LinkedIn InMail Optimization: Boost Response Rates in 2024

Want to skyrocket your LinkedIn InMail response rates? Here’s the lowdown:

InMails get 18-25% response rates vs. 3% for cold emails
Keep messages under 400 characters for 22% more responses
Personalize with 2 profile details for 15% higher engagement
Send on Mondays for fastest replies
Target "Open to Work" profiles (37% more responsive)

Quick Comparison:

Feature	InMail	Regular Messages
Reach	Anyone on LinkedIn	1st-degree connections only
Cost	Paid feature	Free
Response rate	2.6x higher than email	Lower than InMail
Delivery	LinkedIn inbox + email	LinkedIn inbox only

Key to success? Keep it short, personal, and timely. InMail opens doors – it doesn’t close deals.

How LinkedIn InMail works

InMail

InMail is LinkedIn’s secret weapon for reaching out to anyone on the platform. Here’s the scoop:

InMail vs. regular messages

InMail lets you message LinkedIn users you’re not connected with. Regular messages? Only for your 1st-degree connections.

Feature	InMail	Regular Messages
Reach	Anyone on LinkedIn	Only 1st-degree connections
Cost	Paid feature	Free
Response rate	2.6x higher than email	Lower than InMail
Delivery	LinkedIn inbox + email	LinkedIn inbox only

InMail types and rules

LinkedIn offers three InMail flavors:

1. Paid InMails

Come with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions:

LinkedIn Premium Career: 5 credits/month
LinkedIn Premium Business: 15 credits/month
Sales Navigator: 50 credits/month
Recruiter: 150 credits/month

2. Free InMails

Send these to "Open Profiles" – Premium members who allow free InMails.

3. Sponsored InMails

Part of LinkedIn’s ad platform. Show up in users’ inboxes but don’t allow direct replies.

Key rules:

Character limits: 200 for subject, 1900 for body
No follow-ups in the same thread
Credits refunded if you get a reply within 90 days

InMail’s got game: 50-60% open rates and 18-25% response rates.

But here’s the deal: use it smart. Personalize your messages and keep them short. You’re reaching out to busy pros, not spamming their inbox.

Writing effective InMail messages

Let’s look at how to write InMails that people actually respond to.

Subject line tips

Your subject line can make or break your InMail. Here’s how to get it right:

Keep it short (2-3 words)
Mention a mutual connection
Spark curiosity

Why? Short subject lines work better. Look at these open rates:

Subject Line Length	Open Rate	Click Rate
4-15 characters	15.2%	3.1%
16-27 characters	11.6%	3.8%
28-39 characters	12.2%	4%
40-50 characters	11.9%	2.8%
51+ characters	10.4%	1.8%

Making messages personal

Personalization isn’t just nice – it’s a MUST. Tailored InMails get 15% more engagement.

How to do it:

Check their profile and recent posts
Reference their work or achievements
Mention shared connections (if you have them)

Try something like this:

"Hi [Name], I saw your post about [topic]. It made me think about [insight]. Given your role at [Company], I thought you might find this interesting…"

Message length and layout

Keep it short. InMails under 400 characters get 22% more responses.

For easy reading:

Use short paragraphs
Add white space
Bold key points

Effective call-to-action

End with a clear next step. But don’t push too hard.

Good:

"Want to chat about this?"
"Need more info?"

Bad:

"When can we schedule a demo?"

Your goal? Start a conversation, not close a deal.

When to send InMails

Timing your InMails can impact your response rates. Here’s what you need to know:

Best days and times to send

Surprise! There’s no magic hour for sending InMails. LinkedIn data shows response rates are pretty consistent across the board.

But here’s the scoop:

Mondays are your best bet for quick responses. People are catching up after the weekend.

Avoid Saturdays. InMails sent then see a 13% delay in responses compared to weekdays.

Quick breakdown:

Day	Response Speed	Notes
Monday	Fastest	Best for quick responses
Tuesday-Thursday	Good	Slightly lower than Monday
Friday	OK	Consider scheduling for Monday
Saturday	Slow	13% response delay
Sunday	Variable	Not enough data

How often to send and time zones

Don’t be spammy, but don’t be a ghost either. Finding the right frequency is key.

A good starting point:

Send 1-2 InMails per week to each prospect
Keep an eye on your response rates
Tweak based on results

Remember: One great InMail beats a dozen generic ones.

Dealing with time zones? Here’s what to do:

Check the recipient’s location on their profile
Use World Time Buddy to find their local time
Aim for their mid-morning or early afternoon (9 AM – 3 PM)

Pro tip: Most responses come within 24 hours. If you’re targeting a specific day, send your InMail the day before.

