In the world of professional networking, one message can change everything. Yet, over 80% of InMail messages on LinkedIn never get a response, not because they aren’t relevant, but because they aren’t effective. Whether you’re a recruiter, B2B marketer, or sales professional, mastering LinkedIn InMail best practices is crucial to increase your chances of getting a reply, landing more qualified leads, and scaling your outreach.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the top 10 LinkedIn InMail best practices that can dramatically improve your message strategy, boost your response rate, and help you stand out in a crowded inbox.
LinkedIn Inmail Best Practices for Effective Outreach
LinkedIn InMail lets you send direct messages to any account on LinkedIn, even if they’re not in your network. But using it to your advantage requires more than just hitting “Send.” Your subject line, message tone, personalization, and overall strategy will either make or break your outreach efforts. Let’s dive into the proven techniques and insights that will help you craft compelling InMail messages that get responses.
1. Start with an Interesting Subject Line: Your First Impression Counts
Your subject line is your first and often only chance to grab attention. It’s the gateway to your entire InMail message, and if it doesn’t stand out, your outreach dies in the inbox.
Tips:
- Keep it concise and curiosity-driven (under 50 characters).
- Mention something specific to the recipient (like a mutual connection, company, or recent post).
- Avoid salesy or generic phrases like “Quick question” or “Can we connect?”
An interesting subject line increases your open rates and sets the tone for a positive response.
2. Personalize Your Message: Don’t Sound Like a Cold Email Bot
No one likes receiving mass messages. To increase your response rate, make your InMail message sound human and personalized.
Ways to personalize:
- Mention the recipient’s LinkedIn profile, job role, or recent achievements.
- Highlight a mutual connection or shared experience.
- Tailor the message to their industry or company.
Tools like Sales Navigator help you gather this LinkedIn data easily, while LeadCRM helps you craft and send personalized messages.
Pro Tip: Use the recipient’s first name naturally in the message and personalize your “ask” to show you’ve done your homework.
Reddit users highlight that personalized, concise, and role-relevant InMails, especially from recruiters, can achieve high acceptance rates like 80% or more.
3. Get to the Point Quickly in LinkedIn Message: Respect the Reader’s Time
LinkedIn members are busy professionals. If your InMail message takes too long to get to the point, it won’t be read.
Best practices:
- Hook them in the first two lines.
- Clearly state why you’re reaching out.
- End with a specific call to action.
Keep your tone conversational but purposeful. The quicker you get to the “why,” the more likely they’ll respond to your InMail.
4. Use LinkedIn Inmail for Value-Driven Outreach
Inmail isn’t just for selling; it’s for connecting. Whether you’re using LinkedIn Recruiter, Sales Navigator, or Recruiter Lite, your InMail strategy should be focused on value.
Instead of:
“Can I schedule 30 minutes to talk about our product?”
Try:
“I saw your company just expanded into Europe — we’ve helped similar firms scale faster. Would you be open to a quick chat?”
Focus your outreach on the benefit they’ll get from the conversation.
Reddit users say that sending personalized InMails directly to hiring managers often gets better responses than applying through job portals.
Posts from the jobsearchhacks
community on Reddit
5. Time Your InMails Message Strategically
According to LinkedIn data, messages sent between 9 AM and 11 AM (recipient’s time zone) on Tuesdays and Thursdays have the highest response rate.
Also, avoid sending messages to someone who may not be active on LinkedIn. Check their recent activity before sending InMails.
6. Use Open Profile and Sponsored Inmail to Your Advantage
If your target has an Open Profile, you can send them a LinkedIn message without using an InMail credit. This is great for saving resources while maintaining consistent outreach.
Alternatively, Sponsored InMail (available through LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator) lets you send messages at scale to a targeted audience.
Make sure your sponsored InMail includes a strong subject line, a short body, and a compelling CTA that encourages a response.
7. Include a Clear Call to Action (CTA)
If you don’t ask, you won’t receive. Your InMail message should end with a clear, actionable next step.
Examples:
- “Would you be open to a quick 10-minute chat this week?”
- “Is it okay if I share a short case study relevant to your team?”
Avoid vague CTAs like “Let me know” — they kill your response rate.
Reddit users suggest keeping LinkedIn InMails short, personalized, and focused on the recipient’s interests. Avoid generic pitches and always include a clear, low-friction call to action.
8. Follow Up the Right Way: Be Respectful and Timely
Don’t assume a lack of reply is a “no.” The person might be busy, or your message got buried.
How to follow up:
- Wait 5–7 business days.
- Reference the first InMail message.
- Be polite and concise.
Following up can boost your Inmail response rate by up to 30%.
9. Measure and Improve: Track InMail Message Metrics
Use LinkedIn Recruiter or Sales Navigator to monitor how your InMail campaigns are performing.
Key metrics:
- Open rate
- Click-through rate (if you included a link)
- Response rate
This data helps you refine your InMail strategy and improve future outreach efforts.
10. Use Templates But Customize Every Time
Having a few go-to InMail templates can save time, but never send them without tweaking.
Bad:
Generic template with no personalization.
Better:
A base structure with personalized sections for name, company, and reason for outreach.
Your Inmail messages may look similar structurally, but the more tailored each one feels, the better the chances of getting a response.
Reddit users say that generic LinkedIn InMails often flop. Personalization, relevance, and a clear value hook are key to grabbing attention and boosting replies.
Conclusion: LinkedIn InMail Best Practices Followed = More Connections, Better Leads
When done right, LinkedIn InMail can be one of the most powerful tools in your B2B and recruiting arsenal. Whether you’re looking to connect with a decision-maker, generate leads, or find the perfect candidate, it all starts with the message.
By following these 10 LinkedIn InMail best practices, you increase the chances of getting a response, create meaningful relationships, and make the most of every InMail you send.
Ready to scale your LinkedIn outreach?
LeadCRM can help you automate connection requests, write AI-powered personalized messages, and manage replies—so your outreach runs smarter, not harder.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to use LinkedIn InMail effectively?
Use LinkedIn InMail effectively by crafting personalized, concise messages with a strong subject line and clear CTA. Use insights from their LinkedIn profile and be value-driven. Tools like Sales Navigator can help you segment and reach out to people who match your target persona.
How to improve LinkedIn InMail response rate?
To increase your response rate:
- Personalize your message based on their LinkedIn profile
- Send at optimal times
- Write a compelling subject line
- Avoid sounding salesy
- Follow up once, respectfully
How do you know if someone has read your InMail?
On LinkedIn Recruiter and Sales Navigator, you can see if your InMail message has been read. A “Read” indicator will appear under the message. However, on the standard LinkedIn platform, this feature is not always available.
What is a good LinkedIn InMail response rate?
A good LinkedIn InMail response rate is typically between 18%–25%. Personalized InMail messages, strong subject lines, and proper timing can significantly improve your chances of a positive response.
