8 LinkedIn InMail Message Examples with High Conversion Rates

Even if you follow the rules and seemingly do everything right, LinkedIn can still limit your connection requests.We must accept this, and get used to it. It’s a strong reminder, for example, to always A/B test our LinkedIn campaigns to get better results! Because surely, you want to make the most of your LinkedIn prospecting…The solution lies in sending open LinkedIn InMails.An InMail is a direct private message to or from a LinkedIn member who is not directly connected with you.As simple as it may seem, many people struggle to understand what LinkedIn InMails are and how to use them effectively.And that’s a shame, because proper (and smart) use of InMails boosts your response rates and positively impacts your lead generation results!That’s exactly what LinkedIn had in mind when they created InMails, their own version of emails for 2nd and 3rd degree connections.And we’ve found the perfect way to automate this inside LeadIn! Imagine not having to manually filter your eligible prospects anymore… You could choose to send a free InMail if possible, or a connection request if not.Promise, it’s even simpler than it looks! Check out our article on smart sequences and the future of B2B engagement.In any case, today we’ll cover:

• What a LinkedIn InMail is.
• Why you should send LinkedIn InMails.
• How to send a LinkedIn InMail.
• How many InMail credits your LinkedIn subscription includes.
• The best InMail templates for 8 LinkedIn prospecting scenarios and why they work.

So, ready to bypass LinkedIn’s 100 weekly invite limit and start sending 800 open InMails FOR FREE per month directly to your prospects’ inboxes with no extra effort? 👇

What is a LinkedIn InMail?

As mentioned earlier, InMails are free or paid direct messages on LinkedIn that you can send to members outside your network, unlike regular LinkedIn messages.Just before we begin, discover how to generate up to 800 qualified leads per month automatically by clicking hereStill unsure about InMails? Well… statistics show that you’re 3x more likely to get a reply from a 2nd or 3rd-degree connection using a LinkedIn InMail than with a typical cold email.However, it’s important to use your InMail credits wisely — not only because you have a limited number in your subscription (we’ll go into this later), but also because InMails should be reserved for people who receive many connection requests and are hard to reach.There are two types of InMails:

1. Free InMails

If you want to be able to receive free LinkedIn InMails, you need to configure your profile accordingly. Only LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator accounts can send and receive free InMails. Basic accounts can only receive paid InMails.The only way a basic LinkedIn user can contact others is through a message — meaning a connection is required.Follow the steps below to set up your LinkedIn account to receive free InMails. There are two ways:1 – Go to your profile page and click the “Edit profile” icon.Then click the “Premium” icon.Toggle on or off the “Open Profile” option.2 – Or go via the “Me” icon. Then click “Settings & Privacy”.On the left sidebar, click “Communications”, then “Who can reach you”. Choose “Messages” on the right side.As you can see below, you can choose whether or not to receive paid and free InMails.LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator users have access to 800 free LinkedIn InMails by default. When you upgrade from a basic account, these credits become available for better performance.

2. Paid InMails

If you are a Premium or Sales Navigator user, you can send paid InMails to any LinkedIn member.In short, any LinkedIn user can receive paid InMails, but only Premium and Sales Navigator users can send them.Each LinkedIn subscription includes a certain number of paid InMails (see details below), but only LinkedIn Premium members can purchase additional LinkedIn InMails. The cost of each extra InMail varies depending on your geographical location. The number of InMails you can purchase outside of your plan is also limited.On the other hand, Sales Navigator users cannot buy extra InMails outside of what’s included in the plan. More on that below.

LinkedIn InMail limit: how many credits per subscription?

Here’s how to check how many paid InMails you have left.Select “Access My Premium“.On the right-hand side, you’ll find all the details about your InMail credits.Note: there is no way to know the status of your free LinkedIn InMails.In practice: every time a LinkedIn member replies to your InMail, you get that credit back.So, if you target your audience well and write engaging messages, you can technically send more than your subscription allows per month. These rules apply to all other LinkedIn premium versions.The only difference between subscriptions is the number of monthly paid InMail credits:

LinkedIn Subscription	Monthly InMail Credits	Max InMail Credits
LinkedIn Premium Career	5	15
LinkedIn Premium Business	15	45
Sales Navigator	20	60
Sales Navigator Teams	30	90
Sales Navigator Enterprise	50	150
Recruiter Lite	30	90
Recruiter Professional	100	300
Recruiter Corporate	150	450

Buying LinkedIn InMails

Only LinkedIn Premium users can purchase additional InMails. If you have Sales Navigator or Recruiter, your available InMails are limited to what your LinkedIn plan provides.If you have LinkedIn Premium and want to purchase more InMails, here’s how:1. Click on “Access My Premium“.2. On the right, you’ll see an overview of your remaining credits, along with the “Buy More” button. Prices vary by region, but it can be up to €10 (!!) per InMail.

