A LinkedIn follow-up message sequence that does not annoy people
Short answer: send a thank-you when they accept, a useful message a few days later and one or two short reminders a week or more apart, then stop. End the sequence the moment someone replies. The timings below are suggestions from practice, not LinkedIn rules.
The four steps
| Step | When | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Thank-you | Right after they accept | Be a person, ask one easy question |
| 2. Useful message | 3 to 4 days later | Offer something relevant, not a pitch |
| 3. Short reminder | A week later | Make it easy to say yes or no |
| 4. Polite close | A week or more later | Leave the door open and stop |
1. The thank-you
Thanks for connecting, [Name]. I reached out because [reason]. Curious, how are you handling [topic] at [company] these days?
One question, no link.
2. The useful message
[Name], a quick thought after looking at [company]: [one relevant observation or resource]. If it is useful, I can share how others handle it.
Offer something they can use even if they never reply.
3. The reminder
Hi [Name], floating this back up in case it got buried. Worth a short chat, or is [topic] not a priority right now?
Giving them an easy no raises honest replies.
4. The close
I'll leave it here so I don't clutter your inbox. If [topic] becomes relevant, I'm happy to help. Wishing you a good quarter.
Rules that keep it respectful
- Stop on reply. Never send a scripted follow-up into a live conversation. Spurly stops a sequence for a person who replies.
- Stop on no. Thank them and stop.
- Vary the wording. Do not send three messages that only say "following up".
- Keep each one short. Three or four sentences at most.
- Use real details. A name and company filled in correctly is the minimum.
Doing it by hand or with a tool
By hand, set reminders and keep a note of where each person is. With a tool, build the steps once and let it handle the timing. In Spurly, sequences chain a connection request, waits and messages, fill in each person's details and stop for anyone who replies; all replies land in the unified inbox. Remember that automation carries risk with LinkedIn; see is LinkedIn automation safe?.
Copy-ready wording is in the follow-up templates. The full process is in the outreach guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many times should I follow up on LinkedIn?
Two to three messages after the first is a sensible limit. After that, silence is an answer. Always stop when someone replies or says no.
How long should I wait between follow-ups?
A few days after acceptance for the first real message, then a week or more between reminders. These are our suggestions, not LinkedIn rules.
Should follow-ups be automated?
You can automate the timing, but each message should still read as written for one person, and the sequence must stop when someone replies. Spurly sequences stop for a person who answers.
Try it yourself
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