beats template choice. The same template will outperform another by 3x if the personalization line is real and specific.
  2. Connection requests under 200 characters convert better. LinkedIn caps at 300; staying under 200 increases acceptance ~25%.
  3. Never pitch in the connection request. The request is for the connection. The DM (after acceptance) is for the conversation.
  4. Always sequence. Single message reply rate is half of what 3-message sequence gets.
  5. Track reply rate by template. Run the same template against 100 prospects, measure, swap variables, repeat.

Test 2-3 templates per category against your specific ICP. Most teams find one template per category that consistently outperforms others by 2-3x. Stop running the rest. Double down on the winners.