After sending 2,500+ DMs, I discovered something crazy: messages under 50 words get 2.7x more replies.

Here's why it works and how to do it yourself.

The Problem with Long Messages

LinkedIn users have a 3.25-second attention span. If your message takes longer than 5 seconds to read, you've already lost them.

The 3-Part Formula That Works

Every high-converting DM has three pieces:

Part 1: Personal Hook (10-15 words) Look at their profile or recent post. Mention something specific. This proves you're not copy-pasting the same message to 500 people.

Part 2: Value Statement (20-25 words) What's in it for them? Focus on their win, not your product. Make it relevant to their role or industry.

Part 3: Easy Question (10-15 words) Ask something simple. Make it stupidly easy to respond with "yes" or "tell me more."

For Example (47 words total)

Hi [Name], noticed you're scaling [Company]'s sales team based on your recent post.

We've helped similar [Industry] companies reduce ramp time by 41% with our specialized onboarding system.

Would this be valuable for your new hires coming in Q2?

Why This Works

• Psychological Trigger: Shows you've done research (reciprocity principle)
• Curiosity Gap: Specific result (41%) creates interest