LINKEDIN OUTREACH SCRIPTS FOR FREELANCERS ========================================== Free resource from SoloStack — solostack.madethis.app ========================================== THE 3-STEP FRAMEWORK: OBSERVE → CONNECT → MESSAGE --------------------------------------------------- Never pitch in a connection request. Ever. Step 1: OBSERVE (1–3 days) Follow their content. Like 1–2 posts. Leave a thoughtful comment. Goal: become a familiar name before you ever send a request. This step alone increases connection acceptance by 30–40%. Step 2: CONNECT (with a note) Send a connection request with a short, personal note (under 300 characters). Reference something real. No pitch. No "I'd love to connect." Goal: accepted. That's it. Don't sell anything. Step 3: MESSAGE (after they connect) Wait 24–48 hours after they accept. Send your first message. Still no pitch. Start a conversation. Ask a genuine question or share a resource. Goal: reply. A reply is a lead. Work from there. -------------------------------------------------- 5 CONNECTION REQUEST NOTES (under 300 characters each) ------------------------------------------------------- [Use these after observing their content for at least 24 hours] 1. COMMENT REFERENCE "Loved your post about [specific topic] — I've been thinking about [related point] too. Would be great to connect with someone else thinking about this space." 2. MUTUAL CONNECTION "[Name] mentioned you're the go-to for [thing]. Great timing — I've been in this space for [X years] and always looking to know more people doing interesting work." 3. CONTENT REACTION "Your take on [specific post topic] was one of the most practical things I've seen on LinkedIn in months. Wanted to connect with the person behind it." 4. SHARED GROUP / COMMUNITY "Saw your comment in [group name] — you made a point about [topic] that I've been thinking about differently since. Would be glad to be connected." 5. COLD BUT SPECIFIC "I work with [type of business] on [service]. Your profile came up in search and your work at [company/niche] looks like exactly the kind of thing I help with. Happy to connect." -------------------------------------------------- 5 FIRST-MESSAGE SCRIPTS (after connecting — each under 150 words) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wait 24–48 hours after they accept before sending this. No pitch. Open a conversation first. 1. "I NOTICED YOU'RE HIRING" "Hey [Name] — congrats on the growth, saw you're building out the team. Quick question out of genuine curiosity: when you're scaling [function], do you typically bring in someone full-time first, or do you use freelancers to fill the gap while you find the right hire? I've seen this question come up a lot with founders in [their space] and would love to hear how you're thinking about it." 2. "I SAW YOUR POST ABOUT X" "Hey [Name] — your post about [topic] landed for me. You mentioned [specific point] — I ran into the exact same thing with a client last quarter. We ended up solving it by [brief, value-add insight]. Not sure if that's useful for your situation, but happy to share more if so. Either way, great post." 3. "WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM" "Hey [Name] — I noticed from your profile that you work with [type of client / in this space]. So do I, from the [your angle] side. I keep running into [specific challenge] with this audience. Curious — is that something you see too? Or do you approach it differently? Not a pitch — genuinely curious how others in this space are thinking about it." 4. "I HAVE A RESOURCE FOR YOU" "Hey [Name] — I put together a [checklist / template / guide] on [topic relevant to them] that a lot of [their type of business] have found useful. Based on your work at [company], thought it might be relevant. Happy to send it over — no strings, just wanted to share it. Would that be useful?" 5. "THE COMPLIMENT OPEN" "Hey [Name] — I've been following your work for a while and this felt overdue. The way you [specific thing they do well — e.g., 'talk about pricing for service businesses' or 'document your ops processes publicly'] is rare. Most people in [space] avoid this topic entirely. Just wanted to say it's genuinely useful. Hope things are going well on your end." -------------------------------------------------- 3 FOLLOW-UP SCRIPTS ------------------- If they don't reply, follow up. Most clients need 2–3 touches. DAY 3 FOLLOW-UP "Hey [Name] — just bumping this up in case it got buried. Still happy to [share the resource / answer your question / have that conversation] if useful." DAY 7 FOLLOW-UP "Hey [Name] — one more try before I leave you alone 😄 I know your inbox is likely wild. The short version: I [one sentence on what you do] for [their type of business]. If the timing ever makes sense, I'd love 15 minutes. If not, no worries — keep