Bottom line: Focus on crafting great messages. A well-written InMail can get responses any time, day or night.

Using AI for InMail

AI is changing InMail on LinkedIn. Here’s how you can use it to get more responses.

AI tools for InMail

Some AI tools can help you write better InMails:

Tool	Purpose	Standout Feature
Dux Soup	Prospect automation	Multi-client dashboard
LeadFuze	Targeted lead lists	CRM integration
Expandi	Inbox and campaign management	Smart automation
Copy.ai	Personalized messages	30-second generation

These tools save time and boost outreach. Big names like Okta, Salesforce, and HubSpot use Copy.ai for sales outreach.

How AI boosts outreach

AI makes InMail outreach faster and more effective:

1. Personalization at scale

AI analyzes LinkedIn profiles to craft tailored messages. Personal messages get 15% more responses than mass sends.

2. Smart automation

Tools like Expandi automate connection requests and follow-ups within LinkedIn’s rules.

3. Data-driven insights

AI tools show your InMail performance, helping you understand what works.

4. Time-saving

AI generates message drafts fast. Copy.ai creates personalized messages in under 30 seconds.

5. Better targeting

LeadFuze uses AI to find targeted leads, increasing your chances of connecting with the right people.

"Emelia lets you set up automatic actions like profile visits, connection requests, and liking your target’s latest LinkedIn posts." – Emelia Team

Remember: AI is a tool, not a replacement. Use it to boost your strategy, not to fully automate it.

Pro tip: Always review AI-generated content. Add your personal touch to make it sound like you.

Tracking InMail results

Want to boost your InMail response rates? You need to know what’s working. Here’s how to measure your InMail success:

Key success metrics

Focus on these numbers:

Metric	What it means	Why it matters
Response rate	% of replies	Shows message engagement
Acceptance rate	% of InMails accepted	Indicates audience relevance
Click-through rate (CTR)	% of link clicks	Measures CTA effectiveness
Conversion rate	% leading to desired outcomes	Tracks business impact

Fun fact: InMails typically see an 18-25% response rate. Cold emails? Just 3%.

Tools for data analysis

LinkedIn has built-in analytics, but third-party tools can dig deeper:

1. LinkedIn Campaign Manager

Free for advertisers. Tracks clicks, impressions, CTR, and conversions. Download reports for more analysis.

2. Linked Helper

14-day free trial. $15/month after. Tracks message opens and responses.

3. Shield Analytics

10-day free trial. $6/month to start. Offers easy-to-read charts and graphs.

Using these tools? Remember:

Set up conversion tracking
Use Lead Gen Forms for cost per lead
Establish a baseline to measure growth

Don’t just collect data. Use it:

Low response rate? Personalize more
Low CTR? Rework your CTA
High opens but low conversions? Your message might miss the mark

Conclusion

LinkedIn InMail beats cold emails hands down. Here’s the proof:

Method	Response Rate
InMail	18-25%
Cold Emails	3%

But to get those results, you need to play it smart. Here’s how:

Keep it short: Under 400 characters? 22% more responses. Over 1200? 11% fewer. Do the math.
Get personal: Mention two things about them. It’s 15% more effective than mass messages.
Time it right: Monday’s your best bet. Skip Fridays and Saturdays.
Pick your targets: "Open to Work" folks respond 37% more. Company followers? 81% more likely to bite.
Nail that subject line: 7-8 words for mobile. Three words can boost responses by 14%.

What’s next? AI will make personalization easier. Multi-channel strategies will grow. And timing will be everything.

Remember: InMail starts conversations, it doesn’t close deals. As HubSpot’s Maire O’Connor puts it: "Keep the subject line short and punchy."

FAQs

What’s the difference between LinkedIn messages and InMail?

LinkedIn messages and InMail are two different ways to communicate on the platform:

Feature	Messages	InMail
Who can you reach?	1st-degree connections	Any LinkedIn member
Cost	Free	Premium feature
Who can use it?	All users	Premium subscribers
Character limit	Lower	Higher
Response rate	Not specified	18-25% on average

Messages are for chatting with people you’re already connected to. They’re free and unlimited.

InMail is LinkedIn’s premium tool. It lets you message anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected. It’s great for:

Job hunting
Reaching out to big names in your industry
Finding new clients

Here’s a fun fact:

"InMail messages have an average response rate of 18 to 25% compared to cold emails’ 3% average response rate."

That’s why InMail is so powerful for outreach, especially when you use the targeting tips we talked about earlier.

LinkedIn InMail Optimization: Boost Response Rates in 2024

LinkedIn marketing