What is LinkedIn InMail?

If you're looking for ways to grow your business on LinkedIn, one of the most effective tools you can leverage is LinkedIn's InMail feature. With this powerful marketing tool, you'll be able to reach out to more prospects than ever before without having to worry about any pesky social media algorithm updates.

But there are some important questions you should ask yourself when it comes to using InMail. Here's everything you need to know -- from whether or not InMail goes to email, to which features are included with each plan, to what kinds of messages a person will receive based on their profile type. Read on!

Does InMail go to email?

Yes! While many people think otherwise, InMail actually goes directly into your inbox. This means if you have "Inbox" checked under Settings & Privacy, then all InMails sent via the platform will end up in your primary inbox. If you don't check this box, however, they won't go anywhere but your trash bin (though you may still see them show up as emails).

It sounds confusing, but once you get used to it, it makes sense. So long as you've got the setting set correctly, every time someone sends you an InMail, you'll see it right away in your inbox. It also doesn't matter where you sign-up for your account either. You could even register through your phone number instead of your email address if you prefer.

What is the difference between an InMail and message ads LinkedIn?

As mentioned above, InMail isn't technically just another form of advertisement on LinkedIn because it goes straight to your main inbox. Instead, InMail is like an automated message that is triggered by whatever action the user takes. For example, say you post something new in your company page, and within that update you include a callout asking followers to share it with others. That would trigger an InMail to appear in your main inbox.

On the other hand, say you click on a link shared to your feed that leads to an article promoting your product. The content itself might contain an embedded ad, but it wouldn't send anything to your main inbox. These types of links aren't part of the InMail system. They're simply advertisements that will land somewhere else on the site if clicked on.

Are message ads same as InMail?

That depends entirely upon who you ask. Some marketers believe that these two services are exactly the same thing whereas others view them as completely different forms of advertising. But regardless of what you personally feel, the truth is that both are similar enough that you shouldn't really expect too much difference between them.

For instance, both InMails and message ads come in the form of text-based posts that users can interact with by clicking on specific parts of the content. Both allow you to customize the look of your ads so that they match your branding style, and both allow you to choose which audience members you want to target. And while InMails only work on certain pages of the website, message ads work across the entire platform.

What is the difference between InMail and sponsored message in LinkedIn?

Sponsored Messages are basically a combination of InMail and message ads that allows you to create customized campaigns with prewritten copy and creative assets designed specifically for your brand. It's essentially a way to advertise online that lets companies provide customers with targeted information that interests them.

This differs primarily in terms of how much control over the actual content a user has. Message Ads let you write the whole piece and decide pretty much everything about it, including font size, color scheme, etc. Meanwhile, Sponsored Messages give you complete freedom except for choosing the headline for the campaign.

The bottom line is that neither option offers full control over the final result, but it's worth noting that InMail tends to offer a bit better targeting options since it works exclusively on LinkedIn Pages.

What is the best approach to getting started with InMail?

There are several things you should consider before diving into InMail. First off, make sure you understand how your existing accounts are configured at the moment. Do you have multiple profiles or a single page? Are you using custom fields or standard ones? Remember that if you are using custom fields, those can affect how you're going to be treated later down the road.

Secondly, learn how to navigate your dashboard properly. By default, you'll find yourself in the Promotions tab unless you change that location first. From there you can access all sorts of settings related to InMail. You can configure how often your ads run, specify additional tags, or add extra keywords to help improve performance. You can also adjust the frequency at which they appear in your inbox.

Finally, remember that you can always contact support if you're unsure about something. There are plenty of resources available on the internet to help answer any questions you might have regarding the program. Just keep in mind that if you have specific concerns around privacy, especially given recent news stories about Facebook, Google, and Twitter making changes to their policies, you should take steps to protect yourself.

How much does InMail cost?

While we haven't done extensive research yet, our own experience indicates that prices start at $5/month for basic plans with limited functionality. At higher levels, pricing starts at $10/month and includes various perks such as priority customer care, personalized follow-ups, and increased visibility on search results. All plans come with unlimited InMails, though.

Is there free trial or demo version of InMail?

Unfortunately, no. However, you can try out InMail for 30 days absolutely risk-free. To redeem your freebie, head back to the landing page and enter your name and email address. Once you submit, you'll be asked to confirm your acceptance and agree to the Terms and Conditions. Then you're good to go!

Do I need to pay monthly or yearly subscriptions for InMail?

You can opt to subscribe to InMail on a semi-annual basis, meaning payments occur twice a year. Or you can sign up annually, paying a flat fee of $249 until canceled. Either method allows you to keep using the service indefinitely.

Which InMail package should I choose?

