20 LinkedIn inMail subject line examples that get responses [+5 tips to write them]
A perfectly crafted LinkedIn inMail subject line could be your ticket to outreach success, and let’s explain why!
Reaching out to prospects or candidates can be a frustrating game of chance. Traditional emails often go answered, with response rates averaging around 3-5% for cold outreach. This leaves LinkedIn inMail as a better alternative for professionals in sales, marketing, and recruiting, and the numbers back it up. In fact, inMails have a response rate between 10-25%. This is 300% higher than email when using the exact same content, according to LinkedIn!
But why the big difference? It all comes down to delivery and perception. InMails land directly in a recipient's LinkedIn inbox, where engagement is naturally higher among active professionals.
However, even with this advantage, not every InMail gets a reply, and LinkedIn inMail subject lines are mostly to blame.
After all, they are the first thing the recipient sees. Thus, they need to make an impact. But between countless ‘’Quick chat?’’ or ‘’Just following up,’’ your prospects are getting tired of generic subject lines. They need something different. Something personalized, clear, and value-driven.
We at Skylead use inMails daily and have had plenty of chances to test what’s working and what's not.
So, if you’re looking for LinkedIn inMail subject line ideas, you’re in the right place!
Today, we’re drawing from our own experience to bring you:
- 20 best LinkedIn inMail subject lines to get responses
- 5 tips on how to write highly effective subject lines
You’ll also learn how to make the most of them using LinkedIn automation.
Let’s get started!
What is LinkedIn inMail?
LinkedIn InMail is a premium messaging feature available to all LinkedIn Premium, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter subscribers. InMails allow you to send messages to anyone on the platform—no prior connection needed. This makes them ideal for everyone looking to bypass LinkedIn connection limit while reaching out to their target audience.
Each Premium plan comes with a specific number of inMail credits every month, which can be accumulated for up to 3 months:
- Premium Career: 5 credits/month
- Premium Business: 15 credits/month
- Sales Navigator Core: 50 credits/month
- Recruiter Lite: 30 credits/month
- Recruiter Professional Services (RPS): 100 credits/month
- Recruiter Corporate: 150 credits/month
Moreover, each time someone replies to your inMail, LinkedIn gives you that credit back. All the more reasons to craft perfect LinkedIn inMail subject lines!
However, if a recipient has their profile set to "Open," you can send them an inMail without using any of your credits. Therefore, you get to save your credits for high-priority individuals.
What is a LinkedIn inMail subject line?
A LinkedIn InMail subject line is the first thing your recipient notices when they get your message—essentially LinkedIn’s version of an email subject line. With an 80-character limit, it’s your chance to grab attention, stand out in their LinkedIn inbox, and compel them to open your message.
What is a good LinkedIn inMail subject line?
A good LinkedIn inMail subject line is a difference between an inMail credit returned and one gone to waste.
And with just 80 characters to work with, you need to make every word count.
That said, the best inMail subject lines are:
1. Personalized - They reference the recipient's name, mutual connection, role, company, or interests to show you've done your homework.
Example: “Hey {{FirstName}}, {{MutualConnection}} pointed me your way”
2. Concise - Short and sweet to make an impact without overwhelming the other side.
Example: “Quick tip for {{Position}}”
3. Value-driven - They immediately make it clear what's in it for the recipient. Why should they care about opening your message?
Example: “Helping {{TheirRole}} achieve {{Outcome}}”
4. Action-oriented - They use actionable language and calls to action to inspire curiosity or urgency.
Example: “Explore this new strategy for {{Topic}}”
5. Non-salesy: They're authentic, without using promotional or generic phrases.
Example: “{{FirstName}}, thoughts on {{SpecificTopic}}?”
So, in short, a good LinkedIn inMail subject line is personal, to the point, and provides a clear reason for the recipient to engage.
20 Best LinkedIn inMail subject line examples to improve your response rate
Now that you realize what it is that makes for a good LinkedIn message subject line let’s move on to the actual examples.
