Hubspot-Style Guide to Messaging on LinkedIn Without a Connection

Many sales teams and marketers use Hubspot to organize outreach, but still struggle with one key challenge: how to send a LinkedIn message to someone you are not connected to while staying professional, relevant, and compliant with platform limits. This step-by-step guide breaks down that process in a clear, repeatable framework you can use for prospecting, recruiting, and networking.

How LinkedIn Messaging Works in a Hubspot-Inspired Workflow

Before you start sending messages, you need to understand the main LinkedIn messaging options available and how they fit into a Hubspot-style outreach workflow. LinkedIn creates different pathways for communication depending on your subscription level and how you are connected to a prospect.

The four primary ways to message someone you are not connected to are:

• InMail (for LinkedIn Premium users)
• Open Profile messages (to certain Premium profiles)
• Messages through shared LinkedIn Groups
• Connection requests with a short personalized note

Each option comes with different limits, visibility rules, and etiquette. Aligning these channels with your CRM or any Hubspot-based pipeline helps you track which contacts you have reached out to, what you said, and whether they replied.

Option 1: Use LinkedIn InMail (Hubspot-Friendly and Trackable)

LinkedIn InMail is designed for outreach to people who are outside your network, especially in sales and recruiting. In a Hubspot-style prospecting sequence, InMail acts like a targeted cold email inside LinkedIn.

What Is InMail and When Should You Use It in a Hubspot Process?

InMail is available to LinkedIn Premium subscribers and lets you send direct messages to people you are not connected to. It is ideal when:

• You are targeting high-value decision makers.
• You cannot find a valid email address.
• You want to reach prospects where they are most active.

Within a CRM or Hubspot pipeline, you can log each InMail as a touchpoint, so you maintain a clean record of outreach history.

Steps to Send an InMail Message

1. Go to the profile of the person you want to contact.
2. If you see a Message or InMail button, click it.
3. Select InMail if prompted.
4. Write a concise subject line that mentions a clear benefit or context.
5. Draft a short, focused message (2–5 sentences).
6. Include a soft call to action, such as asking for a quick call or a short reply.
7. Send and then log the outreach in your CRM or Hubspot dashboard.

InMail Message Template in a Hubspot Style

You can adapt this simple structure to match any Hubspot playbook you already use:

• Subject: Quick question about [topic or metric]
• Body outline:
  • One-line context for why you are reaching out.
  • One sentence tailored to their role or company.
  • A short, low-friction request (for example, a 10-minute call or a quick answer).

Option 2: Message an Open Profile Using a Hubspot-Like Personalization Approach

Some LinkedIn Premium users enable Open Profile, which lets anyone on LinkedIn send them messages for free. For those contacts, you do not need an InMail credit, but your message still must be highly relevant and respectful.

How to Identify an Open Profile

When visiting a profile, look for:

• A Message button when you are not connected and do not share a group.
• A note that the person is an Open Profile member.

From a Hubspot-style segmentation view, you can tag these contacts as lower-cost outreach opportunities, since you are not using InMail credits.

How to Write an Effective Open Profile Message

Use the same clarity and brevity that you would in a Hubspot email sequence:

• Reference a specific reason you chose them (role, content, project).
• Show that you respect their time with a short, scannable message.
• Add a clear next step that is easy to say yes to.

Option 3: Send Messages Through LinkedIn Groups in a Hubspot-Aligned Strategy

Another path to people outside your first-degree network is through shared LinkedIn Groups. When you and a prospect are in the same group, you may be able to send them a message even if you are not connected.

Find Prospects in Groups for a Hubspot-Like Campaign

1. Join groups where your ideal buyers or contacts are active.
2. Use the Members tab to search by job title, company, or keyword.
3. Open a member’s profile to see whether you can send a message.

In a Hubspot-style campaign, each group can act like an audience segment. You can tailor your message to the shared interest that brought everyone into that group.

Write Group-Based Messages That Do Not Feel Spammy

When you message someone from a group, lead with that shared context:

• Mention the group by name.
• Reference a discussion or post in the group if possible.
• Avoid pitching right away; start with a question or a resource.

Option 4: Use Connection Requests With Notes, the Hubspot Way

You cannot always send a direct message to someone outside your network, but you can send a connection request with a short note. This is often the best starting point for long-term relationships that later sync smoothly into a CRM or Hubspot contact record.

How to Add a Note to a Connection Request

1. Visit the person’s profile.
2. Click Connect instead of Follow when possible.
3. Select Add a note.
4. Write a personalized, 200-character note.
5. Avoid links or heavy sales language on the first touch.

Connection Request Note Formula for Hubspot-Style Outreach

Use this simple formula and then adapt it to your Hubspot messaging templates:

• Line 1: Who you are and why you are relevant to them.
• Line 2: A specific detail about their role, company, or post.
• Line 3: A polite, non-pitchy reason to connect.

Best Practices for LinkedIn Messages in a Hubspot-Aligned System

Regardless of which option you use, a few best practices will make your outreach more effective and keep it aligned with any Hubspot-powered workflow.

Keep Messages Short and Skimmable

Busy professionals will not read long blocks of text. Instead:

• Use 2–5 short sentences.
• Break points into separate paragraphs.
• Eliminate jargon and filler phrases.

Lead With Value, Not a Pitch

People respond better when they see clear value. You might:

• Share a short, relevant insight or data point.
• Offer a resource that solves a problem they care about.
• Ask a thoughtful question about their work.

Follow Up Strategically and Track Everything Like Hubspot Users Do

Most prospects do not answer the first time. Plan a light follow-up sequence and track it like you would in Hubspot:

• Wait a few business days before following up.
• Change your angle slightly, rather than repeating the same message.
• Stop after two or three attempts if there is no engagement.

Keeping notes in a CRM or similar system ensures you do not message the same person repeatedly without context.

Align LinkedIn Messaging With Your Broader Hubspot-Style Sales Strategy

Messaging people you are not connected to on LinkedIn becomes far more effective when it is part of a clear strategy instead of random one-off outreach. Borrow principles from Hubspot users who build structured, measurable campaigns:

• Define your ideal contact profile.
• Segment outreach based on role, industry, or group.
• Use repeatable scripts, but personalize each message.
• Measure acceptance rates, reply rates, and meeting conversions.

For deeper optimization of your overall digital strategy, you can study advanced CRM and automation techniques. A useful place to start is the original LinkedIn messaging guide from HubSpot at this article on sending messages to non-connections, which expands on additional nuances and examples.

Next Steps: Improve Your System Beyond Hubspot Tactics

Once you have a consistent process for LinkedIn messaging, refine it by testing different hooks, call-to-action phrases, and follow-up timing. Use your CRM or any Hubspot-style dashboard to review performance each month.

If you want help building a scalable outreach engine that connects LinkedIn, SEO, and CRM data, you can explore consulting resources such as Consultevo for strategy and implementation guidance.

By combining these LinkedIn workflows with the structured, data-driven mindset common among Hubspot users, you can turn cold outreach into a predictable, trackable process that reliably generates new conversations and opportunities.

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