We'd recommend sticking with the Standard Plan unless you already have a lot of subscribers or spend a significant amount of time managing your LinkedIn presence. As far as the latter point goes, you probably shouldn't bother spending money on Premium Plans unless you're actively working on growing your network.

Also note that you cannot upgrade your current subscription after subscribing. You must cancel your current plan and rejoin the membership.

Should I switch platforms?

Absolutely not! Since InMail was built for LinkedIn specifically, switching away from the platform could put you at a disadvantage. Plus, you'll lose access to the thousands of valuable training videos, community discussions, and blog articles that exist solely on LinkedIn.

With over 280 million members worldwide, LinkedIn has become one of the most popular social networks on the planet. The site's business-focused features have made it an essential tool for anyone looking to advance their career and grow professionally. But even if you don't want to join LinkedIn, there are plenty of reasons to check out its free version (and perhaps invest in a Premium account).

One such feature is InMail, which allows users to communicate with other people who aren't on LinkedIn through text messages. These communications can be sent via desktop apps like Outlook and Gmail as well as mobile devices like Android phones and iPhones. If your job requires communication with colleagues outside of work, then this might be useful—especially when they're not available by phone.

But while InMail is convenient for professional uses, many people also see the opportunity to make money from it. Some marketers pay for access to InMail in exchange for promoting products and services to potential customers. Others will simply ask for donations in return for sending these promotional emails. And some companies actually offer InMail credits—a form of compensation tied directly to each person receiving them.

In short, InMail isn't just another tool for connecting with friends and family online. It could also provide extra income for those willing to take advantage of it. Let's explore all three options below.

Is it better to send InMail or connect?

If you've been paying attention to recent news about Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram, you may think that InMail is nothing but a relic of the past. However, unlike other similar platforms, InMail offers more flexibility than any of its competitors.

Unlike other social media sites where followers must actively interact with content posted by brands or influencers, InMail gives you complete control over what types of messages get delivered to your inbox. You decide whether to receive promotional or informative messages from others and when to open them. This means you'll never miss out on important information because someone didn't prioritize sharing it.

That being said, InMail doesn't completely eliminate the option to "connect" with friends and family either. While LinkedIn won't deliver messages unless you explicitly tell it to, other social networks give you the ability to contact contacts without asking permission first. For example, Facebook Messenger lets you send group chats to specific members of your network at no charge, so long as they accept the invitation.

While both InMail and Messenger allow you to create lists of contacts based on shared interests, only InMail includes a list of groups you belong to. That makes InMail the best choice for businesses trying to target prospects based on commonalities within their industry sector.

Is InMail better than email?

As mentioned above, InMail is different from regular email in several ways. First off, InMail is designed specifically for communicating with individuals rather than entire groups. Second, messages are limited to 20 characters instead of 140. Third, recipients can choose to view messages immediately after opening them, making it easier to skim and respond quickly.

And finally, InMail is accessible exclusively through websites like LinkedIn and Google Docs, whereas email is usually received through dedicated mail clients like Microsoft Outlook. As such, you probably already know how to reply to emails (even though you may still prefer to save them as drafts), but you may need help setting up a new InMail address.

You should also consider your own privacy concerns when deciding between the two methods of communication. With email, you can set certain accounts to automatically delete messages once they reach your inbox. On the flip side, you can opt to keep copies of every message you receive forever in case you ever need to refer back to them later.

On top of that, if you're worried about security breaches, you can always disable InMail altogether. It's worth noting that disabling this feature will prevent you from accessing it again until you reinstall LinkedIn.

Finally, you can limit the number of times you receive a message from a sender by changing your settings. Although this seems obvious, we'd hate for our readers to learn the hard way!

How effective is InMail?

Like everything else, the effectiveness of InMail depends entirely upon the type of relationship you share with people on LinkedIn. After all, if you rarely talk to people outside of your company, this method of communication will almost certainly fall flat.

However, if you regularly meet with peers in real life, then InMail has proven itself quite successful time and time again. One study found that nearly half of all InMail messages were opened within five minutes of delivery, compared to less than 10 percent of emails. Another survey showed that people preferred reading InMail messages over texts and calls, especially since they had a chance to fully digest the content before responding.

The same study also revealed that around 30% of respondents would be interested in purchasing goods or services from the sender, further demonstrating the power of direct marketing tools like InMail. Even if you're not selling anything yourself, you can easily advertise your next event or upcoming seminar through the platform.

When it comes down to it, InMail is an excellent way to stay connected with people beyond the confines of your workplace. It's easy enough for anyone to sign up and start getting InMail messages right away, regardless of experience level. Whether you want to promote your personal brand as a consultant or sell something to a prospect, InMail can help you achieve your goals.

What are the benefits of using InMail?

