When pitched via LinkedIn, what sort of messaging actually resonated with you enough for you to read and reply?

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Deputy Director Marketplace IT Group in Government, 5,001 - 10,000 employees

I get a lot of pitches. I really appreciate when someone tries to form a relationship before going into a pitch.
Many times when coming at me with a pitch, the person doesn't know what I do or what my company does. As an executive, when you haven't taken the time to understand what could be helpful in my world, I read it as a generic pitch and I don't respond.

VP, Data and Opex, 10,001+ employees

Personalized messaging with clear articulation of the ask and the why for me to engage.

2 1 Reply

Director of Network Transformation, Self-employed

Agreed. There is enough information on LinkedIn about me. Please at least try to personalize it... That said, most of the time, they don't and are trying to sell me on something I clearly don't need - contract devs.

Global Head of AI, Data & Analytics in Software, 10,001+ employees

If somebody tries to build a connection before pitching me that's appreciated and they specify why the product or service is relevant to my organization and my role and I might hear them out

If the message is automated, reported for spam
If its the first message they sent after requesting connection with me, reported for spam
If the product has nothing to do with my role, offers a service that is literally the service that I offer or I can tell they haven't spent more than 30 seconds looking at my profile before trying to pitch to me, reported for spam

VP of Communications in Software, 501 - 1,000 employees

I receive a lot of sales-oriented LI messages and ignore most of them as they fail to articulate any value for me, my team, or my organization. The best pitches indicate a clear understanding of the challenges of my role and bring an interesting solution.

Senior Information Security Manager in Software, 501 - 1,000 employees

A message where the sender spent 2 minutes customizing it to me.

As opposed to generic text like ‘I work with similar people in your industry’.

Legal Operations Counsel & Innovation Strategist in Services (non-Government), 10,001+ employees

LinkedIn pitches from sales executives whom I don't know are not the way to reach me. The worst type are (a) repeated messages from unknown senders or (b) pitches with a video attached.

1 3 Replies

Head of Sales in Consumer Goods, 11 - 50 employees

What about video messages makes them off putting? Is it that you wouldn't open a video from someone you don't formally know?

Legal Operations Counsel & Innovation Strategist in Services (non-Government), 10,001+ employees

Yes, I think sending a complete stranger a video attachment sales pitch is a terrible approach. I don't open attachments from unknowns. Also, if you can't succinctly and clearly tell me why I should be interested in your product, do you really think I'm going to watch a video to try to learn about it for myself?

Director of Sales, 51 - 200 employees

That's really interesting to me Adina.

One of our most successful plays we use is a short, customized video demo. Granted it's through email and it's very personalized, having done research about the specific account first.

Might vary by industry or ICP

CDO in Software, 10,001+ employees

I do not respond to those pitches, never have taken care of any of them unless I know the person and still needs to be valuable for me.

2 1 Reply

Director in Finance (non-banking), 10,001+ employees

100% agree. I stopped reading when it was all recruiters for entry level SOC positions and software pitches not even remotely appropriate for my desk.

VP of Supply Chain in Transportation, 1,001 - 5,000 employees

Solicitation on LinkedIn is annoying and most are not even relevant -- does the sender even take the time to review my profile or my firm to truly know what we do. With that said, I do not respond unless I know the person or unless they were referred by a trusted network connection.

1 1 Reply

Director of Operations, Self-employed

fully agree

Founder in Miscellaneous, Self-employed

For me it's the following:

1/ Have they taken a genuine interest?
2/ Have they done their research, or could a bot have written it?
3/ Is what they're providing relevant to my goals / going to solve my problems?

But speaking honestly, if number 3 is great enough then chances are they'll get a reply, irrespective of 1 or 2.

Head of Sales in Consumer Goods, 11 - 50 employees

I prefer a short, concise pitch that shows the seller has researched me/my company with a clear tie in to how the seller's product/service solves one of our potential problems.

I also enjoy thoughtful personalization outside of the typical "I see we both went to the same college" or "we both like the same team". If a seller takes the time to read my LI profile and makes a meaningful comment/observation, I am more likely to engage.

Finally, if a new connection is going to pitch me, just pitch me from the start instead of trying to hide behind an insincere line of questions in an attempt to get to know me.