What Works Better for Cold Outreach in 2025: Email or LinkedIn Message?

Are LinkedIn messages more effective than cold emails at generating results? Depending on how you intend to prospect.

When initiating a cold contact LinkedIn outreach strategy, it's essential to focus on building genuine connections rather than simply pitching your product or service. Start by researching your target audience and identifying common interests or shared connections. A personalized message that demonstrates you've taken the time to understand their background and needs is far more likely to receive a positive response. Remember, the goal of a cold contact LinkedIn message is to spark a conversation and establish a relationship, so keep your initial outreach concise, engaging, and focused on providing value. The most effective approach involves offering helpful insights, sharing relevant content, or simply expressing genuine interest in their work. With Scrupp, you can efficiently gather the necessary data to personalize your approach and increase your chances of success with cold contact LinkedIn strategies.

The effectiveness of emails, LinkedIn messages, and Inmails (Linkedin Premium Messages) for recruitment are compared here, along with how they might be combined for the best outcomes.

What is more beneficial: emails or LinkedIn messages? To evaluate email and LinkedIn messages, consider the following seven characteristics:

1. Open and response rates
2. Follow-up
3. Velocity
4. Deliverability
5. Price
6. Data management
7. Scale

1. Open and response rates

Email reaction rates are typically lower than those of LinkedIn cold messages and Inmails.  Email inboxes are overflowing. The widely acknowledged average for all cold emails is between 1% and 10%. However, it is greatly dependent on your advertising campaign. When an email is highly tailored, some good outreach managers can achieve a 70% response rate.

LinkedIn message response rate

Inboxes on LinkedIn are less clogged. The typical response rate is 5-20%.

LinkedIn email response rate 

InMails outperform emails in terms of response rate, with an average of 10-25%. Because this is a paid LinkedIn function, fewer individuals are sending them. People tend to work on their copywriting more than on a free email because you only have a certain amount each month to send.

2. Follow-up

To receive a response, LinkedIn messages demand fewer follow-ups than emails. Inmails do not allow you to send follow-ups.

Follow-up by email

After the seventh follow-up email, 95% of customers typically respond. It is evident that you receive responses more frequently the more follow-ups you send.

Follow-up on LinkedIn message

Following up on LinkedIn communications is easier. Usually, nearly 90% of the leads respond after 3-4 follow-ups.

Since everyone is aware that "money is in the follow-ups," it is challenging to tell sales representatives that.

3. Velocity

Compared to LinkedIn prospecting, cold emails can reach a greater number of people in a shorter period of time.

Email transmission rate

You can securely send up to 150-200 emails every day using your email account. If you have a fresh email address, you may need to warm it up slightly.

LinkedIn message transmission rate

LinkedIn just reduced the amount of connection requests you can send from 100 per day to 100 per week. This greatly limits your ability to prospect.

Inmail velocity

You can only obtain 50 Inmails credits monthly with a LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscription.

It's obvious that your reach plan cannot solely rely on Inmails. You can write far too few messages per day.

4. Deliverability

LinkedIn messages and Inmails have an edge over emails because they are exempt from spam filters.

Email deliverability

One of the biggest challenges with cold email outreach is ensuring your messages reach the intended recipient's inbox and avoid mail going to spam. Several factors influence email deliverability, including your sender reputation, email content, and technical setup. Taking proactive steps to avoid mail going to spam is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of your campaigns. Implementing proper email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential. These protocols verify that your emails are genuinely sent from your domain and haven't been tampered with. Regularly cleaning your email list to remove invalid or inactive addresses can also significantly improve your sender reputation. By focusing on these best practices, you can dramatically increase your chances of landing in the primary inbox and avoid mail going to spam.

Cold emails, as opposed to LinkedIn messages, are delivered right to your targets' primary mailbox.

If your email gets past the spam filter, you can be certain that your prospect will see it. But you must succeed:

Consider this checklist to help you out:

• - Configure DNS Records (DKIM, DMARC, SPF)
• - Work with a trusted provider (like Gmail)
• - Ensure your email list is up to date.
• - Get your mailbox ready.
• - Keep up a high open and reply rate

Linkedin message deliverability

You can only send messages to your first-degree contacts, or those with whom you are previously joined on LinkedIn.