It goes without saying that InMail should appeal to everyone who wants to increase their visibility among potential employers and partners. If you're serious about growing your network, then you owe it to yourself to try it out. Plus, it's likely to improve your productivity during working hours too, allowing you to focus on more important tasks instead of constantly checking for new messages.

Here are six additional perks of using InMail:

Get up-to-date information and insights that matter to you personally. Instead of browsing Facebook posts or scrolling through tweets, you can concentrate on learning valuable lessons that apply to your current situation.

Save time by skipping unnecessary steps like searching for relevant keywords and scheduling meetings. Once you find the perfect candidate, you can simply hit Reply All and let them know exactly how to proceed.

Stop wasting precious office supplies by creating countless printed documents, including resumes and cover letters. By eliminating paper clutter and saving ink cartridges, you can conserve resources and reduce costs at the same time.

Avoid distractions and interruptions by blocking notifications from your smartphone. This prevents distracting alerts from popping up whenever you log into your computer, freeing you up to spend more focused time on your work.

Connect with people who live far away from you, like relatives overseas or coworkers across town. Nowadays, thanks to technology like Skype, video calling is incredibly affordable, so even small teams can hold virtual discussions on a daily basis.

Use InMail to boost your chances of landing a great gig. When recruiters search for candidates, they often look for people who show initiative and dedication towards their careers. Because InMail shows prospective employees' commitment to staying active on the web, it helps position you in front of hiring managers looking for ambitious workers.

Should I buy InMail credits?

Although InMail is free to use, it's possible to purchase credit units ahead of time. Depending on the amount of credits required, this feature ranges anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars. To put things into perspective, InMail credits typically last for 90 days and come bundled with 100 credits for signing up. So, you'll essentially end up spending somewhere between $5 and $10 per month just to keep InMail running.

Whether you plan to use InMail for personal purposes or want to build your brand, there's definitely value in investing in these credits. They can be used to send unlimited messages to your audience, meaning you'll never run out of room to market your skills. Since they're tied directly to your profile, you'll gain exposure to thousands of qualified leads who are ready to hire you.

Of course, you don't necessarily need to shell out cash to enjoy InMail. There are numerous alternatives for helping you earn money from your connections on LinkedIn. From sponsored content to affiliate links, there's no shortage of opportunities to generate revenue on the site. We recommend starting your exploration with the following articles:

Learn how to earn money from LinkedIn ads (free)

Find out how to turn your LinkedIn Profile into a lead generating machine (paid)

Discover how to monetize your connections (paid)

See more LinkedIn tips and tricks (free)

Do you use InMail? What kind of results have you experienced? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

Originally written by Daniel Wray on March 26th 2020.

If you're looking to make the most of your LinkedIn profile as part of your job search strategy, then chances are good that you've already started using some sort of social media tool like Twitter or Facebook. But if you haven't yet tried out LinkedIn's own messaging system called "InMail," we'd suggest doing so right now.

The feature has been around since 2015 but only recently received widespread attention when Salesforce announced that they would be rolling out their own version of InMail. This was followed by Microsoft launching an official competitor to LinkedIn InMail called Outlook Message Forwarding (OMF). Now, there are also rumors that Google will soon launch its own similar product called Gmail Messages On Behalf Of.

So, what exactly is LinkedIn InMail? Is LinkedIn InMail worth it? And should you be sending any emails at all through this platform? We'll explain everything you need to know about InMail below.

Are LinkedIn InMails worth it?

When it comes to marketing yourself online, it can seem pretty overwhelming trying to figure out which channels are best suited to reach the widest audience possible. With more than 400 million members worldwide, LinkedIn offers a wealth of opportunities to connect with people who might have otherwise never heard of you before. So while many marketers turn to other forms of digital advertising such as display ads or even video content, LinkedIn remains one of the few places where you can directly communicate with potential customers without having to pay additional fees.

But just because you can post messages doesn't mean you should. While not everyone may agree with our stance on whether or not InMail is actually worthwhile, it's important to understand how these types of features work and how they differ from regular old e-mails. For instance, rather than simply blasting out promotional material to every single person on your network, you can tailor each individual message to the recipient instead. It's also possible to schedule certain messages to be sent at specific times throughout the day, giving you greater control over when your promotions hit inboxes. And finally, you don't necessarily have to spend money up front to get access to InMail either -- you can earn free credits for reaching certain thresholds of activity within the app itself.

All things considered, InMail isn't quite as powerful as some of the other tools available today. However, unlike a lot of competing services, it still manages to deliver decent results. As long as you know what to expect going into it, it's easy enough to see why it's become such a popular option among professional marketers.

How effective are LinkedIn InMails?

There aren't really any hard numbers to back up claims regarding the effectiveness of InMail. That said, it seems safe to say that if you want to maximize your odds of getting noticed by prospective employers, InMail is definitely worth exploring. After all, it costs nothing to try it out, and you stand to reap the benefits of increased visibility and exposure far beyond anything else.

