How do you get more InMail credits on Linkedin?

LinkedIn InMail is a great way to directly contact people you’re not already connected with on LinkedIn. With InMail, you can send messages directly to anyone’s LinkedIn inbox, even if you’re not connected. This allows you to reach out to important contacts, such as potential clients, candidates, or business partners.

However, InMail credits are limited with the free LinkedIn account. You only get a certain number of credits per month. Once you use up your credits, you can no longer send InMails until your allowance renews the next month. So it’s important to understand how to get more credits if you want to keep using InMail regularly.

There are a few key ways to get more InMail credits:

Upgrade to a Premium Account

The easiest way to get more InMail credits is to upgrade from the free LinkedIn account to a premium account. With a premium account, you get a monthly allowance of InMails based on your membership level.

Here’s a comparison of the InMail credits you get at each premium level:

As you can see, the number of credits scales up significantly as you move to the higher tier premium accounts. Upgrading to Premium Business or Premium Sales can give you enough credits for most regular LinkedIn users’ needs. And Premium Hiring or Recruiting give recruiters and HR professionals enough credits to send numerous InMails to candidates.

The premium accounts also remove the limit of 300 InMail sends per month that applies even with credits on the free account. This allows unlimited InMails up to your monthly credit allowance.

The cost of premium accounts ranges from $29.99 per month for Premium Career up to $119.99 per month for Premium Recruiting. So weigh the cost vs. value of getting more credits at the level you need.

Purchase Additional Credit Packs

Another option is to purchase additional InMail credit packs, either as a free user or premium user needing more credits. This allows you to buy extra credits beyond the monthly allowance.

Here are the InMail credit packs available for purchase:

As you can see, the more credits you buy at once, the lower the per-credit cost. So purchasing larger packs can save money if you need a significant amount of credits.

These purchased credits last for 12 months before expiring. They also apply on top of the monthly allowance from a premium account. So buying credit packs can make sense for premium users who regularly need to exceed their monthly credit limit.

Connect with More People

Here’s a non-financial way to get more InMail credits – connect with more people! For every new connection you make, you get 1 free InMail credit.

So if you go on a “connection spree” and connect with 100 new people, you’ll automatically get 100 free InMail credits.

The key is connecting with people you don’t already know. If you connect with existing contacts, it won’t provide the free credit. But reaching out to new professional contacts is a great way to expand your network while earning more InMail capabilities.

This is an easy way to get more credits organically without spending money. And a larger network is always beneficial on LinkedIn.

Invite More People to LinkedIn

Similarly, you can get free InMail credits by inviting new people to join LinkedIn. For every person that signs up via your invite and reaches 15 connections, you’ll receive 1 free InMail credit.

So invite relevant contacts, colleagues, friends and connections to join LinkedIn. If even a fraction of them join and connect with people, those credits will add up quick.

You can send invites by email or text message. Make it personal by customizing the message to the individual. Let them know why you think they’d benefit from LinkedIn and how you’d like to connect with them on the platform.

Like building connections, this is a win-win. You’re bringing more professionals into the LinkedIn community while earning credits to message them.

Participate in LinkedIn’s Social Impact Programs

LinkedIn sometimes offers free InMail credits if you participate in certain social impact programs on the platform.

For example, they may offer credits if you donate to causes through LinkedIn, take social impact-focused learning courses, or engage with nonprofits.

Check LinkedIn’s social impact section to look for opportunities to get involved. Then complete the activities to earn credits and do good at the same time.

This allows you to get more InMail capabilities just by being an active, socially-conscious member of the LinkedIn ecosystem.

Use Other Messaging Options

If you’ve exhausted all options for getting more credits, consider using other LinkedIn messaging options that don’t require credits:

– Send connection requests to initiate contact and build relationships

– Leverage 1st degree connections to get introduced to the person you want to contact

– Join LinkedIn Groups related to your target audience to engage in group discussions

– Use regular LinkedIn Messaging to reach your existing connections

– Publish LinkedIn posts that provide value and start conversations

– Engage with content from your targets and build familiarity before reaching out

While InMail is powerful, it’s not the only way to communicate on LinkedIn. Get creative with these alternatives to make connections even when your credits are low.

Conclusion

The key options for getting more InMail credits on LinkedIn include:

– Upgrading to a premium account

– Purchasing additional credit packs as needed

– Connecting with more people to earn free credits

– Inviting contacts to join LinkedIn through your referral link

– Participating in social impact programs

– Using other non-InMail messaging options

The best approach depends on your goals, budget, and activity level on LinkedIn. But combining a few of these methods can give you plenty of InMail capacity to reach your ideal contacts.

With the right strategy, you can connect with influential people, engage candidates, and grow your business without being limited by your InMail credits. Just tap into the options that align with your LinkedIn usage and priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many InMail credits do you get each month with the free LinkedIn account?

The free LinkedIn account includes 5 free InMail credits per month. Once these are used, you must wait until the next month for your allowance to renew.

What is the maximum number of InMails you can send per month?

On the free LinkedIn account, there is a limit of 300 InMail sends per month, even if you have credits. With a premium account, this limit is removed so you have unlimited sends up to your credit allowance.

Do unused InMail credits roll over to the next month?

Unfortunately, any unused free credits do not roll over. You get a new allowance of 5 credits each month and any remaining credits expire. For purchased credit packs, the credits expire after 12 months.

Can I purchase InMail credits as a gift for someone else?

There is no gift option to purchase InMail credits for another LinkedIn user. The credits can only be added to your own account.

What happens if I send an InMail without having any credits?

If you try to send an InMail with 0 credits, you will receive an error message. The message will not be delivered. You must obtain more credits before attempting to send the InMail again.

Can I reuse an InMail credit if the recipient doesn’t respond?

Unfortunately, credits cannot be reused or refunded once an InMail is sent, regardless of whether the recipient responds. Even if it goes unanswered, the credit is spent.

How do I keep track of my remaining InMail credits?

You can check your current InMail credit balance and monthly allowance details by going to the “Manage” section of your LinkedIn account settings. This will display all credit information and activity.

Can I transfer InMail credits between my LinkedIn accounts?

InMail credits cannot be transferred between separate LinkedIn accounts. The credits can only be used with the account that they were purchased for.