In the vast realm of professional networking, LinkedIn counts as far as 900 million users which makes it the largest B2B social media platform. Whether you’re seeking job opportunities, partnerships, looking to hire, or simply expanding your network, you will have to face LinkedIn’s InMail feature. That’s why knowing how to craft a great LinkedIn InMail subject line is super important.
Knowing how to connect properly with your target gets increasingly difficult. Hence, if you plan to use the InMail feature to do so, creating an effective subject line that piques curiosity and helps you differentiate yourself becomes crucial.
A compelling InMail subject line holds the key to capturing the attention of busy LinkedIn users.
This guide provides valuable tips on creating subject lines that are clear, impactful, and resonate with common problems people face. Let’s delve into the art of crafting irresistible subject lines and unlocking new opportunities on this influential platform.
👉 Keep it short: People are usually busy and don’t have time to read long or complex sentences in an InMail. Try to keep it brief and to the point.
👉 Avoid overthinking: Spending too much time crafting a subject line may not help. Write your subject line as you would if you were sending an internal email to a working colleague.
👉 Stay low-key: In a world where most subject lines make promises, use emojis, or are written in all caps, writing yours in all lowercase might help you stand out. It will make you sound more authentic and professional.
LinkedIn InMails Overview
If you’re wondering how to use LinkedIn for SQLs, InMails are one of the best features of LinkedIn premium users. This service allows you to connect directly with other LinkedIn users, even if they are not part of your 1st-degree network.
The number of credits allocated to your account varies based on the subscription plan you’ve chosen. Career plan members receive 3 InMail messages per month, while Business plan members receive 15.
If a member opts out of receiving InMails, you cannot contact them through this feature. You can easily see the number of credits allocated to your account on the My Premium page.
InMails are an effective way to reach prospects. Indeed, according to LinkedIn, the InMail response rate is three times higher than a regular email. Also, with InMail you don’t have to worry about finding email addresses through the profile.
For LinkedIn Premium account holders, access to this feature provides excellent value and opportunities for expanding their networks and potentially opening doors for themselves. And also who doesn’t want more professional opportunities?
If you are wondering whether there is a difference between InMail vs. Message, yes, there is. InMail is a paid feature available only to users with active premium subscriptions.
Why are InMail subject lines so important?
Subject lines play a significant role in email communication as they capture the recipient’s attention, influence message open rates, and establish the communication tone.
They are crucial in creating a good first impression and have a direct impact on the success of your outreach.
A well-thought-out subject line can generate curiosity, emphasize significance, and communicate the message’s value, determining whether your prospect will read your message or not. You can see if your message has been read thanks to the checkmark system.
In this article, we delve into a few tips on how to craft a subject line that sparks curiosity but also encourages the desired action.
Pick the right recipient for your InMail messages
Selecting the appropriate sender is a critical aspect of sending InMail messages. You need to conduct upstream research to find and select the profile that matches the right person to share your message.
For example, if you are selling off-page SEO services to a potential client, it may be best to reach out directly to a marketing manager or an in-house SEO specialist, rather than the CEO or someone from a different department who might simply skip your message because they don’t feel concerned or won’t understand the value for the company.
Taking the time to select the right prospect can lead to more successful InMail communication, but also better business relationships.
Keep your InMail subject lines short
Some people misunderstand the purpose of a subject line. The goal behind it is not to promote your offer but to pique the reader’s curiosity. The subject line should tell the reader what the message is about. If you manage to spark their interest, they will open your message and read what you have to offer.
A brief subject line is more likely to be read and understood at a glance, increasing the chances of engagement. In contrast, longer subject lines have a higher chance of confusion. People are busy, so making them struggle to understand the purpose of your communication is not a good approach.
Another advantage of a short LinkedIn InMail subject line is its mobile-friendliness. Having a 2-3 word subject line ensures it is visible on all devices, preventing important information from getting cut off.
Lastly, don’t overthink it. Write as if you were sending a message in a rush to your working colleague. Once a prospect clicks on it, they will likely forget your subject line.
Write in lowercase
Subject lines that include excessive emojis or are written in all uppercase might grab your prospect’s attention, but they won’t entice the desired action of opening your message.
Abusing LinkedIn emojis or writing your entire subject line in uppercase won’t convey trust or credibility.
