LinkedIn InMail: Benefits, Limitations, and Alternatives

LinkedIn InMail is a popular tool for professionals aiming to connect with potential clients, partners, or candidates outside their immediate network. 

With access to over a billion LinkedIn users, InMail seems like a powerful way to reach people who might otherwise be unreachable. However, it has its downsides. Limited quotas, unpredictable costs, and declining response rates make relying on InMail alone a challenge.

This article highlights the key limitations of LinkedIn InMail and introduces an effective alternative: Skrapp's LinkedIn Email Finder tool.

What is LinkedIn InMail?

LinkedIn InMail is a premium messaging feature that allows users to send direct messages to LinkedIn members who are not in their immediate network. Unlike regular LinkedIn messages, which are limited to 1st-degree connections, InMail lets you reach 2nd-degree and 3rd-degree connections, as well as those outside your network.

InMail is commonly used by recruiters, sales professionals, and business development experts to connect with potential candidates, clients, or partners. It’s valuable because it bypasses the need for a prior introduction or connection request, making it easier to reach individuals who might otherwise be inaccessible.

However, LinkedIn InMail has its limitations. It comes with a monthly message quota (based on your subscription plan) and incurs additional costs. Despite these challenges, InMail remains a professional option for making unsolicited contact, as it appears directly in the recipient’s LinkedIn inbox.

Benefits of LinkedIn InMail

Direct Access to Non-Connections

• Expand Your Network: Send messages to LinkedIn members beyond your direct connections (2nd or 3rd-degree), reaching a broader audience.

Higher Response Rates

• Professional Environment: InMail messages typically see higher response rates compared to cold emails, as LinkedIn is viewed as a professional platform.
• Reduced Spam Risk: LinkedIn users expect professional communication, lowering the chance of your message being marked as spam.

Personalization and Targeting

• Tailored Messaging: Customize messages based on the recipient’s profile, job title, or industry for more relevant outreach.
• Targeted Audience: Use LinkedIn’s search filters to reach specific individuals or groups.

Increased Visibility

• Inbox Placement: InMails go directly to the recipient’s LinkedIn inbox, which is less cluttered than email inboxes.
• Read Receipts: Features like read receipts and delivery confirmation let you know if your message has been seen.

Professional Perception

• Credibility: Using InMail can enhance your professional image, as it shows you’re leveraging a reputable platform.
• Less Intrusive: InMails are often seen as less intrusive compared to cold calls or unsolicited emails.

Integration with LinkedIn’s Ecosystem

• Profile Visibility: Recipients can easily view your LinkedIn profile for more context about your outreach.
• Engagement Opportunities: InMails can lead to further interactions, such as profile visits or connection requests.

Premium Features

• Sponsored InMail: LinkedIn’s Sponsored InMail feature allows you to send targeted messages within specific campaigns.
• Flexible Plans: Various subscription levels offer different InMail credits per month, giving you flexibility in your outreach strategy.

Limitations of LinkedIn InMail

Limited Reach

• Restricted to LinkedIn Users: InMail can only reach people with an active LinkedIn account. If your target audience isn’t on LinkedIn or isn’t active, you won’t be able to contact them through InMail.

High Costs

• Expensive Pricing: InMail is a premium feature with costs that can quickly add up, especially for large-scale outreach. Even with a premium subscription, the cost per InMail message can be significant.
• Limited Credits: You have a set number of InMail credits per month, and exceeding this limit requires purchasing additional credits, increasing overall costs.

Declining Response Rates

• Message Saturation: Increased use of InMail leads to "message fatigue," reducing response rates as recipients are overwhelmed with messages.
• Lack of Personalization: Generic or poorly targeted messages are often ignored or marked as spam, making personalization crucial for effectiveness.

Quota and Usage Limits

• Monthly Quotas: There’s a limit on the number of InMails you can send each month, which can be restrictive for high-volume outreach.
• Unused Credits Expire: Unused InMail credits typically do not roll over to the next month, leading to wasted resources.

Dependence on LinkedIn's Platform

• Algorithm Dependence: LinkedIn’s algorithm affects message visibility, potentially prioritizing some messages over others.
• Risk of Account Restrictions: Excessive or unsolicited InMail can lead to LinkedIn flagging your account, resulting in restrictions or bans.

Limited Analytics

• Lack of Detailed Metrics: LinkedIn provides basic analytics, but lacks the in-depth tracking and reporting found in dedicated email marketing tools.
• No A/B Testing: InMail doesn’t support A/B testing, limiting optimization options for better performance.

Inconsistent User Experience

• Message Formatting Issues: InMail messages may have formatting problems across different devices, potentially appearing unprofessional or hard to read.
• Recipient Experience: InMail may be perceived as intrusive or confusing by recipients unfamiliar with the feature.

Limited Personalization Options

• Standardized Templates: Customization options are somewhat rigid, limiting how much you can personalize or include multimedia elements like videos or attachments.

How Skrapp Addresses LinkedIn InMail Limitations

Skrapp extension works with LinkedIn and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to help you scale your campaigns.

Overcoming Limited Reach

• Wider Audience: Skrapp finds and extracts email addresses from LinkedIn profiles, allowing you to reach individuals who may not be active on LinkedIn or prefer email communication.

Cost-Effective Solution

• Affordable Pricing: Skrapp is more budget-friendly than LinkedIn InMail. You pay for a plan rather than per message, making it ideal for large-scale outreach.
• Unlimited Potential: You aren’t limited by monthly message quotas, giving you flexibility to manage your campaigns without additional costs.

Improving Response Rates

• Personalized Outreach: Emails can be customized and include rich media, enhancing engagement and response rates.
• Better Deliverability: Emails are delivered directly to inboxes, where they are more likely to be seen and engaged with if well-targeted.

Avoiding Quotas and Usage Limits

• No Monthly Quotas: Skrapp doesn’t impose limits on the number of contacts you can find, allowing for scalable outreach.
• Ongoing Access: You can continuously build your contact list without the pressure of depleting credits.

In summary, Skrapp’s LinkedIn Email Finder provides a versatile, cost-effective alternative to LinkedIn InMail, overcoming limitations like restricted reach, and high costs by enabling direct and scalable email outreach.