LinkedIn premium InMail credits allow you to directly contact anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected. With InMail credits, you can reach out to recruiters, hiring managers, and other professionals that would otherwise be unreachable.
What are the benefits of LinkedIn premium InMail credits?
There are several key benefits to using LinkedIn premium InMail credits:
- Direct access to top talent – InMail credits allow you to reach anyone on LinkedIn to recruit for open positions.
- Higher response rates – Messages sent via InMail have up to a 33% response rate compared to basic LinkedIn messages.
- Stand out – InMail messages skip the inbox and are more likely to get opened and read.
- Customizable templates – Tailor your messages with predefined or custom InMail templates.
- More productive outreach – Send up to 150 InMails per month with a premium account.
With InMail credits, you can cut through the noise and get your message directly in front of the right people. The added visibility and higher response rates make InMail an effective way to connect with professionals outside of your network.
How do InMail credits work?
With a LinkedIn Premium account, you receive a set number of InMail credits each month. The number of credits depends on your account level:
- Premium Career – 5 credits per month
- Premium Business – 15 credits per month
- Premium Sales – 25 credits per month
- Recruiter Lite – 30 credits per month
- Recruiter – 50 credits per month
- Recruiter Corporate – 150 credits per month
Each InMail credit lets you send one InMail message. So with a Premium Career account, you could send 5 InMail messages per month. Unused credits roll over for up to 12 months.
When crafting an InMail, you can choose from predefined templates or create a custom message. You can include multimedia, like images and videos, and add personal touches to stand out.
Once sent, InMail skips the recipient’s inbox and lands at the top of their LinkedIn Messages page. They will receive an email and push notification to prompt them to check your important message.
How much do InMail credits cost?
If you use up your monthly allotment of credits, you can purchase additional blocks of InMails:
Bundle | # of Credits | Cost |
---|---|---|
Starter Pack | 20 | $40 |
Pack | 50 | $100 |
Super Pack | 150 | $250 |
The more credits you buy at once, the lower the per-credit cost. Individual credits can also be purchased for $10 each as an overage charge.
Unused bought credits will expire after 12 months. However, the credits that come with your Premium account membership will continue to rollover month-to-month if unused, up to a maximum of 1,500 credits.
Who are InMail credits best for?
Here are some of the top use cases and professionals who get the most value from LinkedIn InMail credits:
Recruiters and Talent Acquisition
InMail credits allow recruiters to directly contact passive job seekers to fill open roles. The ability to message anyone on LinkedIn saves hours of searching contacts and groups for the right candidates.
Sales Professionals
Sales reps can use InMail to establish contact with leads and prospects outside of their network. The higher response rates help booking more demos, connecting with decision makers, and ultimately closing more deals.
Marketers
InMail enables marketers to reach LinkedIn’s most influential members, like prominent bloggers, journalists, analysts, and executives. One-to-one outreach can secure press mentions, expert quotes, AMAs, and brand collaborations.
PR and Communications
PR professionals use InMail credits to pitch reporters and journalists, resulting in increased media coverage and awareness. InMail messages also facilitate relationship-building with key media contacts.
Executive Recruiters and Headhunters
Executive recruiters rely on InMail to engage top talent for senior-level, executive, and board member roles. The ability to message passive candidates is key for these exclusive retained searches.
Companies and Brands
Brands can amplify their LinkedIn presence using InMails to engage their target audience. Credits allow brands to activate employees as thought leaders and connect with professionals en masse.
LinkedIn InMail credit rules and limitations
To maintain quality standards, LinkedIn does enforce rules and limitations when using InMail credits:
- Recipient must be a 1st degree connection – You can only message members who are directly connected within your network.
- Limited number per month – The monthly credits limit how many messages you can send, though more can be purchased.
- No attachments – InMail messages cannot include attachments, so multimedia must be linked.
- Subject to monitoring – LinkedIn monitors InMails and may revoke or restrict credits if misused.
- No sending to groups – You cannot use credits to message LinkedIn Groups.
Following LinkedIn’s guidelines ensures your InMail outreach is properly targeted and well-received. Credits are intended for one-to-one professional relationship-building, not spamming or blasting generic messages.
5 best practices for using LinkedIn InMail credits
To maximize the value of your InMail credits, here are some top tips to make your messages stand out:
1. Personalize every message
Avoid copy-pasting generic InMails – take the time to customize your message and explain why you want to connect with this specific person.
2. Spotlight shared connections
Namedrop any mutual connections to establish familiarity and rapport from the first line.
3. Research the recipient
Show you’ve done your homework by referencing their background, company, interests, content, etc. in your message.
4. Offer value
Demonstrate what’s in it for them – share an interesting article, compliment their work, or pitch a relevant opportunity.
5. Follow up persistently
If your first InMail goes unanswered, follow up again, try other channels like email, and leverage your shared network.
Conclusion
LinkedIn InMail credits provide a powerful way to connect with professionals outside of your network. The ability to directly message anyone on LinkedIn saves outreach time and delivers higher response rates.
Premium account levels include monthly credits to send InMails, with the option to buy additional messages as needed. Follow LinkedIn’s rules and best practices to ensure your outreach makes a strong impression.
For recruiters, salespeople, marketers, PR pros, executives, and brands, InMail credits unlock LinkedIn’s hidden talent pool and facilitate one-to-one relationship building at scale. Used strategically, InMails help you hire, sell, engage, and build awareness more efficiently.
InMail credits are an investment, but deliver significant returns by expanding your LinkedIn network and accelerating professional conversations. For premium account holders looking to maximize LinkedIn, InMail is a go-to tool for messaging prospects beyond your connections list.
InMail credits give you a competitive advantage to proactively reach the LinkedIn members that matter most for your business goals. The direct access and higher visibility ensure your messages get through and get noticed by top talent and decision-makers.
With the personalized, professional one-to-one communication InMail provides, you can build mutually beneficial relationships, spark opportunities, and achieve career and business objectives faster.
InMail credits enable you to be more proactive and strategic with your LinkedIn networking and cut through the noise to contact VIPs. Upgrade to a premium plan today to take advantage of InMail messaging and amplify your LinkedIn outreach.