LinkedIn InMail Help Guide: How to Use InMail with LinkedIn Premium, Templates, and High Response Rates

LinkedIn InMail is one of the easiest ways to reach professionals you’re not connected with. Instead of sending a connection request and waiting, InMail lets you send a message directly to another LinkedIn member. This feature is part of LinkedIn Premium and is commonly used for hiring, sales outreach, and partnerships.

This article is worth reading because it explains InMail in simple terms, without fluff. You’ll learn how InMail works, how credits are used, how to write effective messages, what affects response rates, and how tools like Scrupp can detect open profiles, letting you run campaigns without using InMail credits at all.

What is InMail on LinkedIn

InMail is a premium feature on LinkedIn that allows you to directly message another LinkedIn member even if you’re not connected. Normally, LinkedIn restricts messaging to first-degree connections. InMail removes that restriction.

InMail messages are delivered to the recipient’s LinkedIn inbox and are clearly marked as InMail. Because this feature is limited by credits, LinkedIn expects users to use it carefully and professionally. That’s why InMail is often associated with higher-quality outreach compared to regular connection messages.

This feature is widely used by recruiters, sales teams, and founders who want to reach decision-makers without waiting for a connection to be accepted.

What is an InMail message vs a normal LinkedIn message

A regular LinkedIn message can only be sent after you connect. An InMail message, on the other hand, lets you message a member that you're not connected with.

InMail messages allow outreach to people outside your network, while normal messages are limited to existing connections. This is especially important when you can’t message a member due to LinkedIn connection limits or when you need faster contact.

Another key difference is accountability. If you send an InMail and the recipient replies, LinkedIn gives your credit back. This encourages relevant, personalized messaging instead of spam.

How InMail works with LinkedIn Premium

To use InMail, you need a LinkedIn Premium subscription. InMail is not available on a free account, and it’s one of the main reasons people upgrade.

Once you have a premium account, you receive a set number of InMail message credits each month. These credits allow you to send InMail messages to people outside your network.

Different premium plans include different credit amounts, but all of them treat InMail as a premium feature designed for direct outreach.

How to send an InMail message

Sending an InMail message is simple. Go to the profile of a member that you're not connected with. If InMail is available, you’ll see a “Message” button instead of “Connect.”

Click the button, add a subject line (up to 200 characters), and write your message body (up to 2000 characters in the body). Then click send.

Once sent, the message appears in the recipient’s LinkedIn inbox. From there, they can reply, ignore it, or decline the conversation.

InMail message credits explained

InMail works on a credit system. Each InMail message credit allows you to send one InMail message. Credits are refreshed every month as part of your premium subscription.

Here’s a simplified view:

If a recipient replies to your InMail, the credit is returned to your account. If they don’t respond, the credit is consumed. This makes relevance extremely important.

Who can receive InMail messages and who cannot

Most LinkedIn members can receive InMail, but not everyone. You can’t message a member if they’ve chosen not to receive InMail in their message preferences settings.

In other words:

You can message a member if they’ve chosen to receive InMail

You cannot message a member if they’ve chosen not to receive InMail

LinkedIn clearly shows when InMail is unavailable, so you won’t waste credits by accident.

Best InMail message structure and simple template

The best InMail messages are short, clear, and respectful. You are not trying to close a deal in one message. Your goal is to start a conversation.

A simple structure that works well:

Personal opening

Clear reason for reaching out

One soft call to action

Simple InMail template

Avoid long pitches. InMail performs best when it feels human, not automated.

How the LinkedIn inbox handles InMail

InMail messages appear directly in the recipient’s inbox, clearly labeled as InMail. This signals that the sender used a premium feature to reach out.

Recipients can reply, archive, or ignore the message. If they reply, you receive your credit back. If they don’t respond, the credit is spent.

Because InMail is visible and limited, recipients often read it more carefully than regular cold emails.

Recruiter and sales use cases for InMail

A recruiter uses InMail to contact candidates who are not actively applying for jobs. This is especially useful for senior or niche roles.

In sales, InMail is used to reach decision-makers at target companies. Instead of relying on connection requests, sales teams can send a direct message and start a conversation immediately.

In both cases, success depends on relevance, timing, and personalization—not volume.

Improving InMail response rates and saving credits

Higher response rates come from better targeting and better messaging. Generic outreach leads to ignored messages and wasted credits.

This is where tools like Scrupp become extremely useful.

How Scrupp helps with InMail and campaigns

Scrupp can detect open profiles on LinkedIn. Open profiles allow you to send messages without using InMail credits.

This changes outreach economics completely:

By identifying open profiles, Scrupp allows you to:

Message without spending credits

Run larger campaigns safely

Combine LinkedIn messaging with email and sales workflows

This is especially powerful for sales, recruiting, and content-driven outreach.

Key things to remember

InMail lets you message LinkedIn members you’re not connected with

InMail is a premium feature included with LinkedIn Premium

Messages are limited by monthly InMail message credits

Credits are returned if the recipient replies

Not all members accept InMail due to settings

Short, personalized messages perform best

The LinkedIn inbox clearly labels InMail messages

Recruiters and sales teams rely on InMail for outreach

Scrupp can detect open profiles and avoid using InMail credits

Using open profiles dramatically improves scale and response rates

If you use LinkedIn regularly for outreach, understanding InMail—and knowing when you don’t need it—can save time, money, and credits while improving results.