Introduction
Open Profile InMail is the highest-ROI channel on LinkedIn — free, unlimited, lands in the primary inbox. But the recipients (founders, execs, recruiters) get a lot of automated outreach, so generic templates die fast. These 12 templates have been A/B tested across ~180,000 Open Profile sends from Quicklead customer campaigns. Each is paired with the median reply rate it produced.
Sales Templates
Template 1 — Pattern interrupt opener (31% reply rate)
Subject: Quick — wrong person?
{first_name}, the {prospect_company} {department} team is hiring 3 reps this quarter — usually a signal you're about to feel the {pain_point}. We've helped {comparable_company_1} and {comparable_company_2} avoid that exact wall. If you're the wrong person, who should I be talking to?
Template 2 — Specific outcome opener (27% reply rate)
Subject: {prospect_company} + a 3.4x reply rate
{first_name}, I noticed {prospect_company} runs cold email + LinkedIn outreach. Two of your competitors recently doubled reply rates by adding Open Profile InMail as a parallel channel — costs them nothing. Worth a 15-min walkthrough?
Template 3 — Referral framing (29% reply rate)
Subject: {mutual_connection} suggested I reach out
{first_name} — {mutual_connection_first_name} mentioned {prospect_company} is rebuilding outbound. We help teams like yours get past LinkedIn's weekly invite cap without spending more on tools. Quick 15-min call this week?
Recruiting Templates
Template 4 — Direct candidate (33% reply rate)
Subject: {prospect_role} at {hiring_company} — interested?
{first_name}, your work on {recent_project} caught my eye. We're hiring a {role} at {hiring_company} — fully remote, {comp_range}. Open to a 20-min chat?
Template 5 — Senior IC pitch (28% reply rate)
Subject: {first_name} — building {team} at {hiring_company}
Saw your background at {current_company}. We're building out a {function} team here and your profile sits very close to what we need. Even if it's not the right time, would love your read on the market.
Partnership / BD Templates
Template 6 — Integration angle (24% reply rate)
Subject: Possible integration — {prospect_company} × {your_company}
{first_name}, our customers keep asking for a {prospect_company} integration. Curious if you've seen the same demand from your side — if so, a quick technical conversation could be valuable for both teams.
Template 7 — Co-marketing pitch (22% reply rate)
Subject: Joint webinar idea — {industry_topic}
{first_name}, I'm putting together a webinar on {topic} and your perspective from {prospect_company} would be a huge add. Audience: ~600 {ICP}. Down to chat for 15 minutes?
Founder-Led / Executive Outreach
Template 8 — Founder-to-founder (38% reply rate — highest)
Subject: Founder-to-founder — quick question
{first_name}, I'm the founder at {your_company}. Building {what_you_build}, and saw {prospect_company} is doing {related_thing}. One question: how are you currently handling {specific_problem}? If the answer is "painfully," I'd love to compare notes for 15 min.
Template 9 — POV-led (26% reply rate)
Subject: Disagree with the conventional take on {topic}
{first_name}, most {ICP} are doubling down on {trend} — but the data we're seeing at {your_company} suggests that's a 2-year mistake. Curious if your team is seeing similar signals.
Follow-Up Templates (Free, on Open Profile)
Template 10 — Soft bump (14% reply rate)
{first_name} — I know inbox is a lot. Wanted to bump this in case it got buried. Worth 15 min, or is this not a priority right now?
Template 11 — Value add follow-up (18% reply rate)
{first_name}, just dropped a piece on {topic} that {comp_1}'s VP shared yesterday — thought you'd find it useful: {link}. No need to reply unless it sparks something.
Template 12 — Last-touch with permission ask (12% reply rate)
{first_name}, I'll stop reaching out after this — but if you'd point me to the right person at {prospect_company}, I'd appreciate it.
What Makes Open Profile Templates Different
- Subject lines matter more. Test "wrong person" / "quick question" / specific-number subjects.
- Brevity wins. Median reply rate drops 4 points above 80 words.
- Personalization variables: 2 minimum. Use first name + a profile-specific detail.
- CTA: ask one question. "Worth 15 minutes?" outperforms "Book my Calendly."
Quicklead's campaign builder lets you A/B test 4–8 templates simultaneously across Open Profile sends, with auto-rotation. Book a 20-minute demo to get these templates pre-loaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's a good reply rate for Open Profile InMail?
Median is 20–25%. Top decile is 35–40%. Anything under 15% is template-fixable.
Q: How long should an Open Profile InMail be?
40–80 words.
Q: Should I use a subject line on Open Profile InMail?
Yes — Open Profile messages support subject lines and they materially affect open rates.
Q: How many follow-ups can I send on Open Profile?
2–3 max.
Q: Can I personalize Open Profile InMails at scale?
Yes — Quicklead supports variable insertion and AI personalization on every send.