Copy-paste templates.
Built for pipeline, not vanity.

LinkedIn connection request that references a specific content interaction. Content-triggered requests convert at 55–65% vs 26% for no-note requests, according to a real-world study of 16,492 requests.

First DM triggered by the prospect commenting on, liking, or viewing your profile. Expected reply rate 22–30% vs 10.3% cold benchmark. The content engagement is the hook - use it explicitly.

Cold DM structured around the 3-part first message anatomy: specific hook → insight or observation → low-stakes question. Average reply rate for a well-executed cold opener: 12–16% vs 10.3% benchmark. Poorly executed: 5–7%.

The structured 5-message sequence used to surface a prospect's real, felt, urgent problem in a DM context. Gate 3 (genuine pain disclosure) is the single most important gate in the pipeline - every gate before it is setup, everything after it is execution. 80% of positive replies come after the first follow-up.

A specific number in the first line creates instant credibility. Avg performance multiplier: 2.5–3.2x across 11,986 posts. Specific numbers earn 2.3× the engagement of round numbers - '127 profiles' outperforms '100+ profiles' because specificity signals rigour.

Opens with a statement that contradicts a widely-held belief in the niche. Avg performance multiplier: 2.8–3.5x - the highest-performing hook pattern in the 11,986-post dataset. Works because it creates cognitive dissonance: both people who agree AND who disagree engage.

Drops the reader into a specific scene mid-action, no setup. Avg performance multiplier: 1.8–2.4x. The mechanism: specificity creates identity resonance for readers who've been in a similar situation, and the narrative tension creates an open loop they need to resolve.

Open with a numbered promise. Odd counts (5, 7, 9) outperform even counts in feed click-through. The qualifier after the count is what separates a high-performing listicle hook from a generic one.

Walk readers through a specific, real client result: context, problem, what you did, outcome, lesson. Proof posts (Pillar 2) produce 40% higher engagement than average and are the primary driver of inbound DMs. The more specific the numbers, the higher the credibility.

Teach a single, named, repeatable framework. The most-saved format on LinkedIn. Thought leadership content generates 30–50% higher engagement than average. The save rate (not engagement rate) is the leading indicator - people save frameworks they plan to use.

First-person story with a clear arc and a transferable lesson. Personal stories get 1.8x higher engagement than informational content and generate the longest comment threads. Use sparingly - 1 in 4 posts max (Pillar 3 = 25% allocation). Without a lesson, it's a diary entry.

Stake out a strong, defensible, unpopular position with evidence. Highest comment-to-impression ratio of any format. Comments are weighted 15x more than likes in LinkedIn's algorithm - one well-constructed hot take can outperform 5 engagement-optimised posts.

Post that teases a downloadable checklist and drives comment opt-ins. Pillar 4 (Pipeline) format: directly invites qualified prospects to raise their hand. Comments are weighted 15x more than likes in LinkedIn's algorithm - a well-executed hand-raiser does double work: it generates algorithmic reach AND creates a self-identified warm lead list.

Post promoting a short PDF guide (5–15 pages). Best for capturing higher-intent prospects willing to give an email address. Use after a series of related posts has warmed the topic - the guide converts better when readers have already seen the topic in your content feed.

Post driving to a short diagnostic quiz. Highest conversion rate of any lead magnet format - often 15–25% - because the result feels personalised. The mechanism: people want to know which bucket they're in, and the quiz gives them a specific answer.

Post offering a copy-paste template (Notion, Google Doc, spreadsheet, Airtable). Converts well because the value is immediately obvious - a template solves a specific problem the reader already knows they have. Screenshots of the template increase comments 2–3×.

LinkedIn poll drives comment volume and impressions fast. Best used as a data collection mechanism for a follow-up post. The follow-up post gets 2–3× more reach than the poll itself - the poll is the setup, not the content.

Post that directly requests a specific type of comment with a concrete scaffold. Generates 3–10× more comments than a standard post when the prompt is specific. The best comment prompts make every commenter give you a qualified data point AND self-identify as a warm lead.

Post where you make a candid, specific disclosure and invite others to match it. Builds community and earns credibility simultaneously. Best for normalising a topic most people in your industry don't discuss publicly: revenue numbers, client churn, failed deals, pricing mistakes.

Reshare a peer's post and add a specific, original perspective. Reaches two audiences simultaneously and builds network goodwill. Only works when your perspective genuinely extends, challenges, or adds new evidence to the original - pure agreement has no algorithmic or pipeline value.