If you receive an InMail message on LinkedIn, there are a few best practices to keep in mind when responding:
Should you respond to LinkedIn InMail?
In most cases, it is recommended to respond to LinkedIn InMail messages, even if you are not interested in the opportunity being presented. A response is a professional courtesy and maintains your reputation on the platform. However, there are some exceptions where it may be acceptable not to respond:
- The message is clearly spam or suspicious
- The sender has no shared connections and you cannot verify their identity
- The message is overly sales-focused with no personalization
- You have received multiple messages from the same sender with no response
Craft your response thoughtfully
When responding to an InMail, be sure to craft your message thoughtfully and professionally. Here are some tips:
- Thank the sender for reaching out and acknowledge the reason for their message (a job opportunity, request to connect, etc)
- If you are not interested in the opportunity, politely decline but do not ignore them completely
- Be clear but gracious in your response rather than blunt
- Proofread to avoid typos or errors
- Respond in a timely manner, within a few days at most
What to include in your reply
Make sure your response InMail includes the following components:
- Greeting: Open with a greeting like “Hi [name],” to personalize it.
- Acknowledgment: Thank them for reaching out and reference the specific opportunity or reason for their message.
- Your response: Clearly state whether you are interested or able to connect. Provide context if needed.
- Appreciation: Close your message with appreciation for them reaching out.
Sample response templates
Use these sample InMail response templates as a starting point and customize as needed:
Accepting the opportunity
Hi [name],
Thank you for reaching out about the [position title] role at [company]. I appreciate you thinking of me for this opportunity. After reviewing the job description, I’m very interested in learning more about the position and company.
Please let me know the next steps in the interview process and what I can do to move forward. I look forward to discussing further how I can contribute to your team.
Thanks again,
[Your name]
Declining the opportunity
Hi [name],
Thank you for reaching out to me about the [position title] opportunity with [company]. I appreciate you considering me for this role.
After reviewing the job description, I have decided to decline moving forward in the process at this time, due to [reason, such as not being a fit for your skills, conflicting with current role, etc]. Please do keep me in mind for future opportunities that may be a better fit.
Thank you again for thinking of me, and I wish you the best in your search.
Regards,
[Your name]
Accepting a connection request
Hi [name],
Thanks for sending me a connection request on LinkedIn. I’m happy to connect with fellow [industry or alumni] professionals.
I look forward to engaging with you on the platform and learning more about your background and experience at [company name]. Feel free to reach out if I can ever be of assistance. I’m always eager to grow my network and collaborate with new connections.
Best regards,
[Your name]
Declining a connection request
Hi [name],
Thank you for the connection request. Unfortunately, as I aim to keep my LinkedIn network focused on [industry, major, university, etc], I will have to decline your request at this time.
I appreciate you thinking of me and wish you the best. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we happen to cross paths in [industry, major, network, etc] spaces in the future.
Thanks,
[Your name]
Following up after responding
Always follow up with the sender after responding, whether you accepted or declined their message. Here are some tips for following up appropriately:
- Send a response within 24 hours thanking them for getting back to you
- Reiterate your interest level and availability for further discussing the opportunity
- Suggest a phone call or video chat to continue the conversation
- Connect on other platforms like email to take the discussion offline
- Send any additional material requested like a resume, portfolio, etc
- Let them know you look forward to hearing back regarding next steps
Tips for LinkedIn InMail etiquette
To ensure you are using InMail effectively and appropriately, keep these LinkedIn etiquette tips in mind:
- Only message people you share a connection with or have a valid reason to reach out to
- Customize each message with the recipient’s name and relevant context instead of mass messages
- Keep messages concise yet personalized; don’t overdo templates
- Follow up any InMail conversation by connecting or moving to email
- Respect the recipient’s time – don’t overmessage without a response
- Treat InMail similarly to business email with proper grammar, punctuation, etc
- Reply thoughtfully even if declining so you don’t burn bridges
InMail frequency and volume
When using InMail to reach out to connections, be mindful of how frequently you are messaging contacts as well as your overall monthly InMail volume:
- Avoid messaging the same person multiple times in a short period without a reply
- Let at least 1 week pass before following up an unanswered message
- Keep your sent InMail volume under 30-50 per month to avoid seeming spammy
- Vary the contacts you are messaging instead of overfocusing on a small number
- Monitor your InMail response rate to optimize who and how you reach out
Maximizing InMail effectiveness
To get the most out of LinkedIn’s InMail feature, implement these best practices:
- Personalize each message with the recipient’s name, company, experience, interests, etc
- Make the subject line descriptive such as “Seeking UX advice” vs “LinkedIn Message”
- Highlight shared connections, groups, employers, schools, or experiences
- Focus InMails on recipients likely to respond and advance your goals
- Reference specific parts of their profile to show you did your homework
- Follow up InMails with emails or calls to strengthen the relationship
Avoiding inappropriate InMail
To maintain your professional brand on LinkedIn, be sure to avoid these inappropriate uses of InMail:
- Using overly casual language more suitable for texting friends
- Asking for sensitive personal information like age or marital status
- Making unsolicited job offers without permission to recruit
- Sending mass messages with no personalization or context
- Contacting people outside your network with no clear reason
- Aggressive follow up before allowing time for a response
With over 850 million members, LinkedIn is a powerful platform for making connections and finding opportunities. By mastering communication tools like InMail, you can build relationships with more professionals and achieve your career goals. The above tips will ensure you make the best possible impression.