If it’s your first time here - In Part 1 we discussed how to send a LinkedIn invite.

In Part 2, we talk about how to take the conversation forward and set up a coffee chat/call/zoom.

After sending the invite, there are two possible outcomes:

They accept (Yay!)
They don’t (Sad noises)

If they didn’t accept so be it. Their loss! (Or so I tell myself)

If the former happens, that’s exciting! Chances are high that they’ve accepted the invite but not replied to your message. This is normal, the app isn’t designed for quick conversations post invite and to be fair, most people don’t check the message right after.

Now is your time to shine! The character limit does not restrict you so you can get creative. THIS DOES NOT MEAN SENDING THEM YOUR LIFE STORY!

Keep it crisp and short, there is no need for flowery language, you’re not writing an essay in high school. Use a variation of the first message we discussed in part 1.

Hi XYZ,

Thanks for accepting my invite. I’m studying *program* at school/college, I’d love to learn more about your journey with company. Would you have 30 minutes to chat this week or next?

Regards,

*Your name*

Give them time to respond. 3 days is an acceptable time before sending a follow-up. Remember, most people never follow up and as a result don’t get what they want. Following up is not being clingy or annoying. It’s a professional ask.

The 3 day rule isn’t backed by data, just vibes. It has worked well for me. It may or may not work for you. I would stop myself at 3 follow-ups. If they still haven’t got back to you or left you on read, move on to the next.

There are hundreds of millions of people on LinkedIn. Unless you’re reaching out to a 1 person startup, there’s always another shot!

The goal is to make it as frictionless as possible for them to talk to you. They’ll appreciate the professionalism and you will meet more people.

If you think this would be helpful to someone, send them this link!