These examples have been used by our own team at Skylead and have shown promising results in terms of reply rate. We’ll also leave those for you to compare.
That said, to make examples easy to skim through, we’ve also broken them down into 3 different categories:
Feel free to use them in your outreach as you see fit. Just replace the variables with information relevant to your prospect. Or, if you use Skylead, don’t, since our tool will auto-populate variables for you. But we’ll get to that in a moment.
Also, keep in mind that here, you’ll find examples of LinkedIn inMail subject lines only.
We’ve got a separate article that walks you through the best LinkedIn inMail examples with a formula to increase reply rate, where you can take a look at inMail body examples. So, be sure to check that out, as well.
LinkedIn inMail subject line examples for sales professionals
1. It seems we have a mutual connection, {{firstName}}
Reply rate: 50%
Why it works:
Mentioning a mutual connection builds trust and familiarity. This makes the message feel less cold and invites replies.
2. Hi {{firstName}}, I noticed you reacted to {{AuthorName}}’s post on {{SubjectOfThePost}}.
Reply rate: 35%
Why it works:
This subject line feels hyper-personalized because it references a specific LinkedIn activity. It also shows you’re paying attention to your leads’ interests.
3. Saw you are also a member of {{GroupName}}
Reply rate: 27%
Why it works:
We commonly use this LinkedIn inMail subject line when outreaching members of LinkedIn groups. It’s an excellent conversation starter that makes your message feel less intrusive.
4. Any thoughts on {{SpecificTopic}}?
Reply rate: 27%
Why it works:
Open-ended questions work great for sparking curiosity and engagement. This subject line invites the recipient to share their perspective, which also makes them feel valued.
5. {{CompetitorName}} is doing this—are you?
Reply rate: 25%
Why it works:
Playing on FOMO (fear of missing out) and competition makes this subject line compelling. It challenges the recipient to think about their own strategy, thus prompting them to reply.
6. Curious how {{NameOfYourCompany}} can help you?
Reply rate: 23%
Why it works:
This subject line directly addresses the recipient’s potential needs while sparking curiosity. Furthermore, it positions your company as a helpful resource, which makes it sound less salesly.
7. Generate 30+ leads every month, {{firstName}}!
Reply rate: 17%
Why it works:
This is a bold, benefit-driven subject line that immediately captures attention. It appeals to results-focused professionals looking to improve their LinkedIn lead generation and lead gen in general.
8. {{Lead’sCurrentCompanyName}}’s pain points are your biggest advantage, {{firstName}}!
Reply rate: 15%
Why it works:
This example cleverly shifts the focus to how the recipient can leverage their current company’s challenges to their own benefit. Therefore, it appeals to problem-solvers and encourages them to think strategically.
LinkedIn inMail subject line examples for marketing teams
1. {{firstName}}, that was a great post on LinkedIn!
Reply rate: 33%
Why it works:
The subject line starts with a compliment, which instantly catches the recipient’s attention. Not to mention, a reference to their name and post adds a personal and relevant note to it, which increases the likelihood of engagement.
2. Loved your article on {{SpecificTopic}}—a quick idea for you
Reply rate: 25%
Why it works:
Referencing specific content they’ve created shows you’ve done your research. Moreover, offering a “quick idea” adds curiosity, and the subject line positions you as someone who can add value to their work.
3. Struggling with {{Challenge}}? Here’s a quick fix.
Reply rate: 24%
Why it works:
This one empathizes with a potential pain point while promising an actionable solution. It’s direct, benefit-driven, and shows you understand the recipient’s challenges.
4. How to increase your {{SpecificMetric}} by {{Percentage}}
Reply rate: 21%
Why it works:
Metrics and percentages catch attention quickly, especially that of data-driven marketers. In this subject line, the value being offered is clearly outlined, making it hard to ignore.
