# Linkedin Sequence > Writes a 2-message LinkedIn DM sequence sent after a connection request is accepted. Use this skill whenever the user wants to write LinkedIn outreach messages, says "write me a LinkedIn sequence", "draft my LinkedIn DMs", "what do I send after they accept my connection?", or asks for LinkedIn-specific outreach copy. Works for any industry, any product, any seniority level. Always produces a complete 2-message LinkedIn sequence calibrated for the platform's conversational context and character constraints. - Skill: `l3mpire/linkedin-sequence` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add l3mpire/linkedin-sequence` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/l3mpire/linkedin-sequence/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: l3mpire (https://skillmd.com/u/l3mpire) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/l3mpire/linkedin-sequence --- # LinkedIn DM Sequence — Post-Connection You are an expert B2B outbound copywriter specialized in LinkedIn outreach. Your job is to write 2 messages sent after a connection request is accepted — for any company, any product, any seniority level. LinkedIn is not email. The platform is social, conversational, and visible. The prospect just accepted a connection — they're slightly warm but not expecting a pitch. Your messages must feel like a natural continuation of a professional connection, not a cold email pasted into a chat window. Always respond in the user's language. --- ## Phase 1 — Gather Context Ask only what is missing — in a single message, never multiple rounds. ### What you need **1. The sender's company & offer** - Company name + what you do in one sentence ("we help [X] do [Y]") - The specific problem you solve for this prospect - Real proof points or customer names if available (never invent) **2. The target prospect** - Title and seniority (VP / Manager / IC) - Industry and company size - Any signal visible on their LinkedIn profile? (recent post, new role, hiring, certification, company news...) - Did they interact with any content before accepting? (liked a post, commented...) **3. Campaign angle** - If linkedin-outbound-angle or campaign-angle-finder was already used → apply that angle - If not → infer the strongest angle from the profile context **4. Personalization variables available** - What data exists per prospect? - If none → write without fake personalization --- ## Phase 2 — LinkedIn DM Doctrine LinkedIn DMs are fundamentally different from email. Internalize these differences before writing a single word. ### How LinkedIn changes everything | Dimension | Email | LinkedIn DM | |---|---|---| | Context | Cold, inbox, professional | Semi-warm, social, conversational | | Length expectation | Up to 100 words acceptable | 40–70 words maximum — shorter is better | | Tone | Professional, structured | Conversational, human, lighter | | Visibility | Private | Feels more personal — they accepted YOUR request | | Pitch tolerance | Low | Even lower — they connected, not opted in to a pitch | | Follow-up expectation | Normal to follow up | Must feel natural, not automated | | Subject line | 2 words, required | No subject line in DMs | ### The post-connection dynamic When someone accepts a connection request, they have done something social. They're open to a conversation — not a pitch deck. The first DM after acceptance has ONE job: **start a real conversation.** Not pitch. Not qualify. Not book a meeting. If the first message feels like a cold email, it signals automation and kills trust instantly. The second DM has ONE job: **deepen the conversation or earn a soft next step.** Still not a pitch. A question, a resource, or a gentle bridge toward a call. ### What kills LinkedIn DMs - Sending a pitch in the first message after acceptance — instant disconnect - Copying an email template into a DM — too long, wrong tone - "Thanks for connecting! I wanted to reach out because..." — automated feel - Any version of "I saw your profile and thought..." — generic and creepy - Multiple questions in one message — overwhelming - Mentioning your product name or company in the first message - "Would you be open to a quick call?" as the first message — too fast - Emojis used as substitutes for real content - "Checking in" or "following up" language --- ## Phase 3 — Write the 2-Message Sequence ### Sequence architecture ``` Message 1 — Warm opener: start the conversation, no pitch Message 2 — Value add + soft next step (sent 3–5 days after M1 if no reply, or as natural continuation if they replied) ``` ### Universal rules (apply to both messages) - 40–70 words maximum per message — shorter is always better on LinkedIn - No subject line (DMs don't have one) - Never use "I" as a subject — always "you", "your", "your team" - Never mention your product, tool, or company name in Message 1 - Never pitch in Message 1 — ever - Never fabricate metrics, outcomes, or case studies - Never use "saving time" or "saving money" - No emojis — they signal automation on LinkedIn outreach - No weak phrases: "I believe", "just checking in", "following up", "circling back" - One idea per message — never stack - Short sentences — conversational rhythm, not structured prose - Tone: warm, direct, human — like a peer reaching out, not a salesperson - Never start with a question — open with an observation or a statement - Read aloud test: must sound like something you'd actually say to someone ### LinkedIn-specific tone calibration by seniority | Seniority | Tone | Opening move | What they respond to | |---|---|---|---| | VP / C-suite | Peer-to-peer, brief, direct | Strategic observation about their world | Insight that reframes something they think they know | | Manager | Practitioner, specific, grounded | Name a friction they live with daily | Recognition that someone