Why send InMails on LinkedIn?

InMails appear like regular LinkedIn messages in your prospect’s inbox without being connected to them. That means you don’t have to wait for your connection request to be accepted.For example, your 2nd-degree connections are great for expanding your network, so it’s a good idea to reach out with a connection request first. However, your 3rd-degree connections require more care. As mentioned, they’re more likely to reject your connection request.That’s why you should research, get creative, and ideally use LinkedIn InMail to reach out.Since you only have a limited number of InMail credits per month, LinkedIn forces you to be selective. For instance, having a system where you recover InMail credits when someone replies is another way LinkedIn encourages users to write compelling messages and reach out with purpose.This helps LinkedIn prevent spam and maintain the networking quality of its platform.

How to send an InMail on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn InMail features are similar to a standard email. You should treat them as such in terms of subject line and preview text.Here are the character limits:

• Subject line: 200 characters
• Message body: 1900 characters
• Signature: 150 characters

There are two ways to send a LinkedIn InMail:1. Go to the LinkedIn profile of the member you want to message via InMail.Click “Message“.Since you’re not connected, LinkedIn automatically redirects you to send an InMail.2. You can also do this from your LinkedIn inbox. Click on “Messaging“.Then click “Create new message”.Type the name of your prospect. You’ll get a dropdown menu. If you select someone you’re not connected with, LinkedIn will redirect you to send them an InMail.

LinkedIn InMail Examples: 8 proven templates that get replies

#1 – Pitching your service/product to a decision-maker

TemplateSubject: Need help with {{problem}}?Hello {{firstName}},We currently help companies in {{industry}} with {{service/product}}. I see you’re a {{title}} at {{company}}, so I thought this might be relevant to you.{{Product/service}} can help your business with:

• {{problem1}}
• {{problem2}}
• {{problem3}}

But that’s not all {{product/service}} can do!How about a quick chat to go over your challenges and see how {{product/service}} can help you solve them?Have a great day,{{yourName}} {{title}}ExampleThis template works because:

• You reached out with a specific and relevant reference.
• You identified the recipient as a decision-maker. You did your research.
• Even if they’re not currently interested, it might open up a new opportunity.

#2 – InMail to a potential partner/collaborator

TemplateSubject: Do you still offer {{service/product}} services?Hi {{firstName}},I’m currently looking for a {{service/product}} provider in {{industry}}. After some research, I decided to reach out to you for {{reason}}.Are you still offering {{service}}?If so, I’d love to learn more.Thanks in advance!Best, {{yourName}} {{yourCompany}} {{contactDetails}}ExampleThis template works because:

• It’s clear you did your homework and carefully selected a few relevant LinkedIn members.
• You approached them with a specific reason and reference.

• Even if you’re not currently interested in the commercial offer, it’s always a good idea to connect with someone who could be a potential collaborator or partner.

#3 – Invite a prospect to an event

TemplateSubject: Join us for {{event}}Hello {{firstName}},{{CompanyName}} is hosting {{event}} in {{location}} on {{date}} with the goal of {{goal}}.Since you work as a {{profession}}, I thought you might be interested in attending. Some of the main topics to be covered include, but are not limited to:

• {{topic1}}
• {{topic2}}
• {{topic3}}

If this sounds interesting, here are more details – {{link}}.What do you think?Best regards,{{Name}}{{Title}} at {{Company}}{{Contact}}ExampleThis template works because:

• You did your research and know who you’re addressing. The event is genuinely relevant to your prospect.
• You mention their profession to specify who the event is for. Prospects may work in various industries, but it’s their role/title in that industry that matters.

Note: You can also use LinkedIn event participant lists and automate outreach using InMails for open profiles only!

#4 – Invite a speaker to your event

TemplateSubject: {{firstName}}, be our guest!Hello {{firstName}},I’m taking this opportunity to invite you as a speaker at the {{eventName}} event.With your {{number of years}} of experience in the {{industry}} industry, we believe your insights on {{topic}} would be a valuable addition to the field.If you’re interested, how about we set up a quick call to discuss details?Here’s a link to the organizer if you’d like to explore further – {{link}}.Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.Looking forward,{{YourName}}{{Title}}{{Contact}}ExampleThis template works because:

• You made a specific reference to their years of experience and expertise. It shows you’ve done your research and didn’t randomly invite them.
• You include a link to the event so the invitee can learn more.
• You end with a clear CTA to schedule a discussion.

