LinkedIn’s InMail feature allows you to directly contact other members on the platform, even if you are not connected. However, InMail has certain restrictions and requirements in order to prevent spam and abuse. Here are some common reasons why you may not be able to send InMail messages:
You need a paid LinkedIn account
InMail is only available to LinkedIn members who have a premium account. The basic free accounts do not have access to InMail. To send InMails, you need to upgrade to one of LinkedIn’s paid memberships like Premium, Sales Navigator, Recruiter Lite, etc. Each of the paid plans comes with a monthly allowance of InMails you can send per month. If you are on a free account, you will not see the InMail icon or have the option to message non-connections.
You’ve used up your monthly InMail allowance
LinkedIn limits the number of InMails you can send per month based on your account type. For example, the Premium Career plan comes with 15 InMails per month. Once you’ve reached your monthly limit, you won’t be able to send any more InMails until your allowance resets at the start of the next calendar month. Sending an InMail also costs one credit from your allowance, regardless of whether the recipient reads it or responds. So use your monthly credits wisely.
Your InMail recipient is not accepting them
Members can opt out of receiving InMails from others. So even if you have InMail credits available, you still may not be able to message someone if they have disabled InMail messaging in their LinkedIn account settings. When trying to send an InMail to them, you’ll get a notification that the member is not accepting InMails at this time.
Your account is restricted
LinkedIn may restrict accounts from sending InMails if they detect suspicious activity or spam/abuse related to your account. For example, if you send bulk unsolicited InMails or repetitive InMails with similar content, LinkedIn’s automated defenses may temporarily block your account from sending more messages until the activity can be reviewed. Restrictions help protect InMail recipients from unwanted solicitations.
You’ve been banned from sending InMails
If your account has been repeatedly flagged for InMail spam/abuse, LinkedIn may outright ban you from sending InMails going forward. This permanent block is usually reserved for serious violations of LinkedIn’s policies around appropriate InMail usage. If you believe your account was banned in error, you can appeal to LinkedIn customer support.
Your message triggers LinkedIn’s spam filters
LinkedIn screens InMails for signs of spam before they are sent. Messages with suspicious content like clickbait, inappropriate keywords, or text copied from other sources may get flagged as spam and blocked from being delivered. Avoid using all CAPS, over-repetitive text, contact/tracking URLs, or other red flag language in your InMail that could trigger the spam filters by accident.
You mistyped the recipient’s name
Double check that you entered the correct name and profile when addressing your InMail. If there is even a small typo in the member’s name or you picked the wrong person with a similar name, the message will fail since the intended recipient won’t match up. Always verify you selected the right profile before hitting send.
Their profile settings don’t allow it
Members can control who can message them through their profile settings. For example, someone may choose to only be contacted by their 1st degree connections. If you try to InMail someone with stricter messaging settings, you’ll get a notice that the member has limited who can contact them when you attempt to send the message.
You are trying to contact a basic account user
Keep in mind that InMail only works between paid LinkedIn members. If the person you are trying to reach has a free basic account, the option to InMail them will not be available. You can only message basic members if you are connected to them.
Their inbox is full
LinkedIn members have a limit on how many unread messages their inbox can hold at one time. If the person you are InMailing has hit their unread message cap, your new InMail will be rejected until they clear out some space. You may see an error that the inbox is full and you should try again later.
You are not on LinkedIn’s whitelist
To prevent bulk InMailing from unauthorized external sources, LinkedIn maintains a whitelist of known, trusted domains. Your InMail could get blocked if you are trying to send messages while logged into LinkedIn from an IP address not on their whitelist. Large companies often run customized campaigns and need to request access for their dedicated IP ranges.
LinkedIn is having technical issues
Like any website, LinkedIn may experience intermittent technical glitches that temporarily disrupt services. Server errors, platform bugs, or unplanned maintenance could prevent InMails from being delivered successfully. If you are unable to send InMails even after troubleshooting other factors, check LinkedIn’s status page at www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin to see if they have reported any known issues.
You need to verify your account
To prevent fake accounts, newly created LinkedIn profiles often have usage restrictions until the account is verified. Check your account settings – if your profile is still unverified, LinkedIn may not let you message other members via InMail until you complete the verification process. Verifying your account fully removes the restrictions.
