Outreach Compliance and Etiquette: Staying Professional (and Unblocked) on LinkedIn

October 9, 2025 · Founder DIY

TL;DR — Compliance & Etiquette Checklist (Copy/Paste)

Daily sending rhythm

  • Small, spaced batches.
  • Personalize one phrase per DM.
  • Stop at two bumps per thread.

Message hygiene

  • 2–4 short lines.
  • One reason to care.
  • One small ask (15-min fit check + two time options).
  • Add a simple opt-out: “If not a fit, happy to park.”

Link & file rules

  • Teaser PDF or clean site link.
  • No gated decks on first touch.
  • Avoid link shorteners on first touch.

Respect the rails

  • Don’t use bots, scrapers, or auto-connect tools.
  • Keep targeting tight: stage, cheque, geo, thesis.
  • If restricted, cool down, refresh copy, and improve fit.

InMail basics

  • Keep it short.
  • Strong subject, clear value.
  • Replies within 90 days usually credit your InMail back.

Invite hygiene

  • Send to people who are likely to know you or match your thesis.
  • If you hit an invite limit, pause and review fit; try again next week.

Why this matters

Bad outreach doesn’t just lower replies.

It risks your account, damages your brand, and slows your round.

Good outreach is simple: short, human, targeted—and inside the rules.

Signals that trigger friction (avoid these)

  • Repetitive copy sent in bursts.
  • Spray-and-pray targeting (wrong stage/cheque/geo).
  • Automation footprints (bots, extensions, mass spintax).
  • Gated links or login walls on first touch.
  • Aggressive follow-ups or daily bumps.

Fix: slow down, personalize one phrase, and tighten your list.

Safe sending rhythms (how to go fast without flags)

  • Work in small batches (5–10 at a time) with breaks.
  • Rotate hook angles weekly so messages aren’t identical.
  • Keep two bumps max per person, spaced 2–5 days.
  • When accept% drops, it’s a fit problem—re-score your list.
  • When reply% drops, it’s a copy problem—change the first line.

Message hygiene (2–4 lines that feel human)

  • Line 1: who you help + outcome, using the investor’s thesis words.
  • Line 2: one proof (metric/logo/velocity).
  • Line 3: 15-min fit check, two time options.

Example:
“Hi [Name]—we’re B2B climate SaaS for SME factories to cut power waste.
MRR ₹42L, pilots with [Logo]. Open to a 15-min fit check [Tue 6:30 PM IST] or [Wed 8:00 PM IST]?”

Links, files, and tracking (keep it clean)

  • Teaser PDF or a clean web link is best on first touch.
  • Avoid shortened links and heavy tracking on the opener.
  • Put the full deck/data room after interest or by request.
  • If you use InMail, keep it short; thoughtful replies within 90 days typically return your credit.

Follow-up rules that respect people

  • Two bumps only:
    1. New proof (metric/logo).
    2. Polite close (“parking if not a fit”).
  • Keep bumps 2–4 lines.
  • Offer two precise times in their timezone.
  • After a “not now,” set a milestone re-touch date and move on.

Team etiquette (if more than one person is sending)

  • Share a snippet bank (hooks, bumps, booking lines).
  • Log hook used and last touch in your CRM.
  • Run a quick copy review each week to remove phrases that start to feel templated.
  • One owner monitors restrictions and replies, and adjusts batch size.

Red flags & recovery

If invites or messages get restricted

  • Pause sends for a few days.
  • Refresh your first line and reduce volume.
  • Tighten targeting (stage/cheque/geo/thesis).
  • Remove automation tools and untrusted browser extensions.
  • When limits reset, restart with small batches and higher personalization.

The founder’s compliance one-pager (print this)

  • Short, clear, honest, targeted.
  • Two bumps max, spaced out.
  • Clean links, no gates on first touch.
  • No bots, no scraping, no mass spamming.
  • Respect a “no,” and log a re-touch date for later.

FAQ

Do exact daily/weekly message limits exist?
LinkedIn does not publish fixed public numbers. They do enforce limits and may restrict invitations or messaging when patterns look spammy. Keep volume modest and fit tight.

Are automation tools allowed?
No—third-party bots, scrapers, and unapproved extensions are prohibited. Use only official products and normal workflows.

Can I get my InMail credits back?
Yes—responses within a set window (commonly 90 days) typically credit your InMail back, depending on product tier.

What if my account is restricted?
Cool down, improve targeting and copy, remove any automation, and try again after the restriction window.

Final word

Professional, respectful outreach is a moat.

Keep it short.
Keep it human.
Stay inside the rules.

Your reply rate—and your reputation—will thank you.

Sources

  • LinkedIn Professional Community Policies (spam/harassment, acceptable use) and Enforcement overview. LinkedIn+1
  • LinkedIn User Agreement (contract terms for using the service). LinkedIn
  • LinkedIn Help on invitation limits, types of restrictions, and what happens when you reach the limit. LinkedIn+2LinkedIn+2
  • LinkedIn Help on prohibited software, automated activity, and scraping/automation bans. LinkedIn+1
  • LinkedIn Help on InMail credit returns (standard and Sales Navigator/Recruiter variants). LinkedIn+2LinkedIn+2
  • LinkedIn Help on recognizing/reporting spam (signals and member guidance). LinkedIn