LinkedIn Recruiter is a powerful tool that allows recruiters and hiring managers to source, manage, and communicate with potential candidates. One of the key features is the ability to send InMail messages directly to members who are not already connected. This allows you to reach out to prospective candidates even if you don’t have a shared connection.
When you send an InMail, the recipient will receive a notification prompting them to either accept or ignore your connection request. If they accept, you will become directly connected on LinkedIn and will be able to communicate further. If they ignore, you won’t be able to send further messages unless they later decide to connect.
Here are the steps to send an InMail connection request on LinkedIn Recruiter:
Find the Prospective Candidate
First, you need to identify the member you wish to contact. The best way is to use LinkedIn Recruiter’s powerful search and filtering tools to find prospects who meet your criteria. You can search by keywords, location, current company, skills, education and more. Save any promising profiles to keep track of them.
Click “Send InMail”
Once you have found a prospect you wish to contact, visit their profile page. On desktop, you will see a “Send InMail” button on the right hand side. On mobile, tap the three dots menu at the top right and choose “Send InMail.”
Compose Your Message
You will be taken to the InMail composition form. Write a personalized message explaining who you are, why you’d like to connect, and what you have to offer them. Avoid generic outreach language. Demonstrate you have reviewed their profile and are sincere in wanting to connect.
Maintain a friendly and professional tone. Do not make any unreasonable requests or ask for confidential information. Keep the focus on starting a mutually beneficial relationship.
You have up to 360 characters to compose your message. Use them wisely to make a great first impression!
Send the Request
When you are ready, click “Send” to deliver the InMail connection request. This will use 1 InMail credit from your recruiter account.
The recipient will receive a notification prompting them to review the message. They can then choose to either accept your invitation, ignoring it, or report it if they feel it is inappropriate.
Follow Up Politely
If the prospect ignores or does not respond to your initial InMail, you may want to follow up. However, avoid harassing the member or repeatedly sending the same request.
Wait at least 2 weeks before sending one brief, polite follow up. Remind them who you are and restate your interest in connecting. But respect their decision if they continue to ignore you.
Connect and Build the Relationship
If the prospect accepts your connection request, congratulations! You can now communicate with them directly over InMail and LinkedIn messaging.
Schedule a phone call or video chat to continue the conversation. Learn more about their career goals and how you might be able to help. Focus on building a mutually beneficial, long-term recruiting relationship.
6 Tips for Sending Great LinkedIn InMail Requests
Now that we’ve covered the basics of how to send InMail requests, here are some tips to maximize your success:
1. Personalize the Message
Generic outreach is easy to ignore. Take the time to personalize your request based on the prospect’s unique profile and experiences. Demonstrate you did your research on them and are sincere in wanting to connect.
2. Highlight Shared Connections
If you have any shared connections, mention this in your message. It can help establish legitimacy and provide social proof that you are not a random spammer.
3. Offer Value
What’s in it for them? Communicate how connecting could be beneficial for their career. Offer to share insights, provide advice, or make introductions.
4. Keep it Short
Get to the point quickly and concisely. You only have 360 characters so don’t waste them. Lead with the value proposition and include just enough personalization and context.
5. Follow Up Respectfully
If they don’t respond, follow up once or twice over a few weeks. Accept a non-response gracefully. Never harass prospects who aren’t interested.
6. Comply with LinkedIn’s Policies
Carefully follow LinkedIn’s rules around InMail etiquette. Don’t make unreasonable requests, use high-pressure tactics, or share inappropriate content. This can get your account restricted.
Common LinkedIn InMail Mistakes to Avoid
While InMail can be very effective when used properly, there are some common mistakes recruiters make that hurt their response rates:
Sending the Identical Message to Everyone
Personalized messages have much higher acceptance rates than generic “spray and pray” outreach. Take the time to customize each request.
Using Aggressive Call-to-Action Language
Avoid demanding language like “You must connect with me today.” Use a soft ask approach that feels like a polite invitation.
