Before you send me anything via LinkedIn, you should read this first. I get a lot of LinkedIn outreach, and most of them are just a waste of time. While I may not have the exact stats to compare cold LinkedIn outreach vs trying to pursue warm introductions, here’s what the data does tell us:
1. Warm introductions win. 84% of B2B buyers kick off their process with a referral or warm intro, and companies leveraging these have a 51% higher chance of hitting sales quotas. For sellers looking to reach the C-suite, this isn’t just a stat—it’s a roadmap. Imagine if you had a higher chance of reaching your goals, YET, you would rather use cold LinkedIn outreach? I won't respond, so don't waste your time or my time!!!
2. Cold outreach still works, but… LinkedIn InMail messages show a 300% higher response than email (interesting stat, but it's the nature of social media), with an 18-25% hit rate, but it’s still a far cry from the effectiveness of a warm introduction with specific positioning.
Interesting stat: only 31% of sellers consider social selling (LinkedIn included) among their top five focuses. I guess I should consider myself lucky... :)
3. Personalization and value are key. In 2024, generic outreach falls flat. Personalization—addressing the recipient’s unique challenges—is now non-negotiable. 98% of LinkedIn marketers agree that it advances customer relationships.
4. Executives prefer warm intros. VCs and senior execs are vocal about preferring—or even requiring—warm intros. It’s no surprise cold outreach often gets filtered out amidst high message volumes.
5. Relationships over pitches. Building rapport, engaging consistently, and providing value trumps the hard pitch every time. Brands that post weekly see 5.6x follower growth, underscoring the value of consistent engagement.
6. I cannot count how many times someone wanted to build that relationship but once they realized that what they offer doesn't fit; they bail and never respond again. DON'T BE A FAKE!!!
In short, while cold outreach isn’t dead, the trend clearly favors warm introductions and value-driven connections. For sales professionals, focusing on networking, relationship-building, and finding warm paths to execs isn’t just strategic—it’s essential.
#salesstrategy #networking #linkedin
Global Corporate Finance Specialist | Structuring Syndicated Loans & Debt Solutions | MD @Monei Matters | Connecting Businesses with Capital
2moI always struggle with making my outreach stand out.