5. What’s trending in {{Industry}} marketing?
Reply rate: 20%
Why it works:
Marketers LOVE staying ahead of trends. This LinkedIn inMail subject line is simple yet intriguing and positions your message as a source of insider knowledge.
6. We can both benefit from this partnership, {{firstName}}
Reply rate: 15%
Why it works:
It emphasizes mutual benefit, making it feel collaborative rather than one-sided. Therefore, it’s ideal for proposing partnerships or joint ventures.
7. Let’s make the most of our time, {{firstName}}
Reply rate: 15%
Why it works:
This conversational subject line is straightforward and respectful of the recipient’s time. It’s casual and professional at the same time and creates an approachable tone for the message.
LinkedIn inMail subject line examples for recruiters
1. Your experience in {{Field}} caught our eye
Reply rate: 30%
Why it works:
This subject line is personal and specific, thus making the recipient feel valued and recognized for their expertise. What’s more, a field reference immediately creates relevance and sparks curiosity.
2. We’re hiring {{Role}} like you at {{Company}}
Reply rate: 27%
Why it works:
This LinkedIn message subject line is clear and direct and immediately highlights both the opportunity and the company. Such a line is, therefore, ideal for piquing interest in active or passive candidates.
3. Is this your next career move, {{firstName}}?
Reply rate: 25%
Why it works:
This question invites engagement by prompting the recipient to think about their next step. Moreover, including their name adds a personal touch.
4. A role that matches your skills and goals
Reply rate: 24%
Why it works:
This subject line aligns with the recipient’s aspirations. Thus, it shows that the opportunity has been thoughtfully matched to their profile.
5. Let’s talk about your career growth in {{Field}}
Reply rate: 22%
Why it works:
Career growth is a top motivator for candidates. That said, this LinkedIn inMail subject line works because it feels collaborative and highlights a mutual interest in their success.
5 Tips for writing high-converting LinkedIn inMail subject lines
So, we've provided you with LinkedIn inMail subject line examples that you can immediately use in your LinkedIn outreach.
But they will only get you so far. The goal is to be able to write high-converting ones on your own.
That said, here are 5 tried-and-tested tips to help you create inMail subject lines that will stand out in your prospects' LinkedIn inboxes.
Use data or metrics to grab attention
Data-driven subject lines instantly stand out because they promise measurable value, which B2B leads are drawn to.
Thus, our advice is to incorporate:
- Percentages,
- Numbers,
- Metrics,
Or any other data that can give your subject line credibility and a results-oriented edge.
Incorporate questions to spark curiosity
Questions are a natural attention-grabber because they encourage the recipient to pause and think. Moreover, by posing a question, you create curiosity about what the rest of the inMail contains, which prompts the other party to open it. Just make sure the question is relevant to their challenges or goals, though.
Avoid generic or overused phrases
If I had a nickel for every time I saw ''Let's hop on a quick chat'' and similar in my inbox... well, I wouldn't be rich because it's nickels we're talking about. But you get the gist. This type of LinkedIn inMail subject line is overused, meaning it hasn't been working for a while now.
That said, if you want the subject line to perform, you need to be original, creative, and specific. Such a line will show that you've put thought into your outreach instead of just automating away with no specific strategy.
A/B test subject lines to find the most effective ones
Even the best LinkedIn inMail subject lines need a bit of tweaking from time to time.
That said, to figure out what works best for your audience, perform regular A/B testing where you send one subject line to one group of leads and another to the other. Or A/B test up to 5 inMail subject lines on autopilot using Skylead.
To compare the variations against each other, make sure to track the number of inMails sent as well as open and reply rates. Then, optimize accordingly.
Write subject lines from your lead’s perspective
Your subject line should speak directly to the recipient’s needs and priorities. Therefore, it’s important you frame your copy around what’s in it for them—not you. That can be solving a problem, achieving a goal, gaining a benefit, or anything else for that matter.
How to increase the impact of your LinkedIn inMail subject line
So, you've mastered the art of crafting the perfect LinkedIn inMail subject line. But now, it's time to put your knowledge to the test.