Asking for Too Much Too Soon
Don’t ask for confidential information or an immediate phone call. Start with just a simple connection request.
Making Exaggerated Claims
Stick to factual statements about how you can add value. Don’t make unrealistic promises you can’t keep.
Not Following Up
One follow up can significantly increase acceptance rate. But don’t harass prospects who continue to ignore requests.
Using a Fake Profile
Don’t misrepresent yourself by using a fake identity. Be honest and transparent about who you are.
InMail Acceptance Rate Tips and Best Practices
With careful targeting and messaging, most recruiters see InMail acceptance rates between 10-30%. Here are some proven best practices to improve your InMail accept rate:
Leverage Shared Connections
Prospects are up to 3x more likely to accept InMail requests when you share connections. Reference these in your message.
Target Passive Candidates
Focus on passive prospects open to new opportunities but not actively job searching. They are very receptive to inbound recruiting.
Personalize with Profile Details
Mention specifics like “As a UNC graduate with 5 years experience…” to show you reviewed their profile.
Segment and Test Messaging
Try different messages with different prospect groups and see which ones perform best. Refine over time.
Use Video InMail When Possible
Short intro videos can really grab attention and improve open and response rates.
Time Requests Strategically
Avoid busy times like holidays or end of year. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have highest response rates.
Suggest a Quick Call or Coffee Meeting
Don’t ask for too much at first. A quick call to get acquainted is non-threatening.
InMail Response Rate Statistics and Benchmarks
Here are some benchmark InMail response rate statistics for different use cases:
InMail Response Rates for Recruiters Reaching Out to Passive Candidates:
– External Recruiters: 10-25%
– Internal Recruiters: 15-35%
– Executive Search Recruiters: 25-50%
InMail Response Rates for Sales Prospecting:
– Cold Outbound Prospecting: 5-15%
– Warm Outbound Prospecting: 15-30%
InMail Response Rates When Leveraging Shared Connections:
– 1st Degree Connection: 50-80%
– 2nd Degree Connection: 30-60%
– 3rd Degree Connection: 15-40%
InMail Response Rate By Seniority:
– C-Level Executives: 30-60%
– VPs and Directors: 20-40%
– Managers and Entry Level: 10-25%
As you can see, response rates can vary dramatically based on profile, targeting, messaging, and relationship. Test and refine your outreach strategy over time.
How to Increase Your LinkedIn InMail Response Rate
Here are some proven tips to improve your LinkedIn InMail response rate:
Research Prospect Background
Review their profile in depth to create highly personalized messages. Look for shared experiences to bond over.
Highlight Shared Connections
Name drop any mutual connections to establish trust and legitimacy.
Send Follow Up InMails
Don’t relent after 1 message. Send brief and casual follow ups to non-responders.
Test Different Subject Lines
Try different subject line formats and wording to see which garner more opens.
Use Video InMail When Possible
Short intro videos can really make you stand out from text-only messages.
Mention Recent News/Updates
Prove you are up to date on their company and career by referencing recent news and profile updates.
Segment and Target Strategically
Identify demographic, firmographic, and interest groups that respond best to your outreach. Then focus your efforts there.
Refine Messaging Over Time
Track response metrics to determine messaging that resonates best. Double down on what works.
Suggest a Quick Call
Propose a short 15-30 minute call rather than asking for too much up front.
Conclusion
InMail can be an extremely effective way for recruiters and sales professionals to connect with prospective candidates and clients who were previously unreachable. But it does require carefully crafting personalized messages that demonstrate value and respect the prospect’s time.
Avoid sending spray and pray style messages. Take the time to research each prospect, highlight common connections, and explain how connecting could benefit their career or business.
With the right strategy, you can achieve InMail response rates of 25% or higher. This can significantly expand your network and pipeline.
Just remember to always be professional and polite in your outreach. If prospects continue to ignore your connection requests, accept that decision gracefully. Avoid being overly aggressive or demanding. Building relationships takes time, so have patience and focus on quality over quantity.
