LinkedIn InMail Vs Messages, which is better? Would you rather LinkedIn InMail someone, or send them a message? 

LinkedIn InMail is the best way to reach out to LinkedIn connections. LinkedIn messages are not as effective for reaching people because they are buried in their inboxes and many will never see it. 

Before we answer Which Is Better LinkedIn InMail vs Messages, Let’s Talk About What Is LinkedIn InMail?

According to Wikipedia, "LinkedIn is a professional networking service that operates via the Internet. Founded on December 28, 2002, and launched on May 5, 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking... As of 2015... LinkedIn reports more than 400 million members in 200 countries." Further description can be found here what is linkedin

The above description doesn't mention one of LinkedIn's most powerful features: LinkedIn InMail. In fact many people don't even know about this feature which allows sending unsolicited messages to other LinkedIn members who are not in your network. 

I'll explain how it works below but first let me tell you why this might be an opportunity worth exploring.

If you are only using LinkedIn's standard messaging system, then your results may be just average. However, there is an option that most people ignore which will help you get better results. 

This is LinkedIn InMail , and it is not just another form of LinkedIn messaging. Using this feature can mean the difference between low response rates and high ones (plus it gets past any spam filters).

 But what exactly is LinkedIn InMail? It is simply a way to message prospects or clients through the site itself; you pay for every message sent, but it still allows for better targeting than regular email does nowadays.

Like me If you love to do things on the go with your phone rather than at a computer, you can send InMail messages from your mobile device.

LinkedIn is still a very professional social media site and it is the most popular of its kind for that reason. It's also what people expect to see when they check your profile…

So don't let them down! Using InMail will get you noticed in more ways than one, so take advantage of what LinkedIn has to offer if your target audience uses the website.

A good place to start with LinkedIn InMail would be on LinkedIn itself. If you have not done so already, go ahead and create an account with this site so that you too can use this great feature! There are some other things that need to be set up before you can start sending messages, but that is for another day.

For now, the focus should be on finding LinkedIn Inmail alternatives if you do not want to pay per message. There are sites out there which claim they can get you unlimited access to this feature for no cost. 

However, I advise against using them because of my own experiences with one site in particular…they were unresponsive and useless! If you really want to use LinkedIn's messaging system without paying, then I suggest just setting up your account and waiting until you have enough saved up to send out some messages.

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How Does LinkedIn InMail Work? And What Do You Need?

In order to send yourself an Inmail from your own account , you will need three things: 

1) A paid premium account 

2) A professional looking photo of yourself 

3) Your resume 

To get these things all at once can be rather expensive - some people pay as much as $150 for a package that includes all three of those things. However, if you're looking for a job and want to make sure that Inmail gets read, it's worth it! 

Having a professional office headshot of yourself is essential - not only does it show the person you're messaging that you take your appearance seriously, but chances are they will look at your photo before anything else.  This means you have one shot to make a good impression!

If you do not currently have these 3 items ready or cannot afford to purchase them right now, go ahead and create your LinkedIn account anyway . You can always log back in later and update your profile accordingly. 

If you don’t want to wait around wondering when (and if) you’re going to get a job, make sure to spend some time on your profile: LinkedIn work experience, headline, profile picture and summary - the more complete it is, the better. Don’t forget about adding your resume!

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How to send someone an InMail? To send an email you need to be their connection on LinkedIn, whether it is a first degree connection (e.g., friend) or second degree connection (e.g., friend of a friend). 

If you are not connected with them yet, you can request via regular message that they accept your invitation. Once you become the person's connection, sending them an InMail is very simple. 

Simply click "Send Message" under their name and write your message in the box below. Hit the Send button when done!

The key here is to use this tool judiciously . Think about why people use LinkedIn and the main reason is to network. If you use this feature sporadically your contacts will see your InMails as spam and stop reading them.

I recently discovered that plenty of people publish articles about LinkedIn InMail without actually using it. I was disappointed when I read these articles because they don't reflect reality! 

Just like everything else in life, LinkedIn InMail takes time and effort before you get results. You can't expect something for nothing.

If you want to improve your chances of finding a job or getting business opportunities make sure you use this feature regularly but wisely . It's going to take some practice before getting results but once it starts working for you, consider yourself a LinkedIn power user !

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Reasons Why to use linkedin inmail instead of messages

- LinkedIn InMail is sent directly to the recipient's LinkedIn inbox. Messages are not.

- LinkedIn messages go into people’s email or another messaging platform, like Facebook Messenger or SMS (which often shortens them). 

LinkedIn InMail goes straight to LinkedIn where it shows up as an important update in their feed and can be accessed with one click of a button on mobile devices. 

- People don't always check every conversation they get via email or other platforms; that means missed opportunities for you! With LinkedIn InMail your message will show up right at the top of the feed so there's no chance of missing out if users want to read it immediately.

- When someone views your message through LinkedIn, it appears more business-like, which makes it more likely for the recipient to respond. LinkedIn InMail messages are professional and get noticed.