Third-degree connections (those having connections in common) and second-degree connections (people without common connections) cannot receive messages from you on LinkedIn.

It indicates that before sending a LinkedIn message, your connection request must first be confirmed.

Notes can be sent together with connection requests, but:

1. They have a word limit of 300.

2. Requests without notes are accepted at a greater rate.

3. If you take notes, you cannot apply the following hack.

Inmail deliverability

LinkedIn Inmails enable you to deliver messages directly to people's inboxes without initiating a connection request.

It fixes the issue you were having with standard LinkedIn messages.

Additionally, you have the choice of including a subject line in your Inmail, which will be seen in the message preview.

5. Price

Since Inmails are paid messages and you have to pay to search for emails, LinkedIn messaging is the most economical option.

Email price

Finding an email is not free, but sending an email is. You'll probably need to use an email finder if you want to find the email of a potential customer. These resources cost money.

Linkedin message price

You can communicate with anyone on LinkedIn for free, and you don't have to pay to view their profile URL. It is common knowledge.

Inmail price

For Inmails to be sent, credits must be purchased. You need to sign up for one of the premium LinkedIn offerings for it to happen:

1. Sales Navigator (50 inmails per month)
2. Recruiter (150 inmails per month)
3. Premium Career (5 inmails per month)
4. Premium Business (15 inmails per month)

Each deal has a different price. You will probably require LinkedIn Sales Navigator, which costs $99 per month if you are a salesperson.

6. Data management

Compared to Linkedin messages and Inmails, email is more challenging to manage data than those two methods.

Email data management

One challenge in email outreach is verifying email addresses and determining their owner. If you need to find out who email belongs to, several tools and techniques can help. Reverse email lookup services allow you to enter an email address and potentially uncover associated information, such as the person's name, job title, and social media profiles. Scrupp is also a great tool to find out who email belongs to. However, it's essential to use these tools ethically and respect privacy regulations. Keep in mind that not all email addresses will yield identifiable information, especially if the owner has taken steps to protect their privacy. When using these methods, prioritize accuracy and avoid making assumptions based on incomplete data. Always verify the information obtained through multiple sources to ensure its reliability and relevance to your outreach efforts. This ensures that your outreach is targeted and personalized.

Finding the appropriate emails is the biggest drawback of cold emailing. An email finder will often find 70% of the emails in a lead list when you upload them.

Out of the 70% of emails discovered, 40% are likely to be valid emails (meaning the email finder is absolutely certain the email exists).

The remaining emails will be designated as catch-alls, indicating that the email finder is not entirely certain that they actually exist.

Additionally, an email is changed when a lead changes companies. As people change employment more frequently, you must routinely update your contact information.

LinkedIn message data management

The fact that the Linkedin URL is public and doesn't change when your lead moves jobs makes managing LinkedIn data much easier. The public LinkedIn URL can be changed by other members, but you can obtain a URL with a fixed ID.

Inmail data management

For Inmails, the same rules apply exactly. Additionally, you can view your Inmail outreach history on LinkedIn Sales Navigator, which provides a small advantage.

A common question is: can you message someone on LinkedIn without connecting? The answer depends on your LinkedIn subscription and the degree of connection. With a standard LinkedIn account, you are generally limited to messaging only your first-degree connections. However, LinkedIn Premium, particularly Sales Navigator, offers InMail credits, allowing you to directly message individuals outside your immediate network. So, can you message someone on LinkedIn without connecting? Yes, but it often requires a paid subscription. InMail provides a valuable avenue for reaching out to potential leads, recruiters, or industry experts without the need for a prior connection request. It's a powerful tool for expanding your network and initiating conversations with individuals who might otherwise be inaccessible.

Scale

Given the constraints of LinkedIn, email outreach is far more easily scaled than LinkedIn outreach.

