You picked a template. Now what?
This page shows what each one does, step by step. Each template has a job. Pick the right job for your prospect.
🟦 Cold Outreach (The Default)
Who it's for
Cold prospects. They don't know you. You don't share connections. You're starting from zero.
When to use it
- You scraped a list from Sales Nav or Apollo.
- You're targeting a new market.
- You're not sure which template to pick. Start here.
What happens
Day 1 → Send connection request (empty, no note)
Day 3 → Message 1: Open a peer-level chat
Day 7 → Message 2: Spot a problem they probably have
Day 12 → Message 3: Ask if it matches their world
Day 18 → Message 4: Share a real example
Day 22 → Message 5: Suggest a 15-min call
✅ A good message 3
Hi James, most cybersecurity leads I talk to at 500-person shops say the same thing: shadow IT eats 30% of their detection backlog. Sound about right for Acme, or is your team further along?
❌ A bad message 3
Hi James, hope this finds you well! I noticed Acme is doing great things in cybersecurity. Would love to connect and explore synergies.
💡 Pro tip
The first connection request is empty on purpose. It costs zero LinkedIn credits. Your prospect visits your profile before your first real message lands.
🆕 Cold Outreach with Note (Personalized Connection)
Who it's for
Same cold prospects as standard Cold Outreach, but you want to add a personalized note to the initial connection request instead of leaving it blank.
When to use it
- You have a strong reason they'll accept: similar background, a mutual connection, or a compelling observation.
- You're willing to use one of your 10 weekly personalized-note credits.
- You want to stand out from the 80% of connection requests with no note.
- You're targeting high-value accounts where the extra touch matters.
What happens
Day 1 → Send connection request (personalized AI note)
Day 3 → Message 1: Open a peer-level chat
Day 7 → Message 2: Spot a problem they probably have
Day 12 → Message 3: Ask if it matches their world
Day 18 → Message 4: Share a real example
Day 22 → Message 5: Suggest a 15-min call
✅ A good connection note
Hi James, your recent post on shadow IT hit home. We help security teams at 500-person shops cut the detection backlog. Quick question — is that something on your radar at Acme?
❌ A bad connection note
Hi James, would love to connect! I have a great solution for your cybersecurity needs. Let me know if you're interested!
💡 Pro tip
A personalized connection note works best when it's specific and short (25-40 words). LinkedIn truncates at about 300 characters. Mention one concrete thing — their post, role, or company — and end with a soft question. No pitches, no URLs, no em-dashes. And don't ask for a meeting yet; that's what the follow-up messages are for.
🟢 Warm Outreach
Who it's for
Cold prospects with a small warm signal:
- They posted something you can react to.
- They changed jobs recently.
- A mutual connection sent them your way.
- Their company is on your "I follow this brand" list.
When to use it
You want a softer ramp than full cold. The template starts by following their profile (a tiny social ping) before the connection request. They get a notification. They check you out. You're not a total stranger anymore.
What happens
Day 1 → Follow their profile
Day 3 → Send connection request (empty)
Day 6 → Message 1: Reference the warm signal
Day 10 → Message 2: Ask one short question
Day 16 → Message 3: Share a quick observation
Day 22 → Message 4: Suggest next step
✅ A good message 1
Hi Sarah, your post on rev ops automation hit a nerve. The bit about 12 disconnected tools per team. We see that a lot. How are you stitching it together at Globex?
💡 Pro tip
The "follow" step works best if your profile shows real activity. If your last post was 2 years ago, that's the wrong impression. Post something useful first.
🟣 Connected Outreach
Who it's for
1st-degree LinkedIn connections you've never properly engaged with. You've been "connected" for months. You've never DM'd them.
When to use it
- Old conference contacts.
- Person you accepted but never spoke to.
- A list of 1st-degrees you exported from LinkedIn.
What happens
Day 1 → Message 1: Warm opener, reference the connection
Day 5 → Message 2: Soft question about their work
Day 10 → Message 3: Light value drop
Day 15 → Message 4: Direct question
Day 20 → Message 5: Meeting suggestion
✅ A good message 1
Hi Maria, we connected back when you were at Initech. Saw you're now leading marketing at Globex. How's the new chapter going?
❌ A bad message 1
Hi Maria, long time no talk! I wanted to reach out because we have an amazing product that I think will be perfect for you.
💡 Pro tip
No connection step here. You're already in. Skip the small talk and bring something useful to the conversation.
🟡 Reactivation
Who it's for
Old 1st-degree connections you've completely lost touch with. They went quiet 90+ days ago. Maybe they replied once, then disappeared.
When to use it
- Cleaning up your dormant network.
- Re-engaging old leads who never converted.
- Bringing back cold replies from the past.