- LinkedIn InMails can be scheduled in advance! When you schedule a LinkedIn InMail message up to 30 days ahead of time, LinkedIn will send it at exactly the best moment when your prospect is most available. 

- LinkedIn has made some significant changes recently that make LinkedIn InMail even better than ever before: LinkedIn now shows who's viewed your profile directly within their inboxes so there's no guesswork involved anymore about whether people actually read them; 

And partnerships with Sales Navigator allow users to connect through LinkedIn automatically once both parties accept LinkedIn InMail messages, which makes it even easier to reach out and connect.

-With Inmails, you have a chance to reach out to your potential employer directly and immediately. Since receiving an Inmail does not depend on receiving a message from someone else first , there is no waiting period or "black hole" that might cause your message to be lost forever. Best of all, Inmails are personal! 

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LinkedIn InMail vs Messages, Which Is Better?

LinkedIn InMail vs Messages, which is better? I've been asked this question a lot lately so I decided to do some research and find an answer.

Well, it's not really about better than messages per se, the fact is that both forms of communication have their place in the sales process. 

Now let me explain…  I'm sure you're thinking that when it comes down to it, anything else would essentially be considered emailing (and you're right) - but having said that there are certain factors that make these two forms of communication different.  

Both communications serve their own purpose in the sales environment; here is how:

1. It is more personal and effective in nature . It's a personal message from one professional to another.
2. You have the power of introduction where you can reference the person in the InMail and state how you know them. This not only shows your ability to refer others but it also says a lot about your character and provides a certain amount of credibility.
3. The InMail is much more concise, meaning that when someone reads an InMail they don't feel overwhelmed or bombarded with information because there isn't any!  Therefore the reader is left with a better impression which means good things for you!
4. If LinkedIn detects that you are exchanging InMails regularly, meaning that each time you send an InMail they return the favour by highlighting your name in their autoresponder (meaning that the person sees you as an active LinkedIn user!) This can go a long way in building trust and thus a relationship.
5. The InMail is free to use, meaning that it won't cost you a dime! So there's nothing holding you back from creating your first message.
6. You only have one chance to make a good impression with the InMail, once sent there's no taking it back or getting another opportunity to send…it must be right on the first try.  This creates an added pressure which helps you write better content usually resulting in more sales.
7. You can include links in your InMails, making them even more personal since they offer other relevant information not included within the InMail itself.
8. You can schedule when your InMails are sent, meaning that you have the ability to queue them so they go at specific times throughout the day when a higher likelihood of a response is more likely.  This is a great feature for sales reps in regards to lead generation and prospecting in general because it means that you're able to send more messages without being blocked or flagged as spam.
9. They show up in the recipient's inbox , not the "other" folder where other emails tend to end up. This way your message is seen first which also helps build trust, rapport and credibility with the reader.
10. It provides professional contact information for further follow up if required . This includes both personal details and business information such as phone, email and website.

As you can see these details highlight the fact that LinkedIn InMails are much more effective than emails but there is even more…

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There Are Also A Few Things To Consider:  

• Honesty and ethics matter! Don't abuse this form of communication because it will catch up with you eventually – so always be professional!
• The person receiving the message must want to receive messages . If they aren't willing to accept messages then it won't work (and free or not - if no one wants to hear from you then your efforts will come to nothing)
• Be patient and consistent, sending messages regularly over time makes sure that those who may have missed or forgotten about your initial message come back to you.  Remember that the quality of your InMail will reflect how many responses you get, so always aim for quality over quantity
• You can't send a message to someone who isn't on LinkedIn and registered their email to be used as their primary means of communication (this is usually the case by default) 
• Be sure you're sending an InMail to a user's main inbox and not one of their "Social" or "LinkedIn Today" folders – make sure it actually goes somewhere!
• 6 Don't expect immediate results as this form of communication takes longer than receiving an email. Waiting time depends on the time of day, number of requests and other circumstances such as whether they are currently employed or not etc… 
• Keep track of your messages by using LinkedIn's "Sent" folder! This way you can monitor the progress of your message and see if it has been opened yet.
• Be sure to keep at it, don't expect success with 1 or 2 messages otherwise you might find yourself giving up too soon…be consistent and let the results happen naturally over time.
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Conclusion

LinkedIn InMail is a very powerful form of communication that allows you to make contact with other professionals within arguably one of the best professional networking websites in the world!  

Compared to bulk emails sent messages, LinkedIn InMails are far more effective because they are written specifically for each individual recipient rather than anyone who may be interested which makes them much more personal.  

They are also more likely to be opened which increases their success rate.  Although the cost of sending this message may seem high initially you need to think about it in terms of what results you get in return because more often than not the person receiving your message will be worth much more than what you spent.

LinkedIn InMail is a great way to reach LinkedIn connections, but LinkedIn messages are not as effective for reaching people because they're buried in their inboxes and many will never see it.