Crafting compelling subject lines for LinkedIn InMail messages is crucial for recruiters looking to connect with top talent. The subject line is often the first thing a prospect sees and can make or break whether your message gets opened. An effective subject catches attention and conveys relevance, prompting the recipient to open the message instead of ignoring it. This guide provides tips, strategies, and numerous sample subject lines to help recruiters maximize their InMail outreach.
Understand the recipient’s perspective
When drafting an InMail subject line, always consider it from the recipient’s point of view. Professionals on LinkedIn get inundated with messages daily. Yours must stand out from the noise. Put yourself in their shoes – would your subject compel you to open the message? If not, keep refining it until you have one that piques interest and speaks directly to that person.
Highlight the value proposition
A value proposition explains how you can add value for the recipient. Rather than making it all about what you want, focus on how you can help them. Offer something enticing that caters to their needs and goals. This provides a reason for them to open your message. Some examples include:
- “An exciting opportunity at [Company]”
- “Potential job match for your skills at [Company]”
- “Is this role a fit for your career goals?”
Reference previous interactions
Leverage any existing rapport or past exchanges you have with the prospect. Remind them of where you met, when you last spoke, or previous positions you’ve helped them with. This establishes familiarity and relevance. Examples include:
- “Great catching up at [Event]”
- “Following up on our recent chat”
- “Hiring manager position we discussed”
Speak to their interests and goals
When possible, customize the subject line to reflect details on the recipient’s background, skills, and aspirations. This shows you did your homework on them. Align the message with their unique career ambitions and field of interest. Examples include:
- “Digital marketing role for your skillset”
- “Growth opportunities in [Industry they work in]”
- “Advancing your career in [Function they work in]”
Use power words and phrases
Incorporate influential words and short phrases that spark interest and urgency. Words like new, hot, and exciting or phrases mentioning top companies can entice opens. But don’t overdo it, as too aggressive comes across as spammy.
- “New VP opening at Netflix”
- “Urgent: Google recruitment”
- “Exciting startup opportunity”
Ask a thoughtful question
Posing an intelligent, open-ended question engages the reader and compels a response. Make it specific enough to show relevance but broad enough to require opening. Examples include:
- “Seeking new challenges in 2023?”
- “Where do you see your career in 5 years?”
- “Have you considered opportunities at [Company]?”
Highlight common connections
Name-drop any shared connections to establish rapport and credibility as part of their network. This works best when mentioning respected individuals that carry some weight. Examples include:
- “John Smith suggested I connect”
- “[Mutual connection] referred you for [role]”
- “[Mutual company] alumni opportunity”
Mention your specific ask or purpose
Briefly state your purpose for connecting, such as sharing job details or requesting a meeting. This helps the recipient understand your intent and why they should engage. Examples include:
- “Quick call to discuss a Fitbit role?”
- “HR opening to share with you”
- “Catch up over coffee next week?”
Keep it short yet personalized
InMail subjects must be under 140 characters. Get to the point quickly while still demonstrating personalization. Captivate them enough to read more in the message body itself. Examples include:
- “Thought you would be ideal for our new Data Science opening”
- “You have the background we need on our Product Marketing team”
- “I think you would be a great fit for our Principal Engineer role at Uber”
Follow up persistently yet tactfully
If your first InMail goes unanswered, follow up. But avoid generic repeated subjects like “Following up.” Get creative with new compelling subject lines that show ongoing interest. Examples include:
- “Still interested in connecting about the [Role] position”
- “Haven’t heard back on the [Company] opportunity”
- “Checking in on my InMail last week”
Just don’t overdo it. If someone doesn’t respond after a few thoughtful attempts, move on.
Avoid overused cliches or spammy language
Stay away from trite phrases like “Opportunity for you”, “Interested in connecting?”, or “Just reaching out.” These are dime a dozen on LinkedIn. Likewise, avoid anything that feels gimmicky or promotional. Examples to avoid:
- “Act fast – opportunity expires”
- “**URGENT** You must read this!”
- “$50K+ salary jobs inside”
Use A/B testing to optimize
Not every subject line works for every recipient and role. A/B test different options and track open rates to determine what resonates best. Refine your approach based on data instead of guesswork. Testing helps perfect your outreach.
Sample subject line formulas
You can combine elements from the tips above into subject line formulas that cover all the key bases while still sounding natural. Some examples:
- “[Value prop] + [Skills match] + [Company]”
E.g. “Exciting new Propulsion Engineer opening for your skills at SpaceX”
- “[Previous exchange] + [Shared connection] + [Purpose]”
E.g. “Following up on our NASA chat – John Doe referred you – Quick call re: role?”
- “[Interest/goal alignment] + [Timeliness] + [Question]”
E.g. “Growth opportunities in Pharma – Fast-moving req – Have you considered Abbott Labs?”
These provide a template you can tweak according to the specific prospect and role. Test to see which style best delivers results.
Don’t underestimate the power of a compelling subject
In the noisy world of LinkedIn InMail, an empty or thoughtless subject almost guarantees your message gets ignored. Put time into crafting and optimizing it. A stellar subject line intrigues recipients and makes connecting with that coveted talent much easier.