When considering outreach email marketing alongside LinkedIn strategies, it's crucial to understand their synergistic potential. While LinkedIn offers targeted connections and personalized engagement, outreach email marketing provides broader reach and direct communication. Integrating both can significantly amplify your lead generation efforts. For example, you might initially connect on LinkedIn to establish rapport and then follow up with a tailored email campaign. This multi-channel approach ensures that your message resonates with prospects across different platforms, increasing the likelihood of conversion. Remember that effective outreach email marketing relies on segmentation, personalization, and providing value to your audience, mirroring the best practices for successful LinkedIn outreach.

Email scaling

Due to two factors, cold email is fairly simple to scale. The first is that your email account allows you to send between 150 and 200 emails daily.

It means you are permitted to send up to 6000 cold emails every month (including follow-ups; this does not imply that you are permitted to contact 6000 individuals).

You may double the number of emails you can send by simply setting up a second email address if you wish to boost your prospecting potential.

You can handle two email accounts with just one person, so there's no need to construct a false identity like you would while creating a second LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn message scaling

Having numerous LinkedIn profiles will only allow you to scale your prospecting on the social network.

As Linkedin is combating this strategy and will ban your account if they discover you are establishing phony accounts, this is more difficult than email.

Inmail scaling

Scaling Inmails is quite expensive because you have to purchase a sales navigator license for each account you intend to use. Additionally, each of these accounts will only be able to send 50 inmails.

Crafting an effective InMail template LinkedIn users will respond to requires a strategic approach. Start by understanding your target audience and their pain points. A successful InMail template LinkedIn should be personalized, concise, and offer value upfront. Avoid generic greetings and instead, reference something specific about their profile or company. For instance, mention a recent achievement or a shared connection. Clearly state the purpose of your message and what you hope to achieve. End with a clear call to action, such as scheduling a brief call or visiting your website. Remember, the goal is to spark a conversation, not to close a deal in the first message. A well-crafted InMail template can significantly improve your response rates and help you connect with valuable prospects.

Combine Emails and Linkedin Messages for Better Results

Clearly, there are pros and cons to using emails, LinkedIn messages, and inmails. The greatest sales teams integrate all three channels to achieve the best outcomes because:

The debate of whether to email recruiter or LinkedIn message Reddit users often arises when seeking career opportunities or networking advice. While Reddit can be a valuable platform for gathering insights and opinions, it's generally not the primary channel for direct professional outreach. When contacting recruiters, email is typically the preferred method for formal communication, allowing you to attach your resume and cover letter. LinkedIn messaging is also a viable option, particularly for making initial connections and sending brief, personalized inquiries. The decision to email recruiter or LinkedIn message Reddit users depends on your specific goals and the context of your interaction. For job applications and formal introductions, email is the standard. For networking and informal inquiries, LinkedIn can be effective. Reddit is better suited for research and gathering diverse perspectives.

Emails and LinkedIn messages complement each other

Emails, LinkedIn messages, and inmails complement each other really effectively. They enable you to use several platforms to follow up with your prospects.

You must utilize them in the following order:

1. Emails (150 per day)
2. Linkedin Messages (Connection Requests: 100 per week)
3. Inmails (50 per month)

You are reserving your connection request and inmails in this manner for recipients who do not respond to your emails.

Crafting an effective meeting email is essential for securing appointments with potential clients or collaborators. Your meeting email should be concise, clear, and personalized to the recipient. Start by referencing a previous interaction or shared connection to build rapport. Clearly state the purpose of the meeting and the value it will provide to the recipient. Suggest a few specific dates and times to make it easy for them to respond. Include a brief agenda or list of topics you plan to cover to set expectations. End with a clear call to action, such as "Please let me know which time works best for you" or "I look forward to discussing this further." A well-written meeting email demonstrates professionalism and respect for the recipient's time, increasing the likelihood of a positive response.

Sending 1-2 email follow-ups before sending a connection request or inmail is acceptable. In comparison to single-channel outreach, multimodal outreach typically yields twice as many responses.

2. It is possible to automate your multichannel outreach

Your lead generating process can be automated with the help of multichannel cold outreach technologies like LaGrowthMachine.

You may create multichannel sequences mixing Linkedin, email, and soon Inmails with this application.

The sequence builder in this application is quite strong and visually appealing, which is why I enjoy it. Additionally, it has direct connections to CRMs like Pipedrive and Hubspot.

