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.