Writing a subject line in lowercase has two main advantages:
- It appears more conversational and approachable, fostering a friendly tone. Lowercase subject lines are also less intimidating and create a sense of familiarity, making the recipient more inclined to open the message.
- They stand out amidst a sea of capitalized subject lines, which are commonly associated with promotions or spam.
By opting for lowercase, your subject line can also appear more authentic and less sales-oriented, increasing the likelihood of engagement and creating a positive impression.
Add numbers if relevant
Including numbers in subject lines is important because they have been shown to significantly increase click-through rates and boost open rates.
Research indicates that subject lines with numbers, such as including a specific number of tips or steps, can increase click-through rates by as much as 206%. This strategy applies not only to email subject lines but also to blog post headlines.
So why not apply this “hack” to InMail subject lines as well?
However, it’s important to include numbers that are relevant to the purpose of your communication, rather than adding them just for the sake of it.
Leverage personalization
Personalizing your subject line by including specific details relevant to the recipient can increase the chances of your message being opened.
When searching for the right person to contact, it’s important to take note of trigger points on their profile, such as their city of origin, educational background, and any recent valuable posts or comments.
By incorporating personal data and tailoring subject lines to individual recipients, you demonstrate that you have done a thorough analysis and value them as a person, instead of considering them as a simple recipient of your un-personalized campaign.
Additionally, in certain cultural contexts, making jokes can be a great way to break the ice and grab your prospect’s attention.
Additionally, you can also leverage your network if you have mutual connections with your target. Some studies have shown that a prospect is 46% more likely to accept an InMail if they are connected to someone who works at your company.
Touch their pain points
Both businesses and individuals are constantly seeking ways to achieve more, experience more, and attain greater success. It is part of your responsibility to understand the challenges they face and utilize that knowledge to position your product or service as a valuable solution.
Your message might have a whole different purpose than selling a product or service, but understanding what makes your prospect struggle will make you appear more valuable in their eyes because you will be seen as someone who understands them and who can solve their problems.
Don’t use hashtags
This one is really a no-brainer, but do not use hashtags in your subject lines. This will not help you in any way, but rather it will make your message look spammy. Save them for your blog posts, articles, and similar stuff.
LinkedIn InMail subject line examples
Sales pitch
Assuming you are selling an onboarding tool that can help recruiters save time and effort.
Instead of using:
“Onboarding and Analytics for [company]”
“Speed Up Your Onboarding Process with XYZ”
Use:
“onboarding”
It looks like it has been sent to a working colleague, making the subject line friendlier and less sales.
Inviting experts on your next podcast episode:
Assuming you have a brand-new podcast and you need to gather experts to participate in your upcoming episodes.
Instead of using:
“Exploring New Frontiers: Join Our Podcast for Thought-Provoking Discussions”
“You’re Invited! Join Us as a Special Guest on Our Podcast”
“Share Your Expertise with Our Audience: Join Our Podcast as a Guest Speaker”
Use:
“seeking experts”
This “clickbait” triggers attention, enticing them to click to learn more.
Seeking new business collaboration
Assuming you aim to develop your network and interact with other professionals within your industry.
Instead of using:
“Expanding My Network”
“Networking Request”
“Synergize and Grow: Join Forces for Business Expansion”
Use:
“business collab opportunity”
“[Mutual Connection] suggested we get in touch”
The second subject line shows that you have a mutual connection, creating a sense of trust almost instantly.
Wrap-up
Crafting an irresistible subject line for LinkedIn InMail is essential to attract the interest of professionals. Keep your InMail subject line concise and/or personalized as this will increase the chances to consider your messages.
As covered in this article, selecting the right sender, keeping the InMails short, and writing in lowercase, can further enhance the effectiveness of your outreach and help you stand out from the crowd.
Of course, there are other smart ways to improve your LinkedIn cold outreach.
With these tips in mind, you’re well-equipped to unlock the potential of LinkedIn InMails and achieve greater success in your professional endeavors.
Let us know in the comments if you have any questions!
This is a guest post by Hugo Molinaro from Smartlinking. Hugo specialized in On-page & Off-page SEO. He knows how to refine sharp strategies that drive results. Striving to stay on the learning curve to keep enriching his skills, Hugo nurtures great relationships with people for a mutual harnessing of talents.