However, other LinkedIn automation apps like Linkedin Helper or Expandi do automate the sending of inmails.

3. LinkedIn messages and emails adhere to the same guidelines

Personalization, copywriting, and segmentation are the three golden standards that must be followed regardless of the outbound channel you employ to deliver your cold messages if you want to receive responses.

Spam-filled messages are filling up email and LinkedIn inboxes at an alarming rate. To stand out, you must customize your message. It is a convincing example of why it is worthwhile to tailor your message. You can see this message as an illustration:

While this article focuses on cold outreach, it's worth noting the importance of email marketing for nurturing leads and building relationships. For businesses on a budget, finding the best free email marketing tools is crucial. Many platforms offer free plans with limited features, such as a certain number of subscribers or email sends per month. These free options can be a great starting point for small businesses or individuals looking to experiment with email marketing. When evaluating the best free email marketing platforms, consider factors such as ease of use, available templates, automation capabilities, and reporting features. While paid plans offer more advanced functionality, a well-chosen free tool can still be effective for building your email list and engaging with your audience. Remember that even with the best free email marketing tools, the key to success lies in creating valuable content and segmenting your audience for targeted messaging.

Why does it work?

We use a hook at the beginning to establish relatability, then we playfully pay it off towards the conclusion. This message is concise, pleasant, and has a clear call to action in just 67 words.

If you send a message that looks like this, there is a far higher likelihood that you will receive a response.

The basic idea is the same: initiate communication by sending a message. Therefore, the same regulations apply. Not that you should always aim for smaller audiences, but segmentation is something you should strive for.

A strong lead-generation campaign includes the following:

1. The appropriate message
2. Sent to the right recipients
3. Delivered at the right moment

You will meet people effortlessly if you follow these three rules. The days of intrusive mass prospecting are gone. To get decent outcomes, segmentation is essential.

Selecting the right cold email outreach platform can significantly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of your campaigns. Look for a platform that offers features such as email personalization, automated follow-ups, A/B testing, and detailed analytics. Personalization allows you to tailor your messages to individual recipients, increasing engagement and response rates. Automated follow-ups ensure that you stay top-of-mind without manually sending each email. A/B testing enables you to experiment with different subject lines, content, and calls-to-action to optimize your campaigns. And detailed analytics provide valuable insights into your performance, allowing you to identify what's working and what's not. When choosing a cold email outreach platform, consider factors such as pricing, ease of use, and integration with your existing CRM and other marketing tools. Scrupp is a great tool to help you find the right emails to use with your cold email outreach platform.

Being mindful of the LinkedIn message character limit is crucial when crafting your outreach strategy. While LinkedIn doesn't explicitly state a hard limit for direct messages, it's generally recommended to keep your messages concise and to the point. A lengthy, rambling message is less likely to be read and responded to. Focus on delivering your message clearly and effectively within a reasonable word count. For connection requests, notes have a 300-character limit, so make every word count. When crafting your LinkedIn message character limit, prioritize personalization and relevance. Address the recipient by name, reference something specific about their profile or company, and clearly state the purpose of your message. By keeping your messages concise, personalized, and relevant, you can increase your chances of making a positive impression and sparking a conversation. Scrupp can help you identify the most relevant prospects to reach out to, allowing you to tailor your messages and maximize the impact of your outreach efforts within the LinkedIn message character limit.

A common question among LinkedIn users is: can you forward a LinkedIn message? Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not offer a direct forwarding feature for messages. This can be a limitation when you want to share valuable information or connect someone with a relevant contact. While can you forward a LinkedIn message is a no, there are workarounds. One approach is to copy and paste the message content into a new message and then send it to the desired recipient. However, be sure to attribute the original sender and obtain their permission if the message contains sensitive or confidential information. Another option is to take a screenshot of the message and share the image. While these methods are not as seamless as a direct forwarding feature, they provide alternative ways to share information and facilitate connections within your LinkedIn network.

In today's competitive business landscape, access to reliable data is non-negotiable. With Scrupp, you can take your prospecting and email campaigns to the next level. Experience the power of Scrupp for yourself and see why it's the preferred choice for businesses around the world. Unlock the potential of your data – try Scrupp today!