Yes, you can email LinkedIn members through the LinkedIn platform. LinkedIn provides an email feature that allows you to send emails directly to other members without needing their actual email address. This can be useful for connecting with other professionals on LinkedIn.
How to Email Someone on LinkedIn
There are a couple different ways to email LinkedIn members. Here are the main options:
- Send an email via their profile – You can go to any member’s LinkedIn profile and use the “More” drop-down menu next to the “Message” button to select “Send email”. This will open up an email template where you can write a message and send it directly to them.
- InMail – LinkedIn’s premium InMail messaging system allows you to send emails to any member, even if you’re not connected. With a premium LinkedIn account, you get a certain number of InMails per month to use for connecting with members outside your network.
- Group messages – As a group manager or owner, you can send emails to group members who have chosen to receive group emails. You can email the entire group or segment members based on criteria like location, industry, etc.
Email Limitations on LinkedIn
There are some limitations to keep in mind when emailing people on LinkedIn:
- Recipient must have email enabled – In order to receive your email, the LinkedIn member needs to have the “Allow members to send you email” setting enabled in their account preferences.
- Character limits – Normal LinkedIn messages have a limit of 8,000 characters, while InMail messages can have up to 10,000 characters.
- Requires premium account – Sending InMails and customized group emails requires a premium LinkedIn account.
- Message acceptance – The recipient has to actively accept an InMail message before they can read the full contents. They can also report InMail as spam.
Email Etiquette on LinkedIn
To maximize your chances of getting a reply, it’s important to follow proper email etiquette when messaging people on LinkedIn:
- Personalize each email – Take the time to address people by name and reference something about them or their work specifically. Generic messages tend to get ignored.
- Be professional – Even though it’s social media, remember that LinkedIn is focused on professional networking and business relationships.
- Clear subject line – Use a descriptive subject that summarizes what your message is about. This helps the recipient prioritize reading your email.
- Brief intro – Start your email with a 1-2 sentence self-introduction. Don’t assume the person automatically knows who you are.
- Get to the point – Be clear about your purpose for reaching out and what you’re asking of them. Don’t make them hunt for it.
- Proofread – Before hitting send, double check your email for any spelling errors, funky formatting issues, or unclear sentences.
- Follow up – If you don’t receive a response within a week, consider sending a polite follow up email checking in.
Use Cases for Emailing on LinkedIn
Here are some examples of when emailing through LinkedIn can be effective:
- Following up after connecting – Introduce yourself and reference previous conversations.
- Scheduling meetings or interviews – Coordinate calendars and arrange details.
- Sending articles or resources – Share relevant content that the person requested or might find interesting.
- Quick questions – Make minor asks or inquiries that only require a short response.
- Job opportunities – Introduce open roles at your company that match their background.
- Event invites – Send invites to events and collaborate on planning.
- Group announcements – Update members on group news, events, polls, questions, etc.
Conclusion
LinkedIn provides a convenient platform for sending professional emails to expand your network and have productive conversations. By following proper etiquette and using the right techniques, LinkedIn email can be an effective outreach tool. Just be mindful of the limitations and always personalize your messages.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Direct communication channel | Character limits |
Don’t need external email address | Only works if recipient enabled |
InMail allows messaging anyone | Requires premium account |
Group messaging capability | Recipient has to accept message |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone email me on LinkedIn?
No, you can control who can send you emails on LinkedIn. Under account preferences, you can change your email settings to only allow messages from people in your network or disable emails entirely. LinkedIn members cannot send you emails unless you explicitly enabled the feature.
Is there a limit to how many LinkedIn emails I can send?
Yes, there are daily and monthly limits based on your account type. The basic free account has a limit of 300 emails per month. Paid Premium accounts can send up to 1,800 emails per month, while Sales Navigator accounts have a monthly limit of 3,000.
What happens if I go over my LinkedIn email limit?
If you exceed the email limit for your LinkedIn account, any additional messages will be blocked from sending until the next month when your allocation resets or until you upgrade to a higher tier account.
Can I use LinkedIn to email my entire network?
No, LinkedIn prohibits users from mass messaging their entire network. You are expected to individually select recipients for your emails rather than spamming your whole list. Violating this policy can get your account restricted or banned.
Do LinkedIn emails go to the recipient’s personal email?
No, LinkedIn messages stay within the LinkedIn platform in the recipient’s inbox. They do not get forwarded or sent externally to someone’s personal or work email the way InMail used to. Recipients have to log into LinkedIn to view the messages.
Can I send attachments over LinkedIn email?
No, LinkedIn does not currently support attaching files to messages. You’ll need to provide links to documents stored elsewhere instead of attaching them directly.
Is there a character limit for LinkedIn emails?
Yes, normal LinkedIn messages have a limit of 8,000 characters, while InMail messages can have up to 10,000 characters. This is to encourage brief, focused communication.
Can I customize LinkedIn email templates?
Unfortunately no, LinkedIn does not currently provide options for custom email templates within their platform. You’ll have to manually compose and format each message.
Do all LinkedIn members receive emails?
No, members can control whether they want to receive emails through their account settings. By default, the ability to receive emails is turned off, so members have to actively opt in. Before emailing, check that the recipient has enabled receiving messages.
LinkedIn Email Tips
- Use LinkedIn emails sparingly – Don’t bombard people with frequent, unnecessary messages.
- Keep emails short and specific – Get to the point quickly within the character limits.
- Proofread carefully – Double check for errors that undermine professionalism.
- Follow up if needed – One email often won’t get a response. Polite follow up is okay.
- Personalize your message – Reference their background to show you actually read their profile.
- Watch your tone – Emoticons, sarcasm, and slang don’t translate well professionally.
- Make emails scannable – Use concise paragraphs, bullet points, headings, etc.
- Avoid attachments – Paste text, use screenshots, or link to documents stored elsewhere.
- Use subject line urgency – Labels like “Urgent” and “Time Sensitive” encourage opening.
Conclusion
LinkedIn provides a useful email feature to connect with other professionals on the platform without needing external contact information. By exercising good judgement and following etiquette best practices when messaging contacts or groups, you can maximize response rates and build relationships through LinkedIn communication. Just be aware of the inherent limitations.