LinkedIn InMail is a powerful messaging tool that allows you to directly contact LinkedIn members outside of your network. With InMail, you can reach influential executives, recruiters, and subject matter experts who you otherwise wouldn’t be able to connect with. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to send InMail messages on LinkedIn.
What is LinkedIn InMail?
LinkedIn InMail is a private messaging system that allows LinkedIn members to contact any other member on the platform, regardless of whether they are directly connected or not. Some key features of InMail include:
- Ability to message LinkedIn members outside of your network
- Messages go directly to the recipient’s LinkedIn inbox
- Higher response rates compared to cold outreach emails
- Lets you establish new professional connections
With InMail, you can reach people you otherwise wouldn’t have access to, like senior executives, hiring managers, and industry influencers. It provides a professional way to introduce yourself and request a connection.
Who Can Send InMail?
To be able to send InMail messages, you need to have one of LinkedIn’s premium paid subscriptions. Here’s a quick overview:
- Free Account – Cannot send InMail
- Premium Career Account – Get 5 free InMails per month
- Premium Business Account – Get 15 or 25 free InMails per month depending on plan
- Sales Navigator Account – Get 25 to 100 InMails per month depending on plan
- Recruiter Lite or Pro Accounts – Get 50 to 300 InMails per month depending on plan
So if you want to use InMail to connect with people, you’ll need to upgrade to one of LinkedIn’s premium subscriptions. The number of InMails you can send per month depends on the specific plan.
How to Send an InMail Message
Sending an InMail message is easy and only takes a few steps. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Find the LinkedIn member you want to contact. Search for them by name or browse LinkedIn profiles based on title and company.
- Click on the “More” button on their profile. This opens a dropdown menu.
- Select “Send InMail” from the dropdown. This will open the InMail composition window.
- Compose your message. Write a professional message introducing yourself and why you want to connect. Be clear about your intent.
- Click the “Send” button. This will send the InMail to the recipient’s inbox.
And that’s it! The recipient will see your message in their LinkedIn inbox. Now you’ll just have to wait for them to reply.
InMail Etiquette and Best Practices
When sending InMail, follow these etiquette tips for the best results:
- Keep messages brief but personalized – don’t use templates.
- Identify common ground you share with the recipient (company, school, interests).
- Clearly state your purpose for connecting.
- Use a professional but friendly tone.
- Avoid sounding salesy or pushy.
- Add value by offering insight, resources, or complimenting their work.
- Proofread for typos and errors before sending.
- Follow up once or twice if you don’t get a response.
- Respect the recipient’s time and privacy.
With the right strategy, InMail can enable mutually beneficial connections. But avoid spammy behavior that could get your account restricted. Focus on quality over quantity.
InMail vs Connecting Directly
Rather than using InMail, you can also directly connect with LinkedIn members by sending them an invite. Here’s how InMail and direct connection requests compare:
- InMail – Can message anyone on LinkedIn without connecting first.
- Connection Request – Can only message after recipient accepts your invite.
- InMail – Goes directly to recipient’s inbox.
- Connection Request – Recipient may miss invite among other notifications.
- InMail – Higher response rates but limited to paid subscribers.
- Connection Request – Free to send but lower response rates.
As you can see, InMail has some advantages but requires a paid account. Connection requests have lower barriers to entry but are less visible to recipients. Choose the right method based on your goals and budget.
InMail Response Rates
What kind of response rate can you expect when sending InMails? Here are some estimates based on studies:
- 15-25% acceptance rate when requesting to connect via InMail
- 35-55% open rate on InMails sent
- Response rates 5-10X higher than cold email outreach
- Executives and senior leaders tend to have lower response rates
- Follow-up InMails can significantly increase eventual response rate
InMail boasts higher response rates compared to other cold outreach methods. But focus on quality over quantity. Target InMails carefully and personalize each one.
Tips to Improve InMail Response Rates
Here are some proven tips to get better results from your InMails:
- Research the recipient’s background before messaging.
- Personalize the message to show you did your homework.
- Connect on common experiences, interests or connections.
- Craft a compelling subject line.
- Highlight shared connections if you have any.
- Keep the message focused and quickly get to the point.
- Explain how connecting could benefit both parties.
- Follow up once or twice if you don’t hear back initially.
Taking the time to craft relevant, personalized messages tailored to the recipient will boost your InMail open and response rates.
Using InMail for Sales Prospecting
InMail can be very effective for sales prospecting outreach. Here are some tips for using InMail to connect with prospects:
- Target key decision makers and influencers at your ideal customers.
- Research prospects before connecting and personalize messages.
- Communicate value clearly and avoid sounding salesy.
- Offer something useful – insight, research, free trial, etc.
- Follow up InMail with customized connection requests.
- Connect first at a human level rather than business level.
- Suggest a short exploratory call or meeting.
- Provide social proof if possible.
The key is to use InMail to start meaningful conversations that lead to a first meeting or call. Avoid coming across as spammy or self-promotional in your outreach.
Using InMail to Recruit Prospects
InMail is also an excellent recruiting tool. You can use it to reach talented candidates who aren’t actively job searching. Here are some recruiting best practices with InMail:
- Target passive candidates based on the skills needed for the role.
- Keep messages brief but compelling – summarize the role and sell your company.
- Highlight interesting details about the role and projects.
- Convey your authentic enthusiasm and passion for the company.
- Explain why you think the candidate would be a great fit.
- Follow up to invite them to apply and offer to answer any questions.
- Avoid too much recruiting jargon.
- Focus on candidates likely open to new opportunities.
The goal is to grab the candidate’s attention quickly and motivate them to take the next step in learning more and advancing the recruiting process.
InMail Dos and Don’ts
Here are some final dos and don’ts to keep in mind when sending InMails:
DO:
- Personalize each message with specific details.
- Communicate your value proposition clearly.
- Highlight common connections or experiences.
- Keep messages focused and concise.
- Proofread carefully before sending.
- Follow up respectfully if no initial response.
DON’T:
- Use templates or send mass InMails.
- Make it all about you and your needs.
- Use overly salesy or pushy language.
- Contact recipients more than 2-3 times without reply.
- Sell too hard on first contact.
- Say anything unethical or inappropriate.
Following these InMail best practices will give you the highest chance of getting recipients to open, read and respond to your outreach messages.
InMail Pricing
How much does it cost to send InMails? Pricing depends on which LinkedIn subscription you choose. Here is an overview of InMail credits for the different account types:
- Premium Career – 5 InMails per month included.
- Premium Business Plus – 15 InMails per month included.
- Premium Business – 25 InMails per month included.
- Sales Navigator Pro – 25 InMails per month included.
- Sales Navigator Team – 50 InMails per month included.
- Recruiter Lite – 50 InMails per month included.
- Recruiter – 100 InMails per month included.
- Recruiter Corporate – 300 InMails per month included.
Additional InMail credits can also be purchased à la carte if you exceed the monthly allotment. So factor the cost of InMails into choosing the right LinkedIn subscription tier for your needs.
Conclusion
LinkedIn InMail provides a powerful way to connect with professionals outside of your existing network. With the right strategy, you can use InMail for sales prospecting, recruiting, and business development. To get the best results, always personalize your messages, communicate value, and highlight common connections. Sending thoughtful InMails can lead to game-changing new relationships.
