InMail is a messaging feature on LinkedIn that allows you to directly contact other members, even if you’re not connected. InMail messages bypass the recipient’s inbox and appear in the Messages section, so they tend to have higher response rates than regular connection requests. But do people get notified when you send them an InMail message? Here’s what you need to know about InMail notifications.
InMail Notifications on Desktop
When you send an InMail message on the LinkedIn desktop site, the recipient will be notified in several ways:
- A red numbered indicator will appear next to the Messages icon at the top of their LinkedIn page, showing the number of unread InMails.
- The Messages section in the top navigation bar will display “You have new Messages” along with a red notification dot.
- The recipient’s Messages inbox will have the unread InMail at the top, marked with “New” in red.
- They will get desktop notifications of new messages, if they have enabled notifications in their LinkedIn account settings.
So in summary, LinkedIn members are notified very clearly when they receive an InMail on their desktop. It’s hard to miss – they will see indicators on their homepage, Messages inbox and get desktop pop-up alerts.
InMail Notifications on Mobile
Similarly, LinkedIn members will be notified of new InMail messages on their mobile devices in the following ways:
- A notification badge on the Messages icon showing the number of unread InMails.
- Their Messages inbox will show the new InMail highlighted with a blue dot.
- They will get mobile push notifications saying “You have a new message” if they have enabled notifications.
The main LinkedIn mobile app and the LinkedIn Messages app will both display notifications when a new InMail arrives. So whether members are actively using LinkedIn or not, they will be alerted on mobile when you send an InMail.
Do InMail Notifications Expire?
LinkedIn InMail notifications will persist until the recipient opens and reads the message. The notification indicators and badges will remain to remind them to check the unread InMail.
The notifications won’t expire or disappear over time. For example, if you send an InMail and the recipient doesn’t check it for a week, they will still see the notification badges and the InMail marked as unread.
The only way for the InMail notifications to clear is for the recipient to open and read the message. Once they’ve viewed it, the notifications will go away and it will no longer be marked as unread.
Can You Turn Off InMail Notifications?
Since InMail notifications are persistent, some LinkedIn members may wonder if they can disable InMail notifications altogether. Here are the options for managing InMail notifications:
- Desktop notifications – These can be turned off in the LinkedIn account settings under “Notifications”. This stops desktop pop-up alerts.
- Mobile push notifications – These can be disabled in device notification settings. This stops mobile alerts about new messages.
- In-product notifications – There is no way to disable the notification badges and indicators within LinkedIn and the Messages inbox.
So in summary, while desktop and mobile alerts can be stopped, there is no way to fully switch off the in-product notifications. Even if someone turns off all notifications, they will still see that they have unread InMails waiting in the Messages inbox.
Do InMail Senders Get Read Receipts?
Unlike regular emails, LinkedIn InMail messages do not have read receipts. As a sender, you cannot see if the recipient has opened or read your InMail.
The platform is designed this way to protect privacy and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth. LinkedIn members appreciate not having read receipts for InMails, as it reduces unwanted follow-up messages.
So don’t expect any delivery or read confirmation when you send InMails. You will need to follow up yourself if you want to know if your message was received and opened.
Can You Tell if InMail Notification Worked?
Without read receipts, how can you confirm if your InMail notification reached the intended recipient?
Here are some signals that indicate your InMail likely generated a notification:
- The InMail shows as “Sent” rather than “Undelivered” in your Sent folder.
- The recipient remains active on LinkedIn after you sent it.
- You don’t receive any bounceback or failed delivery notice.
While not guaranteed, if the InMail was successfully sent with no errors, the recipient probably did get the notification. There’s a good chance it’s waiting unread in their inbox.
Tips for Ensuring InMail Notifications
To maximize the chances of your InMail triggering a notification, here are some best practices:
- Verify the recipient’s LinkedIn profile is active and they’ve been online recently.
- Make sure you have enough LinkedIn credits to send the InMail.
- Personalize the message subject and content to motivate them to open it.
- Follow up if you don’t receive a response after several days.
While there are no guarantees, taking these steps will help ensure your InMail gets delivered and grabs the recipient’s attention upon notification.
Can Someone Miss an InMail Notification?
Despite LinkedIn’s persistent InMail notifications, is it possible for someone to miss or overlook a new message? In some cases, yes.
Here are some scenarios where someone may miss an InMail notification:
- They don’t log into LinkedIn for an extended period.