While traditional e-mails tend to attract very little response, InMail messages typically receive a higher level of engagement thanks to the fact that recipients often feel compelled to reply immediately upon receiving them. The same goes for scheduled messages too, which means that you'll likely get a more favorable reaction from those who receive them regularly.

Whether or not this translates into actual leads though is another matter entirely. If you were hoping to generate new business contacts via InMail, you probably won't find much success doing so. Because of this, we recommend sticking to promoting your company's products and services whenever possible. Just keep in mind that InMail isn't meant to replace direct communication between two parties, no matter how tempting it might sound. Instead, it should serve as an extra layer of outreach designed to help you build relationships with others outside of your personal circles.

Should I send InMail on LinkedIn?

As previously mentioned, it's completely acceptable to send InMail messages whenever you wish. You could opt to shoot off a message to someone you barely know simply because they happen to be connected to someone you do. Or perhaps you'd prefer to target candidates who share common interests with you professionally. Either way, whatever situation calls for it, InMail certainly makes it easier than ever to quickly and easily send your pitch straight to the intended recipient.

That being said, unless you plan on investing heavily into building up your account, we wouldn't advise spending time crafting elaborate messages or engaging in lengthy conversations with strangers. Yes, it's great to give prospects a chance to learn more about you, but you shouldn't waste valuable time chatting with complete strangers. As such, it's best to stick to short, concise statements aimed at highlighting your qualifications and experience. When done correctly, this type of approach can prove to be extremely effective.

Another thing to consider is the difference between InMail and the standard form of LinkedIn communications known as Direct Messages. Unlike ordinary DMs, InMail provides users with the opportunity to attach files along with their messages. These attachments include documents, images, links, videos, etc., making the process of composing and sending messages considerably faster.

Finally, we must mention that InMail is currently limited to 150 characters per message. Anything longer than this will automatically trigger a warning box indicating that it is exceeding the character limit. Fortunately, however, there are ways to circumvent this restriction and ensure that your messages remain intact.

Is it better to send a LinkedIn message or email?

It depends on the circumstances. Are you writing a quick note in order to introduce yourself to a new contact? Then the answer is clear. Email is always preferable to InMail. Why? Well, first of all, it's a lot less intrusive. There's no risk of accidentally hitting Send when you meant to write something else. Emails also allow you to take advantage of several advanced formatting options including bold text, italics, bullets, block quotes, etc.

On the flip side, if you're working on a project with a client or partner who uses LinkedIn, then InMail may be a better choice. Not only will you be able to incorporate hyperlinks and inline images, but you can also add custom fields to track responses and manage replies accordingly. Plus, you'll save on bandwidth costs as well.

Is it better to send a LinkedIn message or email?

We think the answer is obvious! Unless you're planning on sending out dozens of messages each day, we believe you'll find that communicating with clients via InMail is generally superior to standard e-mail.

However, bear in mind that both methods come with their own set of pros and cons. Using InMail gives you full control over your message's subject line, body, and timing, whereas e-mails require you to adhere strictly to a predetermined template. Additionally, you cannot edit or delete InMail messages once they've been opened, meaning that you'll lose the ability to change them after the fact.

Lastly, you should remember that although InMail allows you to attach files, you cannot preview these files ahead of time. Once someone opens your message, they'll simply be presented with a list of file formats supported by LinkedIn. They won't be given the option to choose which ones they want to download.

With that said, we do encourage you to experiment with the various different styles of InMail messages provided by LinkedIn. By taking a closer look at the different elements of each message, you'll gain a solid understanding of how you can improve your overall presentation.

Is it better to send a LinkedIn message or email?

For the record, we strongly discourage you from sending regular mail through LinkedIn. While it's true that this method of communication saves you on bandwidth expenses, you run the risk of wasting hours of your life dealing with annoying spam filters. In addition, you'll miss out on countless opportunities to boost your professional reputation.

Instead, we highly recommend opting for InMail whenever you can. Even if you're working alone, your efforts are bound to result in positive outcomes sooner or later.

Is it better to send a LinkedIn message or email?

Email is the preferred mode of communication for anyone interested in finding employment. Whether you’re applying for a position at a large corporation or a small startup, the odds are high that your resume lands somewhere inside an inbox.

LinkedIn InMail is an excellent alternative to email for a number of reasons. Firstly, it creates a sense of urgency for recruiters and hiring managers by allowing you to bypass tedious application processes altogether. Secondly, it helps you demonstrate initiative and professionalism. Finally, InMail lets you customize your message based on the needs of the employer. A simple tweak to your cover letter can lead to a much shorter interview cycle.