The AI Icebreaker variable automatically generates personalized opening lines for your outreach by analyzing each prospect's LinkedIn profile.
What is an AI Icebreaker?
An AI Icebreaker is a dynamic variable that creates unique, relevant conversation starters for each prospect based on their LinkedIn profile information. Instead of using the same generic opener for everyone, AI crafts personalized icebreakers that reference specific details about your prospect.
Use AI Icebreaker in:
Connection invites
Follow-up messages
InMail messages
How to Add AI Icebreaker to Your Message
1. Create or Edit Your Message
In the Sequences tab, create a new step or edit an existing message (Invite to connect, Follow up, or InMail).
2. Insert the Variable
Click the Variable button in the message editor
Search for "Ice breaker" or scroll to find it
Click Ice breaker to insert it into your message
The variable appears as [AI_ICE_BREAKER] in your message.
3. Preview Generated Icebreakers
Click Preview to see how the icebreaker will appear for actual prospects:
The preview modal shows a real prospect from your list
Review the AI-generated icebreaker in context with your message
Click Spin next to preview icebreakers for other prospects
Click Save when satisfied with your message
How AI Creates Icebreakers
AI analyzes each prospect's LinkedIn profile and generates an icebreaker based on the first available information, in this priority order:
1. Recent activity or posts
References their latest LinkedIn content or engagement.
Example: "I saw your recent post about AI in healthcare—insightful take on the regulatory challenges."
2. Current company insights
Mentions their company's news, industry position, or notable achievements.
Example: "Congrats on TechCorp's Series B funding—exciting time for fintech innovation."
3. Job title / current role
Acknowledges their position and responsibilities.
Example: "As VP of Engineering, you're probably navigating some interesting scaling challenges."
4. Career trajectory
Comments on their professional growth or experience.
Example: "Your journey from startup founder to enterprise leader is impressive."
5. Skills
Highlights a relevant or notable skill from their profile.
Example: "Your expertise in machine learning architecture caught my attention."
6. Industry-level insights
References broader trends in their industry.
Example: "The healthcare tech space is evolving rapidly—I imagine you're seeing this firsthand."
7. Education
Mentions their school, program, or academic background.
Example: "Fellow MIT grad here—always great to connect with someone from the Sloan program."
8. General professional compliment
When profile information is limited, AI generates a warm, professional opener.
Example: "Your profile caught my attention—would love to connect."
Best Practices
Place the icebreaker naturally
Position [AI_ICE_BREAKER] where it flows naturally in your message, typically near the beginning after a greeting.
Preview multiple prospects
Use the "Spin next" feature to see how icebreakers vary across different profiles. This helps ensure your message works regardless of what information is available.
Combine with your value proposition
The icebreaker opens the door—follow it with why you're reaching out and what value you offer.
Test your message structure
Make sure your message reads well whether the icebreaker is one sentence or two. Preview several examples to check flow.
Keep the rest concise
Personalized icebreakers are powerful, but don't let your overall message get too long. Aim for 3-4 sentences total for connection requests.
Example Messages
Connection Invite:
Hi [FIRST_NAME],
[AI_ICE_BREAKER]
I help [TARGET AUDIENCE] solve [PROBLEM]. Would love to connect and share some insights that might be relevant to your work at [COMPANY_NAME].
Follow-up Message:
Hi [FIRST_NAME],
[AI_ICE_BREAKER]
I noticed we're both focused on [SHARED INTEREST/INDUSTRY]. I've been helping companies like [COMPANY_NAME] with [YOUR SOLUTION].
Would you be open to a quick conversation about [SPECIFIC BENEFIT]?
InMail:
Hi [FIRST_NAME],
[AI_ICE_BREAKER]
I'm reaching out because [REASON]. Based on your role at [COMPANY_NAME], I thought you might be interested in [SPECIFIC VALUE PROPOSITION].
Are you available for a brief call next week?
FAQ
Does AI Icebreaker work for all prospects?
Yes. Even if a prospect has minimal LinkedIn information, AI generates an appropriate professional opener.
Will icebreakers be duplicated for prospects at the same company?
No. Each icebreaker is generated individually based on the specific prospect's profile, not company-level information.
Can I edit the generated icebreaker?
The icebreaker is generated dynamically when messages are sent, so you can't edit individual ones. However, you can control the message structure around it.
How do I know what the icebreaker will say before sending?
Use the Preview feature and click "Spin next" to see actual examples from your prospect list.
Can I use multiple icebreakers in one message?
You can insert the variable multiple times, but we recommend using it once per message for the most natural flow.
What if a prospect's profile is private or has limited information?
AI will use whatever information is available, defaulting to a warm professional greeting if the profile is very sparse.
Does this work with all campaign types?
AI Icebreaker works in connection invites, follow-up messages, and InMails.
Need help? Contact support using the chat icon.