LinkedIn InMail Vs Message: Best Outreach Method

When it comes to B2B outreach, no platform beats LinkedIn. With over 1 billion professionals and decision-makers, it has become the gold standard for lead generation, sales prospecting, and corporate communication. But one major question keeps coming up:

LinkedIn InMail vs Message: What works better for outreach?

LinkedIn InMail or LinkedIn Message?

If you are a marketer, recruiter, founder, or sales professional, choosing between these two communication tools can drastically impact your conversion rates, response rate, and overall ROI.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down LinkedIn InMail vs Message, compare their strengths, weaknesses, cost, use cases, and how businesses can use each strategically.

By the end, you’ll know exactly which one to use and when—whether your goal is outbound sales, networking, recruitment, or brand building.

Let’s dive in.

What Is LinkedIn InMail?

LinkedIn InMail is a premium messaging feature that allows you to send messages to any LinkedIn member, even if they are not your connection.

It is available only to users with LinkedIn Premium, Sales Navigator, or Recruiter plans.

Key Features of InMail

You can send messages to people outside your network (2nd & 3rd degree connections).
Comes with credits (limited number of messages per month).
Higher visibility due to structured layout.
Works well for colder outreach.

Why InMail Exists

Because LinkedIn wants to maintain quality interactions and prevent spam. So instead of open messaging, InMail creates a premium gatekeeping system for more targeted, intentional communication.

What Is LinkedIn Message?

LinkedIn Messages are the free direct messages you can send to:

1st-degree connections
Group members (sometimes limited)
Open Profile users

Messages are part of the regular LinkedIn inbox and allow unlimited, casual, conversational communication.

Key Features of Messages

100% free
Only for 1st-degree connections (unless in a group or via Open Profile)
Unlimited messaging
Best for warm conversations and relationship building

Why Messages Matter

They allow ongoing engagement, nurturing, and networking without spending on premium credits.

LinkedIn InMail vs Message: Core Differences at a Glance

Feature	LinkedIn InMail	LinkedIn Message
Cost	Paid (Credits)	Free
Recipients	Anyone (even 3rd degree)	Only 1st degree
Message Limit	Limited credits	Unlimited
Response Rate	Medium (20–45%)	Higher (40–70%)
Best For	Cold outreach, recruitment, sales	Warm leads, networking
Visibility	Premium inbox placement	Normal inbox
Attachments	Yes	Yes
Personalization	High (use templates)	Very high (relationship based)

LinkedIn InMail vs Message: Which Gets Better Results?

The answer is different depending on your goal.

1. For Cold Lead Generation → InMail Wins

If your target audience doesn’t know you yet, InMail gives you direct access to their inbox.

You can reach:

CEOs
CMOs
VP-level decision makers
Prospects outside your network

Response Rate: 20–45% (if the message is well structured).

2. For Warm Lead Conversion → Messages Win

Once prospects become 1st-degree connections, messaging is:

more conversational
more friendly
more natural
more likely to get a response

Response Rate: 40–70%

3. For Recruitment → InMail Wins

Recruiters rely heavily on InMail because it allows them to message:

candidates who are not connections
professionals outside their network
passive talent who otherwise can’t be reached

4. For Networking → Messages Win

Messages are better because:

They build stronger long-term relationships
They feel more personal
Conversations flow naturally

5. For Event Promotion/Webinars → InMail Wins

If you’re promoting:

A webinar
A product demo
A corporate event
A whitepaper

InMail allows you to target a much wider audience.

6. For Client Retention → Messages Win

For existing clients, ongoing communication should stay in the free messaging channel.

Deep Dive: Advantages of LinkedIn InMail

1. Reach Anyone

You can message people who:

you are not connected to
work at target companies
hold important job titles

This is perfect for sales outreach.

2. Higher Visibility

InMail messages appear separately from regular messages and often have a priority placement.

This increases open rates.

3. Professional Format

InMail messages display:

your name
your headline
your profile summary
your business details

This gives them a more branded, professional feel.

4. Performance Analytics

You can track:

Delivery
Open rates
Clicks
Responses

This helps refine your messaging strategy.

5. Refund Credits (If No Response)

LinkedIn refunds your credit if the recipient doesn’t respond within 90 days.