doing what you're doing." DAY 14 BREAK-UP MESSAGE "Hey [Name] — I'll stop nudging after this one. If [the problem you solve] ever becomes a priority, I'd be glad to help. Here's a quick case study that might be relevant when the timing is right: [link to case study or portfolio piece]. Wishing you well regardless." Note: After 3 touches with no response, move on. Do not send a 4th message. -------------------------------------------------- INMAIL SCRIPT (for non-connections — when it's worth spending credits) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Use InMail sparingly. Best cases: - Senior decision-makers who rarely accept cold connections - People who've viewed your profile but didn't connect - High-value prospects where the deal size justifies the credit InMail template: Subject: [Specific observation about their business] — quick question "Hi [Name], [One sentence showing you did your research — mention a specific post, initiative, product launch, or company news.] I work with [type of company] on [specific outcome you deliver]. [1 sentence result/proof point.] Quick question: [genuine, open-ended question about their situation — not a pitch]. Happy to [share a resource / have a short call / send a case study] if useful — or just answer the question if you have a minute. [Your name] [Title] | [website or Calendly link]" When NOT to use InMail: - Generic outreach to anyone - If they'd easily accept a connection request (save credits for unreachables) - When you have nothing specific to say — a bad InMail wastes the credit AND burns the relationship -------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE SCRIPTS ----------------- When they reply. What to say next. "TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR SERVICES" "Thanks for asking — happy to share. I help [specific ICP] with [specific service]. Typical engagement looks like [quick scope overview — timeline, deliverable, outcome]. Most recent result: [specific client win]. Are you dealing with [the specific problem you solve] right now, or more exploring options? Happy to tailor my answer based on where you're at." "WHAT DO YOU CHARGE?" "Depends on scope — but I can give you a range. Most projects for [their type of business] run between [range], depending on [key variable]. Rather than guess, it's usually faster to get on a 15-minute call and I can give you a specific number. Would that work, or would you prefer I send over a quick overview first?" "NOT INTERESTED" "No problem at all — appreciate you letting me know. If you're ever dealing with [the problem you solve] and want a second opinion, feel free to reach out. I'll keep an eye on your content — it's consistently good. Wishing you well." Note: NEVER argue. NEVER push back on "not interested." A graceful exit keeps the door open. Relationships compound over time. -------------------------------------------------- 5 DM MISTAKES TO AVOID ----------------------- 1. PITCHING IN THE CONNECTION REQUEST This is the #1 mistake. Your connection rate will drop to under 10%. The note should build rapport, not sell. 2. COPY-PASTE OUTREACH LinkedIn users can spot a template in 3 seconds. If your message could be sent to 100 people without changing a word, it will convert like you sent it to 100 people — poorly. 3. LEADING WITH "I" IN THE FIRST SENTENCE "I'm a freelance [X] with [Y] years of experience..." is the most common opening and the fastest way to get ignored. Lead with them — their content, their problem, their situation. 4. ASKING FOR A CALL BEFORE THEY KNOW YOU "I'd love to hop on a 30-minute call!" in a first message is too much. Build to it. Get a reply first. 5. SENDING ALL 5 TYPES OF MESSAGES TO THE SAME PERSON Pick one approach per person. If it doesn't work, follow up with a different angle — but don't send all your templates to the same inbox. -------------------------------------------------- THE "1 PERSONALIZED DETAIL" RULE ---------------------------------- Never send the same DM twice. Every single message should contain at least one detail that: - Could only be about this specific person - References something you actually observed (post, comment, company news, mutual connection) - Shows you spent 30–60 seconds on their profile This is the only rule you need to remember. If you can swap the name out and send the same message to someone else unchanged — rewrite it. Volume targets that work: - 10 connection requests per day (highly targeted) - 5–7 first messages per day (after acceptance) - 30–40% connection acceptance rate = healthy benchmark - 1 warm lead every 10–14 days at sustainable volume -------------------------------------------------- More free resources for freelancers: solostack.madethis.app/resources Want done-for-you proposal, onboarding, and contract templates? solostack.madethis.app/products