And to do so, you need to send some inMails.
Sure, you could go about doing it one by one, manually. But there's a better approach: LinkedIn automation tools.
Our very own Skylead is one of the best LinkedIn automation and cold email software on the market.
In fact, it's commonly used by sales professionals, marketers, agencies, and recruiters around the world who wish to save 11+ hours a week on manual outreach tasks.
However, unlike similar tools, Skylead can help you send both:
- Free inMails
- And paid inMails
Along with:
- Invites to connect,
- LinkedIn messages,
- Tens of thousands of emails a month at no extra cost,
…all on autopilot!
What’s more, these actions can be combined with if/else conditions to form Smart sequences; our first-to-market outreach sequences that respond to the way your prospects behave to find the fastest path to them.
On top of letting you take advantage of LinkedIn and email outreach simultaneously, our tool can also help you find and verify emails of your leads. Without breaking your outreach flow, at that, since you can also add this action to the sequence.
You can even warm-up infinite mailboxes, courtesy of our partnership with InboxFlare, an email outreach tool.
And did we mention you can also use our native image and GIF personalization feature for added impact?
But what’s particularly relevant to LinkedIn inMail subject lines is our A/B testing feature.
Let’s get into it deeper!
How to A/B test LinkedIn inMail subject lines with Skylead
As we mentioned already, Skylead lets you A/B test up to 5 different versions of your inMail subject line.
On top of LinkedIn inMail subject lines, you can also split test:
- LinkedIn inMail body
- LinkedIn connection request message
- LinkedIn message
- Email subject line
- Email body
You can access this feature on the Smart sequence builder page by clicking on the inMail step in your sequence.
Then, a menu will appear on the right side with fields to insert a LinkedIn inMail subject line, inMail body, and signature.
Use the slider on the right to scroll down, and click the ‘’Add A/B variant’’ under the signature field. And voilà! You will have created another version!
Here is also where you can turn the Paid inMails option on or off.
To A/B test LinkedIn inMails subject line, copy the same body you used for the 1st variant and only change the subject.
Once happy with your variations (and your Smart sequence), start your outreach campaign. And then, wait for the results to start coming in, which you can evaluate on Skylead’s Reports page.
Opt for a side-by-side view to easily see how different variants stack against each other.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between an InMail and a LinkedIn message?
The main difference between a LinkedIn InMail and a standard LinkedIn message is who you can send it to. LinkedIn messages can only be sent to your 1st-degree connections, while InMails let you message anyone on the platform. Moreover, inMail is a LinkedIn Premium feature.
How to write LinkedIn inMails?
To write an effective LinkedIn InMail, firstly, use a specific subject line to grab attention. Then, open the inMail with a relevant hook, address the recipient’s pain points with a clear value proposition, and keep it concise. End with a strong CTA to which the recipient can easily respond.
What are LinkedIn inMail credits?
LinkedIn InMail credits are part of LinkedIn Premium plans and determine the number of paid InMails you can send monthly. Each plan provides a specific number of credits per month, ranging from 5 (Premium Career) to 50 (Sales Navigator). Unused credits roll over for up to 3 months. Meanwhile, if your recipient replies to your InMail, LinkedIn returns the credit to your balance.
Make the most of your inMail subject lines
Crafting the best LinkedIn InMail subject line is both an art and a science.
And no, you probably won’t hit the jackpot with your first one—it takes consistent testing and refining to get it just right.
Nonetheless, the InMail subject line examples and tips we’ve shared above are designed to guide you in the right direction. But it's up to you to put what you've learned into practice.
And what better way to do so than at scale, with Skylead as your automation ally?
Delegate time-consuming outreach activities to Skylead and save 11+ hours a week—time you can better spend perfecting your LinkedIn InMail subject lines!
So, come test Skylead for free for 7 days to unlock your full outreach potential and watch your LinkedIn inMail response rates soar!