- They ignore the notification badges and don’t check messages.
- A bug or tech issue causes notifications not to show up.
- The message ends up in their spam or secondary inbox.
While unlikely given LinkedIn’s multiple notification channels, people do sometimes miss InMails. If it’s time-sensitive, it may be worth a follow up message or connection request.
Can You Resend an InMail to Re-Notify?
If your InMail goes unread for several weeks, you may wonder about resending it to trigger a new notification. Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not allow resending the exact same InMail message.
However, you can reach out again in a new message. Here are some tips for gently re-engaging:
- Acknowledge your previous message in case they just missed it.
- Add some new context or information of value.
- Keep your tone polite in case they chose to ignore the first InMail.
With a thoughtful follow-up InMail, you can try once more to get their attention without badgering them.
Do Some People Ignore InMail Notifications?
Given the influx of messages on LinkedIn, some users admit they ignore or skim over certain InMail notifications.
Here are some common reasons users may disregard InMail notifications:
- They don’t recognize the sender’s name.
- The message subject sounds too promotional.
- They feel overwhelmed by too many notifications.
- They want to avoid sales outreach messages.
While you can’t control if someone ignores the notification, crafting relevant, personalized InMails can increase the likelihood of a response.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn members will always get notified when receiving an InMail, through some combination of indicator badges, inbox alerts and push notifications. While they won’t get read receipts, you can be confident your InMail was delivered if it shows a successful sent status.
Despite persistent notifications, busy recipients may still overlook messages. Following up politely, personalizing your content and focusing on value rather than sales can give you the best chance of getting a response.
So approach your InMails knowing notifications are working behind the scenes to notify recipients. But don’t rely on notifications alone – put thought into crafting messages worthy of a recipient’s attention.
With some care, creativity and follow up, you can effectively leverage LinkedIn InMail notifications to start meaningful conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about LinkedIn InMail notifications:
How long do InMail notifications last?
InMail notifications persist until the recipient reads the message. The notification badges, inbox alerts and unread labels remain unless the InMail is opened.
Can I customize InMail notifications?
Recipients cannot customize the in-product notification experience. Senders have no control over notifications either. But recipients can disable desktop and mobile alerts.
Do notification badges impact delivery?
No, the number of unread messages shown in notification badges doesn’t affect InMail deliverability. They are purely visual indicators.
Can recipients opt-out of InMail?
There is no global opt-out for InMail messages. Recipients must either ignore them or individually block each unwanted sender.
What happens if the recipient deletes the InMail?
If the recipient deletes your InMail without reading it, the notifications will clear as if they read it. But you won’t know they deleted it.
InMail Notification Statistics
Here are some interesting statistics around LinkedIn InMail notifications:
- 49% of users say they respond to InMails within 1-3 days of receiving the notification.
- Only 22% of InMails ever receive a response, despite notifications.
- InMails with customized subject lines get 30% higher open rates.
- Messages with 11-15 words in the subject line see 66% higher response rates.
- 78% of users say InMail notifications prompting them to expand their network are ineffective.
InMail Notification Workarounds
For those unhappy with LinkedIn’s built-in InMail notifications, there are some workaround options:
- Browser extensions – Plugins like Streak for Gmail can forward LinkedIn notifications to your email.
- Zapier – Create a Zap to get notified via Slack, text or other channels when receiving an InMail.
- Third-party apps – Use apps like MeetAlfred or Rypple to enhance LinkedIn notifications.
While not native LinkedIn experiences, these alternatives allow customizing notifications to your preferences.
InMail Notification Troubleshooting
If InMail notifications aren’t working as expected, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check LinkedIn Credits balance – Need 1 to send an InMail.
- Try resending the InMail if first attempt fails.
- Confirm recipient has notifications enabled in settings.
- Ask recipient to check spam folder for missing InMails.
- Ensure message isn’t flagged as promotional content.
Diagnosing the specific notification failure can help identify the proper solution. Notification issues tend to be solvable with a little additional effort.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key takeaways on LinkedIn InMail notifications:
- InMail sends persistent notifications that remain until the message is read.
- Recipients get inbox alerts, badges, and mobile push notifications.
- Senders don’t receive read receipts or open tracking data.
- Notifications can be ignored, so thoughtful messaging is still key.
- Following up politely on unread InMails can prompt re-notification.