LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 722 million members worldwide. It allows members to connect with each other, find jobs, follow companies, and more. One of the key features of LinkedIn is messaging, which enables members to communicate directly with each other.
The Basics of LinkedIn Messaging
LinkedIn’s messaging system allows members to send direct messages to connect with other members. It works similarly to email, but the messages are sent and received within LinkedIn instead of an external email account.
Some key things to know about LinkedIn messaging:
- Messages can only be sent between LinkedIn members who are connected in some way, either directly connected or through shared connections.
- Messages cannot be sent to groups or company pages, only to individual members.
- Messages are private and secure within LinkedIn.
- Members receive notifications when they have new messages, similar to receiving an email.
- Messages have read receipts so you can see if your message has been read.
Overall, LinkedIn messaging allows for direct communication between members in a professional context as part of the LinkedIn network.
Free Messaging Allowance
LinkedIn offers members a limited number of free messages that can be sent per month. Here is a breakdown of LinkedIn’s free messaging allowance:
- Basic Account: 15 free messages per month
- Premium Business Account: 30 free messages per month
- Sales Navigator Account: 50 free messages per month
- Recruiter Lite Account: 50 free messages per month
- Recruiter Account: 150 free messages per month
As you can see, the number of free messages varies based on the type of LinkedIn account you have. Basic free members get 15 messages, while paid subscribers get anywhere from 30 to 150 messages depending on their account level.
What Happens When You Exceed the Limit?
If you exceed the limit of free messages your account type includes, LinkedIn will prompt you to upgrade to send more messages. Upgrading means purchasing a premium subscription.
Here’s what happens when you go over the messaging limit:
- You will not be able to send any more messages until the next month when your allowance resets.
- You will see a pop-up notification that your messaging limit has been reached.
- You will be prompted to upgrade to a premium paid account to continue messaging.
- Any messages over the limit that you try to send will fail and not be delivered.
Therefore, it’s important to keep track of how many messages you have left each month so you can upgrade your account if needed before hitting the limit.
Tips for Managing Your Free Messages
Here are some tips to make the most of your limited number of free LinkedIn messages each month:
- Check your message limit regularly – Log into LinkedIn often to see how many free messages you have left for the month.
- Upgrade if needed – If you frequently go over the limit, upgrade to get more messages.
- Use connection requests – Instead of a message, consider sending a connection request to expand your network.
- Save messages for priorities – Be selective in who you message by saving them for your most important contacts.
- Try other communication – Consider using InMail or email if you want to communicate with someone you’re not connected to.
- Adjust your communication habits – Optimize your messaging practices to stay under the limit.
Getting More Messages
If you want more messages per month beyond the free limit, you have a couple options:
Upgrade to a Paid Account
As mentioned previously, you can upgrade to a premium paid account to receive more included messages. Here are the options:
Account Type | Monthly Price | Free Messages |
---|---|---|
Premium Business | $29.99/month | 30 messages |
Sales Navigator | $64.99/month | 50 messages |
Recruiter Lite | $119.95/month | 50 messages |
Recruiter | $239.95/month | 150 messages |
Upgrading to a paid plan not only gets you more messages, but also unlocks other premium features like advanced search and profile analytics.
Purchase a Bundled Add-On Package
In addition to paid account upgrades, LinkedIn offers add-on packages with extra messages:
- 25 extra messages per month – $14.99/month
- 100 extra messages per month – $49.99/month
- 200 extra messages per month – $99.99/month
- 500 extra messages per month – $249.99/month
You can purchase one of these bundles to get additional messages on top of what’s included with your account. They give you more messaging flexibility each month.
InMail for Messaging Non-Connections
One limitation of LinkedIn messaging is that you can only message people you’re connected to. If you want to message someone you’re not connected with, you can use LinkedIn’s InMail system.
With InMail, you pay per message to message LinkedIn members outside of your network. Here are the key details on InMail:
- Send messages to anyone on LinkedIn, regardless of connection.
- Credited blocks – Purchase credits to send InMails, starting at 3 for $10.
- Individual InMails – After using up credits, pay $10 per InMail.
- Included with some paid plans – Recruiter accounts get monthly InMail credits.
InMail can be useful if you want to expand your messaging reach beyond just your network. But it comes at an additional cost per message, with no free monthly allowance.
Tips for Using Your LinkedIn Messages
Here are some best practices for making the most of your LinkedIn messaging allowance each month:
- Personalize invitations – Customize your connection requests to increase acceptance.
- Follow up thoughtfully – If someone doesn’t respond, follow up once or twice before moving on.
- Add value – Offer advice, ideas, or resources instead of just pitching something.
- Watch your tone – Be professional and avoid overly salesy or promotional language.
- Engage actively – Don’t just message once and wait. Have ongoing, two-way dialogue.
- Use sparingly – Only message when you have something substantive to say or connect on.
Things to Avoid
Some messaging practices to avoid on LinkedIn include:
- Messaging constantly with no specific purpose
- Sending copied and pasted messages instead of personalizing
- Being overly promotional or trying to sell too aggressively
- Messaging random people who you have no relevant connection to
- Spamming with irrelevant content or links
Using your limited messages carefully and thoughtfully will go a long way. LinkedIn is about quality connections and conversations, not spamming quantity.
Conclusion
To recap, here’s what you need to know about LinkedIn’s messaging allowances:
- You get 15 free messages per month with a Basic account.
- Paid subscribers get up to 50-150 free monthly messages depending on account level.
- Going over your limit prevents sending more messages until the next month.
- Upgrade to a paid plan or purchase add-on bundles to get more messages.
- InMail can be used to message non-connections for a per message fee.
- Use your limited messages strategically to maximize their impact.
Understanding LinkedIn’s messaging limits allows you to communicate effectively while making the most of your free monthly allowance. Follow best practices and upgrade your account if needed to expand your messaging capabilities.
With some strategic planning, LinkedIn’s messaging platform provides a valuable tool for engaging your professional network in an increasingly digital business environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I increase my number of free LinkedIn messages?
You have a few options to increase your free monthly LinkedIn message allowance: upgrade to a premium paid account which includes more messages, purchase a messaging add-on bundle for extra messages, or use InMail credits to message those outside of your network.
What happens if I go over my free LinkedIn messages limit?
Once you exceed your account’s included number of free messages for the month, LinkedIn will prevent you from sending more messages until the next month when your allowance resets. You will need to upgrade to continue messaging after hitting the limit.
Can I message anyone on LinkedIn for free?
You can only message other LinkedIn members for free if you are connected with them in some way, either directly or through shared connections. To message someone you are not connected with, you will need to use LinkedIn’s InMail system, which charges per message.
What is the best way to manage my free LinkedIn messages?
The best practice is to check your remaining messages regularly and be selective in who you reach out to. Save messages for priorities, personalize invitations, and focus on quality conversations. Upgrade if you consistently go over your limit each month.
How much do additional LinkedIn messages cost?
If you want extra messages beyond the free allowance, you can upgrade to a premium account, purchase add-on bundles (25 messages for $14.99/month, 100 for $49.99/month, etc), or pay $10 per InMail to message non-connections.
Summary
LinkedIn provides members 15-150 free messages per month depending on account type. Once the limit is reached, no more messages can be sent until the next month. Upgrading to a paid plan or buying add-on bundles provides more messaging flexibility. Using your limited messages thoughtfully and strategically is key to maintaining quality connections.