Quick Answer
Yes, you can message someone on LinkedIn even if you are not connected. However, your message will go into the recipient’s “Other” inbox rather than their primary inbox, so they may be less likely to see it. There are a few ways to message someone you are not connected to on LinkedIn:
- Send an InMail – Pay to have your message sent directly to their Inbox. Free with premium accounts.
- Comment on their post – Leave a comment on a recent post of theirs. They’ll get notified.
- Message them through a mutual connection – Ask a shared connection to introduce you.
The best way to get your message seen is to connect with the person first before messaging them. However, InMail or commenting allows you to reach out cold if needed.
In-Depth Answer
LinkedIn is designed to facilitate engagement between connected professionals. To optimize the user experience, LinkedIn prioritizes messages between connected members. However, there are still options to reach someone you are not connected to. Here is more detail on how messaging works and how to reach out to unconnected members:
Messaging Between Connections
When you are connected with someone on LinkedIn, you can message them directly from your My Network tab or when viewing their profile. This message will go to their primary inbox where they are most likely to see it.
Being connected on LinkedIn means you are 1st level connections. This gives your messages priority delivery over unconnected members (2nd or 3rd level connections or no connection).
Ways to Message Unconnected Members
If you want to message someone you are not connected to, there are a few options:
InMail
InMail allows you to send direct messages to anyone on LinkedIn, whether you are connected or not. This is best for reaching out cold to make an introduction and request a connection.
- InMail goes directly to the recipient’s inbox.
- Free to send for LinkedIn Premium members.
- Non-premium members can purchase InMail credits.
- Higher response rate than other cold outreach methods.
Comment on Their Post
Another way to get a message to an unconnected member is by commenting on one of their posts. They will be notified of your comment and can see your message.
- Comment on a recent post sharing useful insights or asking a question.
- Allows you to showcase thought leadership and start a dialogue.
- No cost, just takes more effort to stand out.
Ask for an Introduction
If you share a mutual connection with the person, you can ask the connection to introduce you. This gives your outreach a warm introduction vs cold message.
- Mutual connections can “Introduce” you via InMail.
- Increases response rate since the recipient knows the intermediary.
- May take longer if introduction is not immediate.
Messaging Non-Members
If the person you want to reach is not on LinkedIn, you have a couple options:
- Use LinkedIn Elevate to publish an article and share the link with them via email or social media.
- Export their contact info from LinkedIn to send an email or message outside of LinkedIn.
While LinkedIn messaging is focused on conversations between members, there are still ways to get your message in front of the right people, even if you are not connected. The most effective approach will depend on the strength of your existing relationship and reason for reaching out.
Response Rate Comparison
Here is an overview of the typical response rates for each LinkedIn messaging method:
Message Type | Typical Response Rate |
---|---|
Connected Members | 25-35% |
InMail | 15-25% |
Commenting | 10-20% |
Intro via Connections | 15-30% |
As you can see, being connected on LinkedIn gives you the highest response rates, followed by paid InMail. But even without a connection, you can get creative and find ways to engage via public posts and mutual connections.
Tips for Messaging Unconnected Members
If you do need to message someone you are not connected to, here are some best practices:
- Make a personalized request – Generic outreach is easy to ignore.
- Keep it short and highlight value – State your purpose clearly and concisely.
- Follow up if needed – Don’t bombard them, but follow up if you don’t hear back.
- Consider requesting to connect – You can include a connection request in your message.
- Watch your tone – Avoid sounding pushy or sales-y.
With the right strategy, you can get a message across to anyone on LinkedIn. But connections open more doors for productive conversations so build your network proactively.
Conclusion
Yes, you can message people on LinkedIn that you are not connected to. InMail and commenting on posts allow you to reach anyone on LinkedIn directly. Asking for an introduction through a mutual connection can also get your message delivered.
While LinkedIn prioritizes communication between connections, you have options to get your message seen by unconnected members. The best approach depends on if you already know the recipient and the context of your message. With persistence and value-focused outreach, you can have productive LinkedIn conversations without a formal connection.