This reduces risk.

Disadvantages of LinkedIn InMail

Expensive (credits cost money)
Limited usage per month
Cold messages may be ignored
Some users find promotional InMail annoying
Harder to personalize at scale

Deep Dive: Advantages of LinkedIn Messages

1. Free and Unlimited

You can send any number of messages without restrictions.

2. Perfect for Relationship Building

Most high-value B2B deals close because of trust, and messages create a warmer interaction.

3. Better Response Rates

Since recipients are already connected to you, response chances are higher.

4. Attachments & Voice Notes

Messages offer:

Voice messages
Images
Documents
Videos

Excellent for sales nurturing.

5. Best for Long-Term Nurturing

Great for:

Follow-ups
Re-engagement
Sending updates
Sharing value

Disadvantages of LinkedIn Messages

Can only message 1st-degree connections
Harder to reach new prospects
Lower scalability
Inbox clutter may reduce visibility

LinkedIn InMail vs Message: Detailed Comparison by Use Case

Use Case 1: B2B Sales Outreach

Winner: InMail (for first contact)
Winner: Messages (for follow-ups)

Best Strategy:

Use InMail to break the ice.
Once connected, shift to Messages to build trust.

Use Case 2: Recruitment

Winner: InMail

HR teams use InMail because it has:

Better reach
Better professionalism
Analytics

Use Case 3: High-Ticket B2B Marketing

Winner: Combination of both

Cold outreach: InMail
Qualification + nurturing: Message

Use Case 4: Networking and Thought Leadership

Winner: Message

People prefer casual, value-driven conversation through messages.

Use Case 5: Webinar & Event Promotion

Winner: InMail

You can reach a much larger audience quickly.

Which Should YOU Use?

If you are in sales:

Use both—but strategically.

Start with InMail
Nurture with Messages

If you are a recruiter:

Use InMail first.
Candidates respond well to recruiter InMails.

If you are a founder or marketer:

Use Messages once you build a strong network.
For mass outreach → InMail.
For conversions → Messages.

LinkedIn InMail vs Message: Pro Tips to Improve Response Rates

Best Practices for LinkedIn InMail

Keep it short (60–100 words)
Personalize based on recipient’s profile
Offer value, not a pitch
Add a soft CTA
Use a strong subject line

Best Practices for LinkedIn Messaging

Be conversational
Use voice notes for better engagement
Send case studies or resources
Follow up politely
Build relationships before pitching

Real Data: LinkedIn InMail vs Message Stats (Industry Average)

Metric	InMail	Message
Open Rate	50–70%	70–90%
Reply Rate	20–45%	40–70%
Cost	Paid	Free
Lead Quality	High	Very High
Personalization	Medium	High

How The Info Technologies Helps Businesses Win with LinkedIn Outreach

At The Info Technologies, we specialize in helping B2B brands, startups, consultants, and agencies scale through high-performance LinkedIn outreach, including:

Done-For-You LinkedIn Lead Generation
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Setup
Conversion-Optimized InMail Writing
Automated Message Sequences
LinkedIn Profile Optimization
LinkedIn Ads Campaigns
B2B Content & Thought Leadership Strategy

Our focus is simple:
More qualified leads, more conversions, higher ROI.

If you want done-for-you LinkedIn outreach that generates leads consistently,
Email: theinfotechnologies@gmail.com

Conclusion: LinkedIn InMail vs Message — Final Verdict

Both tools are powerful, but their effectiveness depends on when you use them:

Use InMail if:

You want to reach new prospects
You need access beyond 1st-degree connections
You are doing cold outreach
You want professional and structured communication

Use Messages if:

You already have a connection
You want to nurture and convert
You prefer conversational selling
You want free, unlimited messaging

Best Strategy for Growth:

Use InMail to start the conversation.
Use Messages to close the deal.

This hybrid approach gives you the highest ROI.

Need Expert Help? Contact Us Today!

Ready to scale your LinkedIn lead generation?

Email us at: theinfotechnologies@gmail.com
The Info Technologies – Leading Digital Marketing Agency for B2B Growth

We’ll help you build a winning outreach system that delivers qualified leads every single week.