Quick Answer
There is no way to definitively tell if someone has read your InMail message on LinkedIn. However, there are a few signs that can indicate if the recipient may have opened and read the message:
- The message shows “Sent” rather than “Pending” – This means the message was successfully delivered to the recipient’s inbox.
- You see that the recipient viewed your profile – If your message included a profile prompt, them viewing your profile is a sign they may have read the InMail.
- The recipient responds – If they reply to your message, that’s a clear sign they read it.
- The message remains unanswered after a few days – An unanswered message after several days could suggest the recipient read but chose not to respond.
While these hints can imply the InMail was read, there is no LinkedIn feature that directly shows if or when someone read an InMail message. The exact read status is only viewable on the recipient’s account.
In-Depth Answer
LinkedIn InMail is a powerful messaging tool that allows you to directly contact LinkedIn members outside of your network. However, after sending an InMail, one common question is – how can you tell if your message was actually read by the recipient?
Unlike email services like Gmail, LinkedIn does not have built-in read receipts for InMail messages. The platform does not notify senders when the recipient opens or reads an InMail. So there is no definitive way to know for sure if your message was read.
However, there are some signs you can look for that suggest your InMail may have been opened and seen:
InMail Status Changes from “Pending” to “Sent”
When you first send an InMail, its status will show as “Pending” beside the message. This indicates your message is waiting to be delivered to the recipient’s inbox.
Once the InMail is successfully delivered, this status changes to “Sent.” While it does not confirm the message was opened, a “Sent” status at least shows your InMail reached its intended destination.
If the status remains “Pending” for an extended period, that likely means there was an error and your message was not delivered.
Recipient Views Your LinkedIn Profile
One of the best signs your InMail was opened is if you see the recipient viewed your LinkedIn profile shortly after receiving your message. This is especially telling if your InMail specifically prompted them to visit your profile.
For example, if your message says “Feel free to check out my profile to learn more about my experience” and you then notice they viewed your profile that day, it’s a good hint your InMail was read.
You Receive a Response
The clearest indicator that your message was read is if the recipient directly responds or reaches out to connect. Of course, they may not always respond even if they did read your InMail.
But if you do get a reply, that confirms without a doubt that they opened your message. The speed of the response can also reveal how promptly they read the InMail after receiving it.
The Message Remains Unanswered
This sign requires some interpretation, but radio silence after sending an InMail could suggest it was opened but then ignored.
If a few days go by after your message is delivered with no reply, the recipient likely did read your InMail but chose not to respond for whatever reason. However, take this analysis with a grain of salt.
There are many reasons an InMail may go unanswered that have nothing to do with them reading it, including:
- They did not see your message because they rarely check LinkedIn.
- Your message got filtered into their spam folder.
- They missed your message among other emails and notifications.
But generally, if your well-crafted InMail goes completely unanswered for days, the lack of response could imply it was read but of no interest to them.
Other LinkedIn Activity from Recipient
While less direct, you can look for other LinkedIn activity from the InMail recipient around the time your message was delivered.
If they are actively using LinkedIn by viewing profiles, posting updates, or connecting with others, it’s reasonable to assume they likely also checked their inbox and saw your InMail.
Conversely, zero LinkedIn activity from that member after you sent your message may indicate they have not logged in to read it.
Limitations of Gauging InMail Read Status
While the above signs can provide hints about whether your InMail was potentially seen, there are a few limitations to keep in mind:
- Read receipts are not possible on LinkedIn – Unlike email, you can never know for absolute certain an InMail was opened.
- Profile views are not tied to InMails – Members may view your profile any time for other reasons, not just due to your InMail.
- Delayed responses – Members may not read or reply to your InMail right away, even if they are active on LinkedIn.
Essentially, nothing replaces confirmation from the recipient themselves. The only way to know definitively if they read your message is if they directly tell you or refer to your InMail content in their reply.
For privacy reasons, LinkedIn does not allow senders to track opens or views of their InMails. Only the recipient can see statistics related to their inbox and messages.
Best Practices to Increase Open Rates
While you cannot confirm if someone read your InMail, you can boost the open and response rates through a few best practices:
- Personalize your message – Include their name, company, location or other unique details to show you researched them.
- Keep it brief – Get to the point within 2-3 concise paragraphs.
- Use an informative subject line – Summarize your purpose or a benefit of them opening your InMail.
- Mention connections – Name drop any shared connections to establish familiarity.
- Add a clear call-to-action – Provide next steps for the recipient to conveniently respond.
Proper InMail etiquette and tactful persuasive messaging can give your notes a higher chance of being opened, read, and answered.
You can also research the ideal sending times and days for InMail based on response data:
Day of Week | Best Time to Send |
---|---|
Tuesday | 5-6 AM |
Wednesday | 6-8 AM |
Thursday | 5-7 AM |
This table indicates early weekday mornings tend to see higher open and response rates for InMails.
Conclusion
LinkedIn does not provide senders with visibility into whether recipients open or read their InMail messages. While you can look for signs like profile views and delayed responses, there is no LinkedIn feature that directly confirms if an InMail was read. The only definitive way to know is if the recipient tells you themselves.
However, by crafting personalized and compelling InMail messages, you can boost your chances that recipients will open and respond to your outreach. Sending thoughtful InMails that demonstrate shared connections and relevance to their interests is key for engaging LinkedIn members outside of your current network.