How to Follow Up on LinkedIn Without Being Pushy
You’ve sent a connection request, and it was accepted. Or maybe you had a brief, promising exchange with a prospect. You wait a few days, but hear nothing back. Now comes the most delicate part of LinkedIn outreach: the follow-up. How do you stay on their radar without being annoying? How do you show you're interested without coming across as desperate?
Following up is critical—studies show that 80% of sales require at least five follow-ups. Yet, most people give up after just one or two attempts, often because they're afraid of being perceived as pushy.
This guide will teach you how to follow up on LinkedIn in a way that is professional, adds value, and actually gets replies, all without being pushy.
The Fine Line Between Persistence and Pestering
The difference between a welcome follow-up and an annoying one comes down to one thing: value.
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Pushy follow-ups are self-serving. They use phrases like "Just checking in," "Wanted to bump this to the top of your inbox," or "Have you had a chance to read my last message?" These messages offer no new value and only serve to remind the prospect that you want something from them.
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Professional follow-ups are generous. They offer a new piece of information, a helpful resource, or a relevant insight. They are centered on the prospect's needs, not your own.
The Mindset Shift: From "Just Checking In" to "Adding Value"
Before you write your next follow-up, shift your mindset. Your goal is not to "check in" on your last message; it's to provide a new, valid reason for the prospect to engage with you. Every follow-up is a new opportunity to demonstrate your expertise and show that you understand their world.
Ask yourself: "What can I give in this message that would be genuinely helpful to this person, even if they never buy from me?"
5 Actionable Strategies for Non-Pushy Follow-Ups
Here are five proven strategies for following up that add value and keep the conversation going.
1. The Value-Added Follow-Up
This is the most effective follow-up strategy. Instead of asking for something, give something.
- Action: Share a resource you think they would find interesting. This could be a blog post, a case study, an industry report, or even a relevant news article.
- Template:
"Hi {{firstName}}, I was just reading this article on the future of [Their Industry] and it made me think of our conversation about [Topic]. The section on [Specific Point] might be particularly relevant for you. Here's the link: [Link]. Hope you find it useful!"
2. The "Thought of You" Follow-Up
This shows you are actively thinking about their specific challenges and connecting the dots for them.
- Action: Reference a recent company announcement, a post they made, or a challenge you know they are facing.
- Template:
"Hi {{firstName}}, I saw that {{companyName}} just announced [Company News, e.g., expansion into a new market]. That's exciting news! I've worked with a few other companies during a similar growth phase, and a common challenge was [Relevant Challenge]. Thought I'd share a quick insight that helped them..."
3. The Congratulatory Follow-Up
Celebrating a prospect's success is a great way to re-engage in a positive, personal way.
- Action: Use LinkedIn's notifications to see when a prospect has a work anniversary, gets a promotion, or is mentioned in the news.
- Template:
"Hi {{firstName}}, just saw the news about your promotion to [New Title]—congratulations! It's great to see your success at {{companyName}}. Wishing you all the best in the new role."
4. The Insightful Question Follow-Up
Instead of making a statement, ask a thoughtful question that encourages them to reply.
- Action: Ask a question related to their industry, a recent post, or a challenge you suspect they have.
- Template:
"Hi {{firstName}}, I'm still thinking about your post on [Topic]. It made me wonder, how are you seeing [Industry Trend] affect your team's strategy for the upcoming quarter? Curious to hear your thoughts."
5. The Graceful Exit (with a Door Left Open)
If you've followed up a few times with no response, it's time to gracefully bow out. This shows respect for their time and often gets a reply because it removes the pressure.
- Action: Acknowledge that the timing might not be right and politely close the loop.
- Template:
"Hi {{firstName}}, I know you're likely very busy, so I won't continue to follow up on this. If you ever find that [Your Value Proposition] becomes a priority, please don't hesitate to reach out. Wishing you and the team at {{companyName}} all the best."
How to Automate Follow-Ups Without Being Pushy
Manually tracking who to follow up with, when to do it, and what message to send is a logistical nightmare. This is where automation, when done correctly, can be a game-changer.
The key is to automate the process, not the personalization.
This is exactly what Bindago is designed for. Bindago is a desktop application that allows you to build multi-step message sequences, so you can systematically follow up with your prospects without losing the human touch.
Here’s how you can use Bindago to follow up without being pushy:
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Build a Value-Driven Sequence: In Bindago's Campaigns feature, you can create a sequence of messages based on the templates above. For example:
- Message 1 (3 days after connecting): The Value-Added Follow-Up.
- Message 2 (7 days later): The Insightful Question Follow-Up.
- Message 3 (14 days later): The Graceful Exit.
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Personalize Your Templates: Use Bindago's personalization variables (
{{firstName}},{{companyName}}, etc.) to make each message feel one-to-one. -
Let Automation Handle the Timing: Bindago will automatically send each message at the interval you set. Most importantly, it will automatically stop the sequence for a prospect as soon as they reply, allowing you to step in and have a real, human conversation.
By using Bindago, you can ensure that every prospect receives a thoughtful, value-driven follow-up sequence, dramatically increasing your chances of getting a reply. And because it's a desktop app, your LinkedIn credentials and data remain securely on your computer.
Conclusion
Following up on LinkedIn is an art that balances persistence with professionalism. The key is to always provide value and focus on the prospect's needs. By ditching the "just checking in" messages and adopting a value-first approach, you can turn follow-ups from a dreaded chore into one of your most effective sales tools.
Combine these strategies with the smart automation of a tool like Bindago, and you have a scalable system for building relationships and generating a consistent stream of warm, qualified leads.
Ready to master the art of the follow-up? Download Bindago today and start your 10-day free trial.
