--- title: Sequences: InMail and Connection Request Stages slug: sequences-inmail-and-connection-request-stages docTags: TxGHwKzqYA9Afsp09jO5z,MOnH3HaRn-OOSc_X5SrPJ createdAt: 2025-07-10T11:57:32.687Z --- You can create sequences with additional stage types like LinkedIn InMail or Connection Requests. Check out [Sequences](docId\:B2Gy2RHNNOyLkBhWcWoU4) for a full guide on setting up a sequence. # Video overview ::loom{url="https://www.loom.com/embed/392c742aab6c4578a98f676ab193302d?sid=4f74936c-0a3c-468a-b91d-602ed7bcfb4b"} # Permissions & access See the chart below for information on the permissions needed to enroll candidates in a sequence. | Access Role | Can enroll candidates in a sequence? | | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | Limited Access | ❌ | | Agency User | ❌ | | Elevated Access - External Recruiter (not linked with an agency) | ❌ | | Elevated Access - Analyst | ❌ | | Elevated Access - Hiring Team Member | ❌ | | Elevated Access - Hiring Manager | ✅ | | Elevated Access - Admin | ✅ | | Elevated Access - Admin Private | ✅ | | Organization Admin | ✅ | # Sequence setup When setting up the stages within your sequences, you can select the stage type as any of the following: - **Email:** Send an email to a candidate. - **LinkedIn InMail:** Notify you or a team member to request a Connection on LinkedIn. - **LinkedIn Connection:** Notify you or a team member to send an InMail on LinkedIn. ![Shows the sequence setup window with the type dropdown expanded to show available options, including Email, LinkedIn InMail, and LinkedIn Connection.](https://cdn.zappy.app/5ff18dd98e2c62312913214b6070dc03.png) # Taking action on the notification If you set up a stage type to either LinkedIn InMail or LinkedIn Connection, when that stage is reached, you or the sender specified when enrolling candidates are notified. You receive both an email notification and a task on your home page to send the connection request or InMail. ![Shows the home page sequence task for a recipient.](https://cdn.zappy.app/1865bddfc4dfe89f55901d42dbe2554d.png) Clicking the task on your home page takes you to the candidate's LinkedIn profile. The email also contains a link to the candidate's profile so you can quickly take action. The LinkedIn Connection message or InMail copy shows in a pop-up once on the candidate profile. 1. **Copy:** Copy the text from the template to add to your connection request or InMail message. You can either click `Copy` or click the text itself to copy it. 2. **Skip Stage:** Opt to skip this stage and continue the sequence. 3. **Mark Complete:** Confirm that this step has been taken and the sequence can continue. ![](https://cdn.zappy.app/2f1f37ba35576d3cc9ba3d7283e72c4b.png) # Logging LinkedIn outreach and responses in Ashby :::hint{type="info"} If the message is sent as part of a sequence, it automatically syncs to the candidate's profile when you click `Mark Complete` on the pop-up. ::: Any manual LinkedIn outreach and responses received can be recorded in Ashby. This can be done: - On the candidate's profile. - Via the Ashby Chrome Extension. - When setting a response on a sequence. You can select the activity type (outreach or response), along with the outreach type (LinkedIn InMail or LinkedIn Connection). You also have the option to add the text used in the outreach message. The first manually logged LinkedIn reply is also counted in the Sequence Reply Rate report in [Sourcing Home](https://app.ashbyhq.com/sourcing/home) if a sequence is running for the candidate in question. A message shows whether the response has been linked to a sequence or not before logging the activity. ## Logging activity on a candidate profile To log outreach or a response from the candidate's profile: 1. Navigate to the **Feed** tab on the candidate's profile. 2. Select `Log Outreach` or `Log Response` from the action bar at the top of the feed. 3. Specify the outreach type and add the message text if needed. 4. Click `Log [activity]` to confirm and add the activity to the feed. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/0p8tQ--ZZOxRtkVp6Qr-e/akHY7COGpzoSw8KLSyK2F_image.png) ## Logging activity on the Chrome Extension While viewing the candidate's LinkedIn profile, click the `Log Activity` button at the bottom of the extension. ::Image[]{src="https://cdn.zappy.app/bbdc3edf7ca19bdb7bf8e70adc36f5ff.png" size="60" alt="Screenshot of the Ashby Chrome Extension showing the Log Activity pop-up with outreach type options and the Log Activity button highlighted." isUploading="false" width="372" height="782" darkWidth="372" darkHeight="782" showCaption="false"} On the following `Log Activity` screen, select whether you're recording outreach or a response, the outreach type, and add the message text if needed. Click `Log Activity` to confirm. Once confirmed, you see your message on the **Feed** tab in the Chrome extension. The Chrome Extension has a Last Communication widget on the **Profile** tab so you can check the last outreach or response activity there too. ## Logging activity on the sequence record When setting the response as Interested or Not Interested manually, set a Response Type (LinkedIn InMail, LinkedIn Connection, or Email) alongside the response status. You also have the option to add the message text. Click `Set Response` to confirm. ![Screenshot of a sequence record in Ashby with the Set Response pop-up open, showing fields for Response Type, Response Status (Interested or Not Interested), and optional Response Text.](https://cdn.zappy.app/cf972413eca4b8a8f11028e16d33ba34.png) # Reporting on sequences with LinkedIn outreach We have a range of default templates for sourcing reporting in the [Templates](https://app.ashbyhq.com/reports/templates) section of **Reports**. The templates allow you to track outreach activities sent and how many received responses, both by outreach type (initial, follow-up, etc.) and by outreach activity (via email, LinkedIn InMail, LinkedIn Connection). ![Screenshot of the Report Templates page in Ashby with the Sourcing section highlighted, showing outreach activity report templates including Overall Outreach Activities by Type, All Outreach Activities by Channel, and First Outreach Sent by Sender.](https://cdn.zappy.app/99e57c5f200e7d44fcd7c9ab47170d01.png) ## Custom reporting You can filter by Outreach Activity's Type or set Outreach Activities as a subject to specifically pull initial and follow-up LinkedIn outreach statistics or activities for custom reporting. ![Screenshot of the All Outreach Activities by Channel report in Ashby showing a stacked bar chart with outreach counts broken down by type, including email, LinkedIn InMail, and LinkedIn Connection outreach, over time.](https://cdn.zappy.app/7aeb023144c4961dc070d0609ceb1a8e.png) ## Sequence home reporting The first manually logged LinkedIn reply is also counted in the Sequence Reply Rate report generated in [Sourcing Home](https://app.ashbyhq.com/sourcing/home) if a sequence is running for the candidate in question. ![Screenshot of the Sourcing Home page in Ashby showing the Sequence Reply Rate report with a bar chart displaying sequence reply counts over time.](https://cdn.zappy.app/9d2b3bf356439cb5aa974a3e1affc5ff.png) # FAQ ### Can you automatically trigger an email sequence after initially sending an InMail if there is no response? Yes! Once the stage is marked as complete for sending an InMail or skipped, the sequence continues to run and sends out an email as expected when reaching that next stage. ### Can I start a sequence with a LinkedIn InMail or LinkedIn Connection? You can, yes. Previously, the first stage needed to be an automated email but that's no longer required. ### My sequence status has a Paused status and won't resume when I click Resume Sequence. Why? If the sequence's next step is a LinkedIn InMail or connection step, then the step needs to be marked as completed before the sequence can continue. Clicking `Resume Sequence` will not work in this case. More on marking a step as complete in [Sequences: InMail and Connection Request Stages](docId\:Qbf62_UsXyctMQzHE07HA).