LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional networking platforms, with over 722 million users worldwide as of 2022. While having connections on LinkedIn can help you expand your professional network, you don’t need a direct connection to get someone’s email address on LinkedIn.
Can you message someone on LinkedIn without connecting?
No, you cannot directly message someone on LinkedIn unless you are connected with them. LinkedIn’s messaging system is designed to only allow conversations between connected members.
However, there are a few workarounds that allow you to contact LinkedIn members without an existing connection:
- Using the LinkedIn search bar to find their publicly listed email address
- Guessing their email address format and messaging them directly
- Sending them an InMail message
- Connecting with them through a mutual connection
While you can’t directly message someone without connecting, these methods allow you to make initial contact and request a connection if needed.
Can you get someone’s email address from their LinkedIn profile?
Sometimes! Many LinkedIn users choose to display their professional email publicly on their profile. However, this is an optional setting that not all members enable.
To find someone’s email address on their LinkedIn profile:
- Go to their LinkedIn profile page
- Scroll down and look on the right side for the “Contact info” section
- If they’ve added it, their email address will be listed here
If you only see their LinkedIn profile URL, phone number, or address, then they haven’t made their email public.
How to find someone’s email address on LinkedIn when it’s not public
If the person’s email address isn’t readily available on their profile, there are a few other ways to obtain it:
Check their website or company website
Often a person’s work email uses a standard company format that can be guessed. For example, if they work at Company X, their email may be [email protected].
Look for a “Contact Us” page on their company website – this often lists employee emails.
Guess the email address format
You can guess the format of someone’s work email pretty easily in most cases. It usually follows a standard convention like:
Try plugging in the person’s name and company domain and emailing them directly. There’s a good chance you’ll guess correctly on the first few tries.
Connect through a mutual connection
If you share a mutual connection with the person, you can ask your mutual connection for an introduction. This will allow you to connect directly with the person and then message them for their email.
To find mutual connections:
- Go to their LinkedIn profile
- Scroll down to “Mutual Connections”
- Message any connections asking for an email introduction
Send an InMail message
LinkedIn’s InMail system allows you to send private messages to anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected. InMail credits cost money, but you get a handful free each month.
To send an InMail:
- Click the “Message” button on their profile
- Select “Send InMail” to compose your message
- Politely ask for their email address in the message
The recipient can then reply with their email directly in the InMail conversation.
Is it OK to ask for someone’s email without connecting on LinkedIn first?
It’s generally fine to request someone’s email as long as you do it politely and explain why you’d like to connect off of LinkedIn. Avoid asking right away before any conversation.
Some tips for politely asking for someone’s email:
- Introduce yourself and your shared connection (if you have one)
- Briefly explain why you’d like to continue the conversation off of LinkedIn
- Ask if they’d be willing to share their email address
- Give them the option to connect on LinkedIn first if they’d prefer
As long as your outreach is thoughtful and not overly pushy, most LinkedIn users will be willing to share their professional email or connect on the platform.
Pros of getting someone’s email address instead of connecting on LinkedIn
There are a few advantages to communicating over email versus LinkedIn messaging:
- You avoid forcing someone to accept a connection just to reply
- It’s faster and easier to have an open conversation
- You can include attachments and links easily
- It’s more private than LinkedIn messaging
- It doesn’t use up InMail credits unnecessarily
The personal nature of email often leads to better conversations, making it worth requesting someone’s email politely.
Cons of emailing someone without connecting
There are also a few potential drawbacks to consider:
- You miss out on the benefits of having them in your network
- It may come across as overly forward or invasive
- You have fewer insights about them beyond their profile
- It’s often harder to get a response compared to InMail
To avoid these, make sure you have a relevant reason for contacting them off LinkedIn and keep your initial outreach polite.
How to email someone you found on LinkedIn (Templates)
Here are some email template examples for outreaching to a LinkedIn connection:
You have a mutual connection
Subject: Intro request via [Mutual Connection] on LinkedIn
Hi [Name],
My name is [Your Name] and I noticed we’re both connected to [Mutual Connection] on LinkedIn. I was hoping to connect with you directly regarding [relevant topic].
[Explain why you’d like to get in touch and your shared connection]. If you’re open to continuing the conversation off LinkedIn, I’d appreciate it if you could share your direct email address.
Either way, I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
[Your Name]
You have no mutual connections
Subject: Requesting email address for [relevant purpose]
Hi [Name],
My name is [Your Name] and I came across your LinkedIn profile while researching [relevant topic]. I noticed your experience aligns well with a [project/business need] I am currently working on for [company/purpose].
I’d love to continue our conversation off of LinkedIn and learn more about your background. If you’re open to connecting directly, please share your email address at your earliest convenience.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
[Your Name]
Conclusion
While LinkedIn wants you to connect directly on their platform, there are several effective methods to get someone’s email address without sending a connection invite. As long as you are polite in your outreach, most LinkedIn users will be receptive to sharing their professional email or connecting if they prefer.
The best approaches are using public profiles, guessing common email formats, leveraging mutual connections for introductions, or sending InMail messages. Avoid spamming connection requests just to message someone.
With some effort, you can initiate valuable conversations that may lead to meaningful professional connections – all without sending forced connection invites. The personal nature of email often leads to better discussions, making it worth the extra effort.