Writing an effective LinkedIn InMail subject line is crucial for getting your message opened and read. With over 900 million LinkedIn members receiving numerous messages daily, crafting a compelling subject line helps your InMail stand out in the inbox. This article will provide tips, examples, and best practices for writing catchy, professional, and clickworthy LinkedIn InMail subject lines.
Keep it Short and Specific
LinkedIn InMail subject lines are limited to 100 characters, so they need to be short and to the point. Get right to the reason for your outreach instead of vague introductions. For example, “Question about your work at Company X” is better than “Hope you’re doing well!”.
Specific subjects also help the recipient determine if the message is relevant to them before opening. Use keywords about their industry, company, job title, projects, connections, and interests to create targeted subject lines.
Personalize the Subject Line
Personalized InMail subject lines have much higher open and response rates. Generic subject lines sound like spam and are easy to ignore. Personalization shows you took the time to review their profile and makes your outreach more meaningful.
There are several ways to personalize your InMail subject line:
- Use their first name: “Hi [First Name], quick question about…”
- Mention their company: “Thoughts on the new product launch at [Company]?”
- Reference shared connections: “John Smith suggested I connect with you”
- Include their industry: “Advice for someone entering the [Industry] field?”
Even a small personal touch makes a big difference in connecting with recipients.
Highlight Value and Benefits
The subject line should quickly communicate the value and benefits the recipient will gain from reading your message. This provides incentive for them to open and respond to your InMail.
Some examples of value-focused subject lines:
- “Article recommendation for your research on [Topic]”
- “Ten tips to improve productivity for [Job Title]”
- “Market research insights for [Company]”
- “Invitation to speak at [Event Name] Conference”
Emphasize how the information or opportunity you’re providing solves problems, saves time, or advances their goals. This demonstrates you’re not just seeking something from them, but aiming to add value.
Use Numbers and Lists Strategically
Numbers and lists in the subject line can capture attention and convey key details at a glance:
- “3 Ways to Reduce Churn in SaaS Companies”
- “Top 7 Marketing Trends for 2023”
- “9 Must-Read Books for UX Designers”
This works well when recommending content, presenting research insights, or summarizing key points from your message. Just be sure the numbers accurately reflect the information in the InMail body.
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Turning your subject line into a question can encourage opens and responses, as people are compelled to find the answer. This is especially effective for seeking advice, opinions, referrals, or starting a discussion.
Some examples:
- “How do you prioritize feature requests from customers?”
- “Where do you see the industry heading in 5 years?”
- “Could you recommend any finance bloggers I should follow?”
Ensure the question relates directly to their expertise and interests based on their profile. Thoughtful, relevant questions demonstrate you respect their knowledge.
Use Active Verbs and Keywords
Active, commanding verbs in your subject line convey confidence and get more opens compared to passive language. For example:
- “Join our upcoming webinar on digital transformation!”
- “Take this survey to improve our product”>
- “Read this report on the State of Fintech in 2023”
Keywords related to their field also help the subject line resonate. Include relevant terms and topics but avoid excessive keyword stuffing. You want the subject to sound natural.
Emphasize Exclusivity
Exclusive opportunities attract attention as they imply scarcity and special access. Subject lines like “Invitation to join our private community of [Industry] Experts” or “Early access to our new [Software] prototype” pique interest.
This technique works well when inviting people to events, groups, early product trials, and any unique offers. Just be sure not to exaggerate actual exclusiveness.
Highlight Social Proof
Name-dropping reputable brands, popular influencers, or recognizing achievements adds credibility to your subject line. For example:
- “As seen on ProductHunt: App for organizing research papers”
- “Our CEO recently spoke at Stanford about our approach to culture”
- “Congratulations on being named a Top 100 BI Company!”
Social proof builds trust and assures the recipient you are legitimate. But only mention names or companies that the recipient would recognize as credible.
Use Emojis and Brackets Strategically
Emojis and brackets around keywords can make your subject line more visually engaging and approachable. For example:
- “[Urgent] Feedback needed on our new website!”
- “Top 5 ways to drive 📈 growth on LinkedIn”
But use them sparingly, as overuse looks unprofessional. Also ensure emojis render properly across devices and email platforms.
Avoid Anything Misleading or Confusing
Never use exaggerations, false claims, or unclear phrases in your subject line. This will damage your credibility and may cause the InMail to be marked as spam.
Some types of misleading or confusing subject lines to avoid:
- “Let’s talk business opportunity worth millions!”
- “URGENT: Account Issue Detected”
- “Can we hop on a call?”
- “John said you might be interested”
Be transparent about your intent and who you are. Vague, exaggerated, or misleading language will only hurt your outreach efforts.
Review Examples of Strong InMail Subject Lines
Looking at examples of successful InMail subject lines can provide inspiration when crafting your own. Here are some examples that incorporate the tips discussed above:
Subject Line | Analysis |
---|---|
Quick question about your presenting at [Conference Name] | Short, personalized, asks a specific question |
[First Name], John Smith suggested we connect | Personalized with name and shared connection |
Market insights for [Company Name] | Highlights value with company-specific info |
The 5 best ways to use LinkedIn to find candidates 👩💼👨💼 | Numbered list format, relevant emoji |
Our CEO recently spoke at Stanford 🎓 | Builds credibility by name-dropping |
Reviewing strong examples can provide inspiration and ideas to incorporate into your own InMail campaigns. Test different formats and language to see what resonates best with your target audience.
A/B Test Different Subject Lines
While the above tips provide guidance, the most definitive way to optimize your InMail subject lines is to A/B test different variations. Send batches of InMails using different subject lines, then track open and response rates to identify the top performers.
Some variables to test:
- Subject line length
- Type of personalization
- Use of numbers/lists vs text
- Adding emojis or brackets
- Emphasizing value vs asking a question
Continue iterating to refine your subject lines over time. What works best can vary across different audiences, so on-going testing is key for maximizing InMail effectiveness. Just be sure to abide by LinkedIn’s guidelines and avoid spammy messaging.
Follow Up Politely If No Response
If you don’t receive a response after your initial InMail, consider a follow up message. However, avoid repeating the exact same subject line. Tweak it to indicate it’s a follow up while preserving context.
Some examples of follow up subject lines:
- “Friendly follow up re: guest article contribution”
- “Circling back on collaborating for [Event Name]”
- “Checking in on my previous InMail”
Also, accept that some recipients may not be interested or able to respond – so don’t overdo the follow ups. Send just one or two follow ups maximum before moving on. And always maintain a courteous, professional tone in your messages.
Conclusion
An effective InMail subject line grabs attention, conveys relevance, and motivates the recipient to open your message. By focusing on personalization, highlighting value, and using precise language, you can create compelling subject lines that cut through the noise. Test different variations and optimize based on response rates. With a well-crafted subject line, you’re more likely to have your InMail read and acted upon.