Word-for-word reply templates for every response you might get in your LinkedIn outreach — from "yes we work with freelancers" to "can you send rates?" — so you always know exactly what to say next.
5 mins
Getting a message back — even if it’s not a “yes” — is a good sign. It means you’re showing up, you’re building your pipeline, and your name is landing in the right inboxes.
But knowing how to respond can be stressful, especially when you’re still figuring out your voice or feel like everything’s riding on one reply.
This guide gives you templates for the most common replies you’ll get — all written in a way that keeps the door open, builds the relationship, and moves things forward without pressure. Copy, paste, customize, and tweak them to fit your tone.
BTW, unless they said they don’t hire freelancers, they’re not interested, or they’re not the right person; you should be following up after ALL of these messages. See the 🗓️ under each message to see how long to wait before following up.
You don’t need a perfect reply to get hired. You just need a human one!
📌 Please remember: it’s no one’s responsibility to respond to you. They’re doing you a courtesy by giving you any information – esp. if they’re not the one who would even hire you or they no longer work at a company. It’s your responsibility to get your bag – not theirs. Please, be courteous and always assume the best. It’s rare that anyone is intentionally being rude to you!!
💬 “Yes, we do work with freelancers.”
Hey [Name], that’s great to hear — thanks for letting me know! 👋Just in case it’s helpful, I’m a [your niche] who helps [type of client] with [type of work or outcome] — recently worked with [Company or short example if you have one].
Would you be the right person to reach out to about freelance needs — or is there someone else I should connect with?
Totally understand if you’re not hiring right now — happy to stay in touch for future opportunities either way!
🗓️ 2 weeks (second follow up message template - see for template)
💬 “No we don’t work with freelancers.”
Hey [Name], totally understand — and thanks for getting back to me!Appreciate the transparency — and if things shift down the line, I’d love to stay on your radar.
Wishing you and your team a smooth [season/project type/etc.] ahead. 😊
💬 “We’re all set right now” / “Not hiring at the moment”
Totally get that — and I really appreciate you letting me know!If anything shifts down the line, I’d love to be on your radar. I work with [type of clients] on [quick value summary], so if that ever becomes a priority again, feel free to reach out.
And if it’s cool with you, I’ll check back in a few months just in case the timing’s better. 👋
🗓️ 3 months (second follow up message template - see for template)
💬 “We’ll keep you in mind!”
Thanks so much — I really appreciate you taking the time to respond!I’ll be sure to check back in a few months just in case the timing’s better.
And of course, if anything comes up in the meantime, I’m always happy to jump in or collaborate!
🗓️ 3 months (second follow up message template - see for template)
💬 “Can you send over a portfolio?” / “Can you send over clips?”
Absolutely! Here’s a recent [case study or project] I think aligns well with what you’re doing: [link]And if you’d like to browse more, here’s the full portfolio: [link]
Let me know if anything stands out — happy to chat through ideas or answer any questions!
🗓️ 2 weeks (second follow up message template - see for template)
⚡️ Just sent them your top 1 or 2 most relevant portfolio piece(s). I recommend sending a case study if you can ( )! Clips is just a journalism-y way to say portfolio pieces, btw!!
💬 “I’m not the right person”
Thanks so much for letting me know — I really appreciate it!If you happen to know who the best person to speak with might be (maybe someone on [team name] or who handles [type of work] freelancers), I’d be super grateful for a quick intro or a name to reach out to.
Either way, thanks again!
💬 “Can you send over your availability?”
Absolutely! I’ve got some availability coming up — here’s a quick overview:🗓️ [Example: “I’m currently booking for early January and have 1–2 spots open for retainer or project work.”]
[Optional: “If it’s a fit, I’d love to hop on a quick call to hear what you’re working on and see if I can help: [booking link].”]
🗓️ 2 weeks (say something like: “Hey! Did you want to chat about your [needs/project/etc.]? I’m booking out [time frame] right now and I’d love to get you in that spot if you’re still looking for support.”
⚡️ I recommend Cal.com (it’s free and super customizable!!) if you need a scheduling platform.
💬 “We mostly hire through Upwork/Fiverr/another freelance platform.”
Thanks for the heads up! Totally get that — I know a lot of teams streamline things that way.I prefer not to work via platforms, but if things ever shift or you open up to working outside of [platform], I’d love to stay in touch.
I work with [type of clients] on [types of projects], and always happy to make things as easy and seamless as possible.
Appreciate the reply — and hope the rest of your week goes well!
🗓️ 3 months (second follow up message template - see for template)
💬 “Can you send rates?”
(Always tricky — give a range, general pricing guide that clearly states they’re estimates, something with a locked time frame so the pricing expires, or context without locking yourself in)
Great question — my rates depend a bit on the scope and timeline, but most of my projects typically fall in the [$X–$Y] range.I’d be happy to learn a little more about what you’re looking for and put together a quick estimate.
You can book a time to chat more about your needs right here to get a custom proposal going: [your booking link]
🗓️ 2 weeks (say something like: “Hey! Did those estimates fit your budget? I’m booking out [time frame] right now and I’d love to get you in that spot if you’re still looking for support.”
What to expect next:
Most of these messages won’t get an instant reply — and that’s totally normal. People are busy, distracted, or waiting on internal decisions. But that doesn’t mean they’re not interested.
Keep these leads in your and keep following up with them on your normal schedule OR reference the 🗓️ under each message to see when to follow up!!
I’ll shout it from the rooftops all day every day: FOLLOW UP. Even if they don’t respond to you sending your portfolio
💡 Pro tip: Every time you send a message, log it in your tracker with the date and a quick note about what you said (or just copy and paste the whole message and who sent it into the comments of that company for ease of use! It’ll make follow-ups faster and help you stay confident when the convos start to compound.
You’re playing the long game — and this is how you win it.