LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by over 700 million members worldwide. While most information on LinkedIn profiles is public, members can choose to keep certain information private, including their email addresses. So how can you find out someone’s email address on LinkedIn if they haven’t made it public?
Searching Public Profiles
The first step is to search for the person’s profile on LinkedIn. When viewing their profile, look for the “Contact info” section on the right side. If the member has made their email address public, it will be listed here. However, most members choose to keep their email private.
Connecting on LinkedIn
If you don’t already have a connection with the person on LinkedIn, you can send them a connect request. When sending a connection request, you have the option to add a note, explaining why you want to connect. If they accept your request, you will be connected on LinkedIn and able to message each other.
Messaging Connections
Once you are connected with someone on LinkedIn, you can send them private messages. Many LinkedIn members include their email address in messages, so you can try messaging them to ask for their email. Say something like “It was great connecting on LinkedIn! Would you mind sharing your email address so I can reach out offline as well?”
Searching by Email
LinkedIn also allows you to search for members by email address. Here’s how it works:
- Go to the LinkedIn homepage and click “Find members” at the top
- Enter the person’s email address and click “Search”
- LinkedIn will show you profiles associated with that email address, if any exist
This search works even if the email address is not publicly displayed on their profile. However, it only works if the email address you enter is accurate and associated with an active LinkedIn account.
Viewing Shared Connections
Another method is to look at your shared LinkedIn connections with the person. Go to their profile and click “See all X shared connections” below their photo. This will show you a list of people you are both connected to.
Look through the list of shared connections and see if you know any of them personally. If there is someone you know well, you can reach out and ask them for an introduction to the person and their email address.
Using Premium Account Features
LinkedIn Premium accounts unlock extra features like InMail messaging and profile contact information. Here are some ways to use Premium features to get someone’s email:
- Send the person an InMail message – Premium members get a certain number of InMails per month which can be sent to any member, even those you’re not connected to.
- Use Premium search filters – Search by keywords, job titles, locations etc. and filter by “Profile has email”
- See full profile contact info – Premium accounts can view full contact details on members’ profiles, including email addresses
So upgrading to a Premium account can provide access to email addresses, but requires a paid monthly subscription.
Using Third-Party Browser Extensions
There are various third-party browser extensions and tools available which claim to reveal LinkedIn users’ email addresses. Some examples include:
- RocketReach
- Anymail Finder
- LeadIQ
- Clearbit Connect
- Voila Norbert
- Hunter
- FindEmail
However, terms of use on LinkedIn and these tools vary. Make sure to comply with the LinkedIn user agreement and any applicable laws before using extensions to obtain emails. Most experts recommend against this method.
Asking Directly (Politely)
Finally, you can always directly ask the person if they would be willing to share their email address with you. A polite and professional message explaining why you would like to have their email can yield results. Just keep in mind some LinkedIn members may not feel comfortable sharing this information.
Here are some tips for asking directly:
- Only ask for professional reasons, not personal
- Explain why you would like to connect via email
- Be gracious if they decline to share the information
- Respect their privacy and don’t ask repeatedly
What Methods Should Be Avoided?
There are some questionable or unethical methods of trying to find someone’s email address online. Here are some things to avoid:
- Hacking or guessing email addresses
- Purchasing email lists from third-party vendors
- Using technology to scrape emails from websites
- Accessing internal company directories without permission
- Asking contacts to share someone’s email without their consent
These methods can be considered spam, harassment, or even illegal. It’s better to only use public information or direct communication to request someone’s email address.
Conclusion
Finding someone’s email address on LinkedIn requires a bit of detective work. The best approach is to connect with them directly and build a relationship first. From there, you can request they share their email with you. While workarounds like browser extensions exist, it’s usually better to keep your requests ethical and professional.
Method | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Search public profiles | Easy to do | Email usually hidden |
Connect on LinkedIn | Builds relationship | May not accept request |
InMail messages | Direct private communication | Requires Premium account |
View shared connections | Leverage existing contacts | Connections may not know person well |
Ask directly | Shows professional courtesy | Person may decline to share |
Key Takeaways
- Search LinkedIn profiles for publicly available email addresses
- Connect with the person and build a relationship first
- Politely ask if they are willing to share their email with you
- Avoid unethical practices like hacking or purchasing email lists
- LinkedIn Premium account provides more email search options