What Is LinkedIn InMail?
LinkedIn is great for making professional connections, but when you want to start a conversation with someone who’s not already in your network, you can’t do so with a private message. Unless, of course, you have InMail. It’s essentially an extension of the standard messaging feature, which can be accessed by selecting the Messages tab at the top of the screen or bottom of the app when signed into your LinkedIn account. You can send a certain number of InMail messages based on your monthly allotted amount that comes with your premium plan. If you use them all up for the month, you can also purchase additional InMail messages to send. Cost varies depending on how many InMail messages you wish to purchase, but you can expect it to be around $10 per InMail message.
How InMail Is Different from Standard Messaging on LinkedIn
Since InMail is integrated with the standard messaging feature, it might not be obvious to see how it enhances standard messaging. There are just two main things you need to pay attention to when it comes to InMail:
Unlocked Message Buttons on Non-Connected Profiles
When you visit a person’s LinkedIn profile who you haven’t connected with yet, you’ll see a Message button on their introduction card (between Connect and More…). If you have a Basic account, it will display a padlock icon next to it, signifying that the InMail feature is locked. But if you have a premium account, you’ll be able to select Message to open the message composer and begin typing.
InMail Labels on Messages in Your Inbox
When someone sends you an InMail message, it will come with an InMail label to help you differentiate them from regular messages. Just look for the bold InMail label before the subject line on any of the messages in your inbox.
The Benefits of Using LinkedIn InMail
There are lots of benefits of using InMail messages to start conversations with people you don’t know. Here are just a few that really stand out. Send a personalized message without a connection request. Not everyone needs to be added as a new connection to your network. Sometimes a conversation needs to get started first. Avoid wasting time searching for contact info. It can be frustrating to search a person’s profile for the best way to contact them. Many don’t include their email addresses. Reach both passive and active job candidates. Get in touch directly with candidates you think could be a good fit. Track the results of your InMail messages. You get access to InMail Analytics, which shows you data about your messages that can give you clues about what may or may not be working. Receive InMail credits when you get a fast response. If the recipient of your InMail message responds within 90 days, you’ll be rewarded with an InMail credit so you can send more InMail messages without having to purchase more or wait until next month’s renewal.
How to Start Using LinkedIn InMail
It’s easy to start using InMail on LinkedIn. First, if you haven’t upgraded already, decide on which premium LinkedIn plan you want and consider the number of monthly InMail messages you get to send: Career Plan: 3 InMail messages per month Business Plan: 15 InMail messages per month Sales Plan: 20 InMail messages per month Hiring Plan: 30 InMail messages per month Once you’ve chosen your plan and made your upgrade, you can navigate to the LinkedIn profile of any person you’re not connected to and select Message on their introduction card. Type your subject line and body text into the message composer and hit Send when you’re done. To purchase additional InMail messages:
Optionally Opt Out of Receiving InMail Messages
You always have control of who can message you on LinkedIn and how. If you’d rather not receive any InMail messages at all, even with a Basic account, you can opt out of it.