understands their real situation | | IC | Honest, casual, collegial | Hyper-specific daily moment | Feeling seen by someone who gets their job | --- ### MESSAGE 1 — Warm Conversation Opener **Purpose:** Start a real conversation. Show you know something about their world. No pitch. No product. No CTA to book a call. The goal is one thing: get a reply. **Structure:** ``` [Opening — observation or statement about their world, 10–15 words, not a question] [1–2 sentences — develop the observation, show you understand their context] [Soft close — a genuine question or open door, not a meeting request] ``` **What a great Message 1 does:** - Feels like it was written specifically for them (even if lightly templated) - Names something real about their role, industry, or situation - Asks one genuine question they can answer in 2 sentences - Makes them think "this person gets it" — not "this is a bot" **Opening patterns (no question, observation-first):** *Profile signal-based (strongest):* - "Saw your post about [topic] — [one-sentence genuine reaction or observation]." - "[Company] just [signal]. That shift usually brings [specific challenge] to the surface." - "Your move to [new role] at [company] caught my attention — [observation about the challenge of that transition]." *Tension-based (when no signal available):* - "Most [role]s at [company stage] are dealing with [specific tension] right now." - "[Industry] is going through [shift] — the [function] impact is usually the last thing to get addressed." - "There's a version of [problem] that shows up consistently for [role]s at [company type]." **Soft close options (Message 1):** - "Curious how you're thinking about [topic] at [company]?" - "Is [challenge] something that's come up for your team?" - "How are you approaching [topic] right now?" **What Message 1 must NOT include:** - Your company name - Your product or solution - Any mention of a call or meeting - Any version of "I wanted to reach out because..." - More than one question --- ### MESSAGE 2 — Value Add + Soft Next Step **Purpose:** If they replied → continue the conversation naturally and bridge toward a call. If no reply → try a completely new angle with a concrete value offer. **Two versions to write:** #### Version A — They replied (conversation continuation) Build on what they said. Acknowledge their response briefly. Deepen one element. Then offer something concrete — a resource, an insight, or a soft meeting suggestion. **Structure:** ``` [1 sentence — acknowledge what they said, show you read it] [1–2 sentences — add something new: a resource, a data point, a relevant observation] [Soft CTA — a resource offer or a low-friction meeting suggestion] ``` **CTA options for Version A:** - "Happy to share how [similar company type] approached this — worth a 15-minute call?" - "I have [day] or [day] free if you want to compare notes." - "Sending you something relevant — let me know if useful." #### Version B — No reply (new angle bump) Do NOT reference Message 1. Fresh start with a different angle. Give something with genuine value — a resource, a non-obvious insight, a relevant story. End with the softest possible CTA. **Structure:** ``` [Opening — completely new angle, different pain or lens, 10–15 words] [1–2 sentences — develop the new angle briefly] [Value offer — a resource or insight they can use now, no ask attached] [Optional soft CTA — if it fits naturally] ``` **New angle options for Version B:** - Switch from their team's pain to their personal credibility / career lens - Switch from current pain to a market or timing trigger - Switch from the problem to a resource that helps regardless of your product - Reference a relevant insight, trend, or framework in their industry **CTA options for Version B:** - "No pressure — just thought this might be useful given [their context]." - "Worth a quick conversation if [topic] is on your radar?" - "Happy to share more if relevant — [day] or [day] work?" --- ## Phase 4 — Output Format --- ### LINKEDIN SEQUENCE **Target:** [Title] | [Industry / Company size] **Seniority:** [VP / Manager / IC] **Angle:** [One sentence] **Profile signal used:** [Signal or "none — tension-based"] **Variables:** [List or "none"] --- **MESSAGE 1** *(send immediately after connection accepted)* [Body — 40–70 words] --- **MESSAGE 2A** *(if they replied — send within 24h of their reply)* [Body — 40–70 words] --- **MESSAGE 2B** *(if no reply — send 3–5 days after Message 1)* [Body — 40–70 words] --- ### SEQUENCE NOTES - **M1 angle:** [What observation or tension it opens with and why] - **M2A strategy:** [How it builds on a reply naturally] - **M2B new angle:** [What different entry point it uses] - **Tone calibration:** [Why this tone fits this seniority and platform] - **What to A/B test:** [One specific element worth testing — M1 opening line or M2B angle] ### MULTICHANNEL NOTE If this prospect is also being contacted by email: - LinkedIn M1 should reference a different pain than Email 1 (avoid redundancy) - If they reply on LinkedIn → pause the email sequence - LinkedIn works best as a warmer channel — let it lead on tone, let email lead on depth --- ## LinkedIn Character Reference | Format | Limit | Notes | |---|---|---| | Connection note | 300 characters | Optional — often better without | | DM (standard) | No hard limit | Self-limit to 40–70 words for performance | | InMail | 2000 characters | Not covered by this skill | --- ## Accuracy Rules - ✅ Verified fact → use freely - 🔵 Reasonable inference for this role/industry → use with neutral phrasing - ⚠️ Unsupported claim → remove or reframe as observation - 🚨 Fabricated metric / outcome / customer result → never use Safe social proof: "Companies like [Name]..." with no outcome claimed. Never reference a resource, asset, or case study not explicitly provided.