How do I write an effective cold outreach message on LinkedIn?

Cold outreach on LinkedIn works when it meets three criteria: (1) Relevance -- why are you contacting this specific person? (2) Value -- what do you offer or what is the benefit for the other person? (3) Brevity -- max. 3-4 sentences. LinkedIn shows: Short, personalised messages have a 5x higher response rate than template messages. NBER: Warm introductions (through mutual connections) are 4x more effective than cold ones -- always prefer the indirect route if possible. Effective format: '[Reference to their profile/article/post] -> [why you are reaching out, specific] -> [concrete, small ask (15-min call, question, feedback)]'. What does not work: 'I am currently looking for a job and thought you might be able to help' -- too much pressure. GDPR: LinkedIn messages count as electronic communication -- no mass requests (spam risk, account suspension).