LinkedIn InMail promises to connect you with people outside your network and offer a direct line to potential leads, clients, or candidates.
On the surface, it sounds like a game-changer for sales, recruiting, or business development professionals. But when you look closer, the flaws begin to appear.
Despite its potential, InMail often underperforms in practical use. Low response rates, limited credits, and messages that often go unread leave many questioning if it’s worth the investment.
Even the most compelling InMail messages can get lost in the daily sea of notifications professionals receive.
So, is LinkedIn InMail still a valuable tool for cold outreach in 2025? In this blog, I’ll explore the key challenges:
By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of whether InMail deserves a spot in your outreach toolkit or if it’s time to consider other options.
Let’s cut through the hype and get to the truth about LinkedIn InMail.
LinkedIn InMail is a premium feature that enables users to reach out directly to people outside their network.
Unlike regular messages, which require the recipient to be a connection, InMail bypasses this restriction, making it a powerful tool for sales outreach.
Suppose you are a sales representative who sells to marketing managers in the SaaS industry. You have just found an attractive prospect who is outside your network.
In that case, you can use LinkedIn's InMail and write a tailored message directly to them about your introduction to the solution.
Here’s a table for understanding the differences between LinkedIn InMail and Standard Messages:
InMail messages go straight to recipients’ inboxes, increasing visibility and engagement, which can make it a worthy investment if your goal is to stand out in a crowded professional space.
Here’s how it works:
InMail messages go straight to the recipient’s LinkedIn inbox, meaning they’re more likely to be seen than emails or connection requests.
Plus, LinkedIn provides read receipts for InMail, so you’ll know if and when your message is opened. This gives you insight into engagement and helps you plan follow-ups.
InMail is great for getting noticed and making connections when regular LinkedIn messages just won’t cut it.
InMail credits allow limited monthly outreach to new contacts. Evaluating your credit needs based on your outreach volume can help determine if LinkedIn Premium’s cost matches your networking or recruiting goals.
👉 Every InMail sent to a non-connection uses one credit, which is essential for users focused on expanding their outreach.
LinkedIn Premium subscriptions come with different amounts of monthly InMail credits, tailored to fit various professional needs. Here’s a breakdown:
Each month, credits renew automatically based on your plan’s billing cycle. However, unused credits can roll over up to a maximum limit:
Credits exceeding these limits won’t roll over and will expire, so planning outreach activities regularly can ensure you make the most of them.
If you need extra credits, LinkedIn offers options to purchase more, though costs vary based on the plan and location.
However, credits are not transferable between accounts (e.g., Premium to Sales Navigator) and are reset to zero if you cancel your subscription.
Higher credit plans, like Sales Navigator, support outreach-heavy roles in sales and recruiting, while Career and Business plans suit occasional networking.
This setup helps users reach beyond their network, easily expanding professional opportunities.
No, here are the reasons why it may not be the worth for cold outreach:
Many recipients do not respond to InMail messages, often perceiving them as sales pitches and choosing to ignore them.
Although LinkedIn provides profile details, crafting personalized messages for each contact is time-consuming. As a result, most InMails appear generic.
Due to a high volume of unsolicited sales messages, many users view InMail as spam and are hesitant to engage.
Despite its limitations, InMail can be effective in specific scenarios:
If you’ve had prior interaction (e.g., a comment or like on a post), InMail feels more organic and has higher engagement potential.
For highly specific audiences, such as decision-makers in certain industries, InMail provides a direct route to communication.
Recruiters often find InMail effective for reaching out to potential candidates, who are generally more receptive to job opportunities.
If your aim is to generate more leads and convert clients effectively, relying solely on LinkedIn messages or InMail outreach may not provide the scalability and personalization necessary for success.
These methods often have
Luckily, email outreach offers a more efficient and impactful alternative.
Switching to email outreach provides significant advantages:
However, achieving success in email outreach requires the right tools. This is where Salesforge can help you achieve your goals.
Agent Frank is a comprehensive lead generation tool designed to manage every step of the process:
With Agent Frank, you’re not just automating email outreach—you’re generating meaningful conversations and tangible results.
Salesforge’s Infraforge and Mailforge tools simplify the technical aspects of email outreach, enabling you to:
These tools allow businesses to expand their outreach seamlessly, avoiding the typical technical hurdles of scalability.
Deliverability is key to successful email campaigns. Warmforge ensures your emails land in inboxes, not spam folders, by:
Warmforge lets you scale confidently, ensuring that your domain and reputation remain intact.
Salesforge offers a comprehensive suite of tools to scale your email outreach while maintaining a personal touch:
By choosing Salesforge, you’re not just sending emails—you’re creating connections that drive results.
Schedule a free demo call or try 14 days free trial to see how it works.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the common messages users asked about LinkedIn InMail.
Here’s how to do it:
Choosing between InMail and a connection request depends on your objective:
InMail is best for situations that require a direct introduction or call to action, while connection requests are ideal for gradually building a network.
Here are some tips that might help you get better replies:
Optimizing subject lines, personalizing bulk messages, and tracking engagement helps you make the most of your InMail credits, increasing response rates and maximizing return on investment.
LinkedIn InMail can be a helpful tool for targeted or warm outreach but falls short in scalability and cost-effectiveness for cold campaigns.
Email outreach, supported by tools like Salesforge, offers a more efficient and impactful solution.
By investing in such tools, you can scale your campaigns, maintain personalization, and achieve a higher ROI while fostering meaningful connections with prospects.
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