InMail messages on LinkedIn can sometimes feel like they disappear into the void, never reaching the intended recipient. With over 850 million members on the platform, standing out in someone’s inbox is no easy feat. So where exactly do those carefully crafted messages go once you hit send?
The short answer is that InMail messages go directly to the recipient’s LinkedIn inbox. But there are a few nuances that determine if, when, and how your message gets seen. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the InMail journey.
InMail Basics
First, a quick refresher on what InMail is and how it works. InMail is LinkedIn’s internal messaging system that allows you to contact anyone on the platform, whether you’re connected to them or not. Regular LinkedIn members get a limited number of InMail credits per month while premium subscribers get unlimited access.
InMail differs from regular LinkedIn messages in two key ways:
- You don’t need to be connected to message someone.
- Messages go directly into the main inbox rather than a separate connection requests folder.
This increased accessibility comes at a cost, which is why LinkedIn charges for credits. It’s seen as a privilege to be able to directly reach influential individuals you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
Sending the InMail
When you send an InMail, the message leaves your outbox immediately. But that’s just the start of the journey. Next, LinkedIn’s servers receive your message and prepare to deliver it to the recipient.
This process is almost instantaneous. Within seconds, your message is processed, transmitted, and ready for delivery.
InMail Delivery
Now comes the final and most unpredictable part – actual delivery. There are a few factors that determine when (or if) your message reaches the recipient’s inbox:
Recipient Settings
The recipient’s messaging settings play a big role. Some options that impact InMail delivery include:
- Profile visibility – If they limit who can see their profile, your message may not get through.
- InMail filters – They can automatically archive or delete messages from non-connections.
- Notifications settings – If they mute message notifications, your InMail may go unnoticed.
These types of settings are common ways members protect their privacy or reduce inbox clutter. Unfortunately, that can also block your message from ever being seen.
Recipient Engagement
Recipient behavior is also a major factor. Here are some examples:
- Frequency of inbox access – If they rarely check LinkedIn messages, your InMail could sit unread for days or weeks.
- Response rate – Only responding to a fraction of messages? Yours may not make the cut.
- Engagement with senders – Frequently interacting with connections and ignoring others? You may not hear back.
Volume of messages undoubtedly plays a role here. With over 62 million InMails sent per month on average, standing out is difficult. But regularly checking messages and responding thoughtfully improves your odds.
Quality Score
LinkedIn also uses relevance filters and quality scores to gauge InMail effectiveness. These algorithms look at:
- Keyword usage
- Grammar and spelling
- Sentiment
- Subject line click-through rates
- Past response rates
Messages deemed low quality have lower delivery priority and may end up flagged as spam. Writing personalized, thoughtful InMails boosts your score.
In the Inbox
Once your message successfully reaches the recipient’s inbox, the rest depends on them. Here are some final outcomes your InMail could meet:
- Read immediately – Best case scenario, your message gets priority attention.
- Read later – They may file it away as a non-urgent task.
- Flagged, archived, or deleted – Clearing out clutter means your message gets removed.
- Marked as spam – Enough spam flags will send your InMail to the junk folder.
- Ignored – No reply, but also no active deletion. Your message lingers in the inbox.
Following up in a week or two if you don’t hear back is totally reasonable. But repeatedly messaging someone who doesn’t respond often does more harm than good.
Maximizing InMail Effectiveness
Getting an InMail directly into the hands of your desired recipient is hard. But not impossible. Here are some tips to boost your chances:
- Personalize every message. Generic InMails are easy to dismiss.
- Make the subject descriptive. Give a reason to open and read your note.
- Highlight shared connections. Mutual connections can validate your outreach.
- Use brevity. Get to the point quickly without unnecessary fluff.
- Provide value. Offer something of benefit – advice, ideas, resources.
- Follow up once. Double messaging annoys recipients.
- Focus on quality over quantity. Thoughtful targeting beats spray-and-pray tactics.
With effort and care, your InMail can break through. But there’s no guarantee. Ultimately the recipient’s engagement determines if your message gets seen.
InMail Statistics
Here are some interesting statistics on InMail open and response rates:
Industry | Open Rate | Response Rate |
---|---|---|
Technology | 18% | 11% |
Media & Entertainment | 15% | 9% |
Finance | 13% | 7% |
Non-Profit | 24% | 18% |
As you can see, response rates hover below 20% across most industries. Non-profit tends to see higher engagement, likely due to mission-driven professionals passionate about the cause. Focus on quality messaging and aligned targeting to boost effectiveness.
InMail Usage by Roles
Role | Monthly InMails Sent |
---|---|
Sales Professionals | 165 |
Recruiters | 129 |
Marketers | 87 |
Account Managers | 62 |
Sales and recruiting roles rely heavily on InMail to connect with prospects and candidates. Investing in credits and learning best practices pays dividends for key outreach.
Conclusion
While InMail delivery ultimately depends on the recipient, understanding the full journey these messages take empowers you to boost visibility. Follow LinkedIn etiquette, avoid spam triggers, write personalized notes, and focus on quality over quantity. With care and some luck, your message will make it all the way into the inbox of your desired connection.