How to Write LinkedIn Messages That Get Replies — AI Prompt Guide for India

The average LinkedIn cold message in India has a 3–5% reply rate. The top salespeople get 20–30%. The difference isn't the product — it's the message. Here's how to use AI prompts to write LinkedIn messages that actually get read and replied to.

The 3 rules of LinkedIn messages that work

Rule 1: Never pitch in the first message. Rule 2: Make it about them, not you. Rule 3: Ask one specific, easy-to-answer question. AI helps you apply all three consistently.

Connection request — cold prospect

Prompt: "Write a LinkedIn connection request to a [job title] at a [company type] in India. I am in [your industry]. We have never spoken. Keep it under 250 characters. Don't mention sales, pitching, or your product. Find a genuine reason to connect — common industry, their recent post, or a relevant insight."

First message after connecting

Prompt: "I just connected with a [job title] on LinkedIn. Now I want to send a first message. I sell [product] to companies like theirs. Write a message that: references something from their profile or company page, asks one discovery question relevant to my product, and is under 60 words. No CTA for a call yet."

Follow-up after no reply (Day 7)

Prompt: "I sent a LinkedIn message 7 days ago — no reply. Write a short follow-up that: doesn't say 'just following up', shares a quick stat or insight relevant to their role, and asks a different question than before. Under 40 words."

Responding to a comment on your post

Prompt: "Someone commented on my LinkedIn post about [topic]. They are a [job title] at [company type]. I want to move the conversation to DM and eventually to a call. Write a reply comment and then a DM follow-up. Both should be friendly and not sales-y."

InMail to a premium prospect

Prompt: "Write a LinkedIn InMail to the CEO of a [company type] with 100–500 employees in India. I offer [service]. Subject line (max 8 words) + message body (max 100 words). Reference a specific business challenge common in their industry. End with one soft question, not a meeting request."