Want to make a “wow” first impression with your prospect? Add hyper-personalization to your InMail by clicking on the “Add Image” button!

#5 – Promote content through InMail

TemplateSubject: To answer your question in {{group/post}}Hello {{firstName}},I saw you asked {{question}} in {{group}} / as a comment on {{name}}’s post, and I thought our recent blog {{BlogTitle}} might help you out.Either way, I noticed you work in the {{industry}} space, and the content we publish might generally be of interest. If so, check it out here – {{link}}.Let me know if you find {{BlogTitle}} helpful.Kind regards,{{YourName}}ExampleThis template works because:

• You reference a specific comment someone left.
• The content you’re sharing is relevant both to their question and their industry/job.
• They’re more likely to connect because what you do is aligned with their business.

To scale this strategy, it can be automated! Check out this growth hack to generate leads from the LinkedIn newsfeed.

#6 – Send an InMail via mutual connection referral

TemplateSubject: {{mutual connection}} recommended I reach out to youHello {{firstName}},Our mutual connection, {{mutual connection}}, and I were discussing {{topic/question/expertise}}. I heard you’re an expert in the field.I could use some insights on {{topic/question/expertise}} for my business, and would love to set up a meeting. If it makes sense, let’s connect on LinkedIn, or feel free to email me at the address in my signature below.Let me know what works best for you.Best,{{YourName}}{{Contact}}ExampleThis template works because:

• The lead was referred to you.
• You referenced the person who made the recommendation.
• You’re aware of their expertise.
• Your intent is clear: you’re seeking help or offering a service.

#7 – Reach out as a recruiter

TemplateSubject: Following your LinkedIn post on {{topic}}Hello {{firstName}},First of all, I loved your LinkedIn post about {{sujet}}! It inspired me to reach out, as you seem like a great fit for the position of {{poste}} at {{entreprise}}. I also noticed you studied {{études}} at {{université}}, which is a strong asset for this role.As you may have guessed, I’m a recruiter at {{entreprise}}. I’d love to take this conversation further if you’re interested. Here’s a link to the job description – {{lien}}.Please let me know if you’re interested.Best regards,{{votreNom}} {{Contact}}ExampleThis template works because:

• You reached out with a concrete reference not just to their education and/or experience, but also their contribution to the LinkedIn community.
• It’s not just a cold message — the person is truly qualified for the position, and you acknowledge it.
• Even if they’re not interested in the job, they’ll want to stay in touch with a recruiter who took the time to tailor their message rather than sending a random job link.

#8 – Invite industry professionals to join your community

TemplateSubject: Invite to join {{NomCommunauté}}Hello {{firstName}},I’d like to officially invite you to join {{NomCommunauté}}. This is a community of {{typedecommunauté}} for professionals in {{industrie}} with the goal of {{but}}.Your extensive experience as a {{profession}} inspired me to reach out.Here’s the link – {{lien}}, feel free to check it out and let me know what you think!Hope to see you there.Have a great day,{{votreNom}} {{profession}}ExampleThis template works because:

• The prospect’s role is relevant to the community. You’re not randomly inviting someone.
• The community itself is aligned with the person’s profession.
• You briefly explained what the community is about.

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve covered the main elements you need for an effective and smart use of LinkedIn InMails! Whether you automate them with a secure tool or send them manually, with the above templates and strategies, it’s time to make InMails work for your LinkedIn outreach.You’ve learned:

• What a LinkedIn InMail is
• Why you should send LinkedIn InMails
• How to send a LinkedIn InMail
• How many InMail credits your LinkedIn plan includes

Needless to say, the 8 simple yet powerful LinkedIn InMail templates above will help you get the responses you need. Use them as-is or tailor them to your sales goals!To summarize, these InMail strategies work well for a few reasons:

1. They bypass LinkedIn’s 100 connection requests per week limit.
2. They require very little time to set up and automate, as LeadIn does most of the outreach for you.
3. They’re easy to launch and automate.

And if you want to learn how to grow your network or generate 10x more leads in less time, book a LeadIn demo call.Bonus: you can start using all these tools right away with a free trial, and launch your campaigns within a week. 😉Ready to start? 🚀Start your 14-day free trial with LeadIn.We hope this guide was useful and that InMails will no longer be a mystery when it comes to generating real results on LinkedIn!