Quick Answer
There are a few different ways to find the email address associated with a LinkedIn profile:
- If you are connected with the person on LinkedIn, you can message them directly through LinkedIn’s messaging system. This will allow you to communicate with them without actually seeing their email address.
- If you are not connected to the person, you can try searching for their name and company in a tool like RocketReach or Anymailfinder. These tools crawl the web and public databases looking for email address and contact information.
- You may be able to guess the person’s work email address based on their name and company domain. For example, if their name is John Smith and they work at Acme Co, their email might be [email protected].
- Some LinkedIn profiles include an email address or contact form, which allows you to directly contact the person.
- You can send an InMail message, which is LinkedIn’s internal messaging system for contacting people you are not connected to. This costs credits, but delivers a message to their LinkedIn inbox.
The best approach depends on whether you already have a relationship with the person on LinkedIn. Direct messaging or InMail are the most targeted options, while email hunting tools cast a wider net across the web.
Ways to Find Email Addresses on LinkedIn
Here is a more in-depth look at some of the main techniques for finding LinkedIn profile emails:
1. Message the Person Through LinkedIn
If you are connected to the person on LinkedIn, the easiest way to contact them is to simply send them a message. To do this:
- Go to their LinkedIn profile page
- Click the “Message” button in the top right corner
- Type your message. This will go to their LinkedIn inbox.
This allows you to communicate without actually seeing their email address. It comes through LinkedIn’s messaging system.
The advantage is you can be sure the message will reach them. The limitation is that you need to already be connected on LinkedIn.
2. Use an Email Finder Tool
If you want to find the email address of someone you are not connected to on LinkedIn, an email finder tool may be able to discover it. Some options include:
- RocketReach: Searches across social networks and public databases. Has a free trial.
- Anymailfinder: Free email verifier and search tool.
- VoilaNorbert: Paid tool with advanced search and verification features.
- Email Hunter: Chrome extension that finds emails on any web page.
To use one of these tools:
- Go to the tool’s website and input the person’s name and company
- The tool will search public sources and try to find associated email addresses
- Verify the email is valid and current before contacting the person
The advantage of email finder tools is they cast a wide net looking for addresses. The downside is there is no guarantee the results will be accurate or up-to-date.
3. Guess Their Work Email Address
For many professionals, you can guess their work email address based on their name and company domain.
The format is typically:
For example:
- John Smith at Acme Co –> [email protected]
- Mary Wilson at Fabrikam Ltd –> [email protected]
This doesn’t always work, as companies sometimes use different formats. But it can be a good starting point when you know where someone works.
Test any guessed email in an email verification tool before sending to it.
4. Look for an Email Address on Their Profile
Some LinkedIn users include an email address or contact form directly on their profile. This allows anyone viewing their profile to easily get in touch.
To check for an available email address:
- View the LinkedIn profile
- Look for an email address below the person’s name, in the contact info section, or in the summary
- Some users also include a contact form that allows messaging them
Having an email on a LinkedIn profile is not very common, but can sometimes be found.
5. Send the Person an InMail Message
LinkedIn’s InMail system allows you to send private messages to people you are not connected with. This functions similarly to email, but goes through LinkedIn.
To send an InMail:
- Click the “Connect” button on their profile
- Choose the option to “Send InMail”
- Type your message
- The message goes to their LinkedIn inbox
InMail does require LinkedIn credits, which cost money. But it can be the most direct way to reliably contact someone you are not connected to.
Tips for Emailing Someone on LinkedIn
Once you have found an email address for someone on LinkedIn, here are some tips to increase your chances of getting a response:
- Personalize the subject line with their name and company
- Keep the email concise – 3-4 sentences max
- Mention how you found them or where you work to provide context
- Offer value by suggesting a meeting, providing useful info, or starting a discussion
- Use a professional email address – avoid nicknames or numbers
Some common outreach email templates include:
- Following up after meeting someone at an event
- Introducing yourself if you work at a similar company
- Providing helpful resources related to their work
- Commenting on a post they made to start a discussion
The key is keeping messages focused and providing value. Avoid overt sales pitches or spammy offers. LinkedIn is for professional networking and relationship building.
Is Finding Emails on LinkedIn OK?
Searching for and contacting someone’s email without prior consent raises some ethical concerns. Here are a few factors to consider:
- If you have a relationship with the person, email is typically fine. But always respect it if they don’t respond.
- Make sure your messages provide value – not just sales offers.
- Consider if the context means they’d expect an email. Following up after meeting at a conference is more natural than a random sales email.
- Some countries and regions have anti-spam laws to consider as well.
In general, restraint and respect are advised. A few personalized emails to make new connections or follow up on meetings can be OK. But bombarding inboxes will cause frustration.
Conclusion
Finding the email associated with a LinkedIn profile can take a bit of detective work, but offers a way to contact people you otherwise couldn’t. The best approach depends on if you already have a connection with the person, and how much information you have to go off.
Email finder tools cast a wide net searching across sites and public records. Guessing common work emails works when you know where someone is employed. And InMail provides a way to send messages through LinkedIn directly.
Whatever method you use, remember to keep messages professional and personalized. With some effort you can likely find the inbox of almost any LinkedIn user – but thoughtful relationship building should be the goal.
Method | Overview | When to Use |
---|---|---|
LinkedIn Message | Send a message if already connected | Existing connection |
Email Finder Tool | Searches public info and databases | No existing connection |
Guess Email Address | [email protected] format | Know company but not connected |
Email on Profile | Direct email included by user | Get lucky on public profile |
Send InMail | Paid internal LinkedIn messaging | Want to ensure delivery |