Conclusion
InMail is a useful LinkedIn feature for targeted outreach, but requires a paid account and follows certain restrictions. Check that you have an active paid membership with credits available, are messaging members who can receive InMails, and avoid triggering any spam filters with your content. If your account was restricted or banned, request a review. And ensure LinkedIn is up and running properly. With the proper troubleshooting, you can resolve most issues that prevent sending InMail.
Reason | Solution |
---|---|
You need a paid LinkedIn account | Upgrade to a premium plan |
You’ve used up your monthly InMail allowance | Wait until your allowance resets next month |
Recipient not accepting InMails | Respect their communication preferences |
Your account is restricted | Request a review from LinkedIn |
You’re banned from sending InMails | Appeal the ban if issued in error |
Message triggers spam filters | Avoid spammy language in your InMail |
Mistyped the recipient’s name | Double check you selected the right profile |
Recipient’s profile settings don’t allow it | Respect their contact preferences |
Trying to contact a basic account user | Only paid members can get InMails |
Recipient’s inbox is full | Try again later after they clear space |
You’re not on LinkedIn’s whitelist | Request IP whitelisting through LinkedIn |
LinkedIn is having technical issues | Check LinkedIn’s status page and try later |
Need to verify your account | Complete LinkedIn’s account verification process |
Common InMail errors and solutions
When you are unable to send an InMail, LinkedIn will show an error message explaining why the message was not sent. Here are some of the common InMail error messages and how to fix them:
“InMail sending is disabled for your account”
This means your account does not have access to InMail, either because you are on a free plan or had InMail privileges revoked due to violations. Upgrade to a premium paid plan to re-enable InMails.
“Cannot message member because you are not connected”
The recipient has set their profile to only accept messages from 1st degree connections. You will need to connect with them first before messaging.
“InMail message not sent. Recipient is not accepting InMail messages at this time.”
The recipient has opted-out of receiving InMails. You will not be able send them an InMail unless they re-enable inbound InMail messaging.
“Monthly InMail allowance exceeded”
You’ve used up your monthly InMail credits. Wait until the next calendar month when your allowance resets.
“Unable to send – recipient’s mailbox is full”
The recipient has reached the maximum number of unread messages they can have. Ask them to clear out some messages and try again later.
“InMail sending restricted. Please contact customer service.”
Your account is temporarily restricted from sending InMails, likely due to spam or abuse reports. Contact LinkedIn customer support to remove the restrictions.
“Unable to send InMail. Please retry later.”
Indicates a temporary technical issue on LinkedIn’s end. Check LinkedIn’s status page and try sending again later.
Best practices for using InMail effectively
Follow these tips to get the most out of LinkedIn InMail and avoid issues:
- Personalize each message with the recipient’s name and profile specifics to show you researched them.
- Keep the message short and relevant based on their experience.
- Use a professional subject line that describes your purpose for connecting.
- Proofread for typos and grammar – the message represents your brand.
- Send individual messages instead of blasting bulk InMails.
- Don’t make it solely about promoting yourself or your company.
- Focus on how you can help them or add value.
- Respect if the recipient does not respond – don’t overdo follow up InMails.
- Monitor your monthly usage so you don’t exceed your allowance.
Leveraging alternative communication methods
If you are unable to InMail someone on LinkedIn, here are some alternate ways to try and contact them professionally:
Send a LinkedIn connection request
If able to connect directly, you can message them for free after becoming 1st degree connections. Personalize the request note to increase chances of acceptance.
Comment on their content
Engage with their posts and articles by leaving thoughtful comments. They may respond in kind, enabling further dialogue.
Join common LinkedIn groups
Participate in the same niche groups and forums to connect indirectly. Be helpful and build your professional brand.
Leverage shared connections
See if you have any 2nd degree connections in common who could introduce you or facilitate a warm referral.
Find and contact them outside of LinkedIn
Use their name, company, location and other profile details to try and contact them through external channels if appropriate.
Summary
LinkedIn InMail can be a powerful tool for direct outreach at scale, but requires understanding the nuances of the platform’s messaging policies and restrictions. Ensure your account meets the requirements, respect recipients’ preferences, and avoid spam filters. With the right approach, InMail provides a professional way to connect with qualified prospects on LinkedIn to build relationships and share valuable information.