What happens
Day 1 → Message 1: Bridge the gap, acknowledge the silence
Day 8 → Message 2: Bring fresh, relevant context
Day 16 → Message 3: Open the door for a call
✅ A good message 1
Hi Alex, it's been a while. Saw your new role at Vandelay. We chatted about pipeline forecasting back when you were at Initech. Curious if it's still on your radar in the new seat.
💡 Pro tip
Short sequence on purpose. If they don't bite in 3 messages, they're not ready. Don't push it to 6 messages and burn the relationship.
🟠 Champion
Who it's for
End-users, not decision-makers. The person who actually uses the tool every day. They feel the grind. They have influence but no signing power.
Examples:
- A sales rep (not the VP of Sales)
- A marketer (not the CMO)
- An engineer (not the CTO)
When to use it
- You're targeting bottom-up adoption.
- Your decision-maker contact is blocked or unreachable.
- You sell a tool people love. Your champion will sell it internally for you.
What happens
Day 1 → Send connection request (empty)
Day 3 → Message 1: Validate the daily grind they face
Day 9 → Message 2: Share a time-relief angle
Day 15 → Message 3: Arm them with a useful resource
Day 21 → Message 4: Suggest a chat about their workflow
✅ A good message 1
Hi Dani, you're running 4 SDRs at Initech. How are you keeping the pipeline forecast tight without an analyst on your team?
❌ A bad message 1
Hi Dani, we help companies like Initech achieve 3x ROI on sales pipeline. Worth a quick call?
💡 Pro tip
No ROI talk. No exec-speak. Talk about their hands-on workflow. They'll do the internal sell for you, but only if you sound like one of them.
🔴 Web Visit Triggered
Who it's for
Prospects who visited your website but didn't fill out a form. They showed intent. Now you act fast.
You'll see this signal from your RB2B integration or another intent tool.
When to use it
- Hot intent signal.
- You want to move fast. This is a 10-day sequence, not 3 weeks.
- The prospect is in research mode.
What happens
Day 1 → Send connection request (empty)
Day 2 → Message 1: Acknowledge the visit, light touch
Day 4 → Message 2: Match their research to a real outcome
Day 7 → Message 3: Offer the next step (demo, resource, call)
Day 10 → Message 4: Last call, gentle exit
✅ A good message 1
Hi Tomás, saw Acme was looking at our pricing page yesterday. Happy to answer questions if you're early in your research, or send the case study if you're further along. Which fits?
💡 Pro tip
Move fast. Hot signals cool in days. Don't drag this out into a 3-week sequence.
🟤 Direct
Who it's for
You don't want to send a connection request. You just want to message them. This works when:
- You have InMail credits (LinkedIn Premium or Sales Nav).
- You're going through a different channel (email-style).
- You hate the connect-first pattern.
When to use it
- You want pure messaging, no connection step.
- The prospect is unlikely to accept connections from strangers.
- You have a short, sharp pitch and you've earned the right to make it.
What happens
Day 1 → Message 1: Direct hook, name a specific problem
Day 5 → Message 2: Sharper question
Day 10 → Message 3: Hard offer (resource or call)
Day 14 → Message 4: Soft exit
✅ A good message 1
Hi Priya, quick one: most CFOs running multi-entity rollups lose 3 days a month to reconciliation errors. Is that what's happening at Vandelay too?
💡 Pro tip
This template is more direct than the others. Use it when you've earned the right (real expertise, real signal, real ask). Don't use it for spray-and-pray.
⚪ Empty
Who it's for
You want to build a sequence from scratch. No starter steps. You add each one yourself.
When to use it
- You have a very specific use case the other 8 don't cover.
- You're an advanced user with your own playbook.
- You're testing a new sequence pattern.
What happens
Nothing. The sequence is blank. You add every step.
💡 Pro tip
Start from a template that's almost what you want, then edit it down. Starting from Empty is hard. Starting from a template and trimming is easy.
🧭 Can I Switch Templates Mid-Campaign?
No. Once a campaign launches, the template is set. But you can:
- Stop the campaign and start a new one with a different template.
- Edit individual messages in an active campaign.
- Duplicate the campaign and apply a different template to the copy.
🛠 What All Templates Have in Common
| Thing | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Empty connection request (default) | No personalized note by default. Saves your weekly note credits. Cold Outreach with Note sends a personalized note. |
| Short messages | Each message is capped at about 50 words. Long messages get ignored. |
| One question per message | More than one question kills reply rates. |
| No em dashes | Em dashes feel AI-written. Real humans use periods and commas. |
| No "I noticed" | Same reason. It's the most-flagged AI tell. |
| Anchor each message | Every message after the first names something specific about your prospect (company, team, role). |
📚 What's Next
- Pick Your Template → Back to the quick guide
- Campaign Creation: Step-By-Step Guide → Full setup walkthrough
- Understanding How Campaigns Work → Conditions, delays, replies