This document provides tips for maximizing response rates to inmails on LinkedIn. It discusses four influencing factors on response rates: brand, search, content, and data. Search is very important for finding potential candidates. The document provides examples of effective and ineffective inmail subject lines and messages. It also shares insights from data on the best times and days to send inmails to different industries in Belgium based on higher response rates. The key recommendations are to personalize messages, be brief, refer to shared connections, and leverage data on timing for different roles and industries.
1. MAXIMIZE YOUR INMAIL RESPONSE
RATE BY DATA
(And why search equals inmails?)
Jerrold Pelupessy
Customer Education Consultant
LinkedIn
2. AGENDA
The 4 Influencing factors which determine your response rate
Search = King and Inmail = Queen
How: The Do’s and Don’ts of Inmails
When: The right timing to send your inmails
Inmail best practises
3. LINKEDIN NETWORK
Netherlands: 5.7M MEMBERS. 74% PENETRATION RATE
Belgium: 2.4M MEMBERS. 51% PENETRATION RATE
Members Worldwide
>2 newMembers Per Second
186M+Monthly Unique Visitors
380M+
5. Members who’ve viewed your profile.
“Hi xxx. I noticed you checked out my profile. Thanks! Is there
anything I can help you with?” It’s simple, yet very effective.
1
2
Members who just joined the network
“Hi xxx. Welcome to LinkedIn! I see that you’re in engineering.
Very cool! More than happy to reflect your career aspirations if
you’re open for it now or in the future.
3
Members in your groups
“Hi follow group member. See that you have great comments on
the last article. Really spot on about the xxx topic. I’m a recruiter
and always happy to help people forward in pursuing their next
career step. Find your way of thinking very interesting and would
love to exchange thoughts if you’re open for it. No pressure, just
introducing myself.
WHEN TO SEND AN INMAIL
4
Branding
“Hi xxx. Came across your profile and see that you’re interested
in xxx. My company just launched it’s new career page and more
than happy to share with you. Have a look and feel free to let me
know what you think. Happy reading!
13. BOOLEAN MODIFIERS
AND
OR
NOT
“ ”
( )
financial AND analysis
“financial analysis” OR
accounting
NOT recruiter
“financial analyst”
“financial analyst” AND (oracle
OR SAP)
18. Active Talent
- Will apply to ATS
- Listen to opportunities
- Respond quickly
- Seek information
Passive Talent
- Do not have a current resume
- May listen to opportunities
- Do not respond to “apply now”
- Higher bar to respond
19. 59%
Challenging work
49%
Culture which fits my
personality
51%
Excellent
compensation and
benefits
WHAT INTERESTS PASSIVE TALENT?
44%
Good work / life
balance
42%
Good relationship
with colleages
21. Inmail Flow
First Contact
Let’s make an
appointment
Why?
Referral
I am interested,
but not the right
time
Not interested
at all
Yes
NO
OR
Referral
Pipeline
Candidate Replies
Candidate replies
Inmail template
Inmail template
Inmail template
Inmail template
24. The keepers
1. (Shared connection) suggested that I reach out to you…
You’re not a stranger, but a friend of a friend.
2. Hello from a fellow avid Scuba diver
Tap into a passion that person has and show you’ve actually done some research about them.
3. We overlapped at Rutgers for two years, but….
Leverage any sort of shared experience you have with the candidate brings you a bit closer to the candidate and shows you’ve
actually done some research about them.
.
4. Cuong, do you wish you could come back to Cisco?
Obviously, this one only works if you are targeting someone who left your company. (“boomerang” employees”)
The sleepers
1. You are probably happy at LinkedIn, but…
Used a thousand times before, and isn’t going to cause anybody to stop and read it.
2. New product marketing manager role
Really?
3. Looking for a dynamic Director of Marketing with a broad marketing background for a great company!
Generic
4. Career Opportunity with XYZ Co.
Zzzzzzz……
The bleepers
1. Did you get my earlier message?
Yes, and I didn’t respond that time either. (Take a hint!)
2. I couldn’t reach you via phone so hoping that you check you InMails
Getting “stalker-ish”
3. My client is interested in filling a marketing leader role immediately
Sounds like your client has some major issues. Good thing I don’t work for him. (Don’t make your problem, mine)
4. Nice LinkedIn Profile. How are you?
Please keep this professional network, professional
-
25. Do’s
1. Be brief and concise
2. Personalise the message
3. Be authentic
4. Refer to common connectors i.e. Groups or Shared
Connections
5. Put in a call to action
6. Use cold hard facts for roles in Senior Finance and IT
7. Ask for referrals
Don’ts
1. Sending a full job description as a first inmail
2. Don’t make the inmail sound like a generic
message
3. Immediately ask for referrals
Goal:
1. Start a relationship
2. Trigger interest candidate
3. Get the Candidate’s response
The Do’s and Don’ts
27. WHAT DOES BIG DATA SHOW? – FINANCE, Belgium
1
Sent inmails
per batch
+33%
Higher acceptance
Rate than average
0-6 M
2-5 Y
Years in current company
1 – 2
words
Subject &
Message length
Mon -
Wed
Influence your hires
By sending inmails on..
6AM
9 AM-
11AM
.. And send inmails between:
<99
words
Subject Message
7-8PM
+20%
+2%
28. WHAT DOES BIG DATA SHOW? – IT/Technology,
Belgium
1
Sent inmails
per batch
+32%
Higher acceptance
Rate than average
1 – 2
words
Subject &
Message length
Mon -
Wed
Influence your hires
By sending inmails on..
7AM
8AM
.. And send inmails between:
1-99
words
Subject Message
8PM
11PM
12PM
0-6 M
6M-2 Y
Years in current company
+17%
+11%
29. WHAT DOES BIG DATA SHOW? – Marketing, Belgium
1
Sent inmails
per batch
+28%
Higher acceptance
Rate than average
1 – 2
words
Subject &
Message length
Mon -
Wed
Influence your hires
By sending inmails on..
9AM
12PM
.. And send inmails between:
1-99
words
Subject Message
9PM
-
10PM
6M-2 Y
2-5Y
Years in current company
+10%
+7%
30. WHAT DOES BIG DATA SHOW? – Sales, Belgium
1
Sent inmails
per batch
+25-30%
Higher acceptance
Rate than average
3 – 10
words
Subject &
Message length
Sat -
Sun
Influence your hires
By sending inmails on..
9PM
-
10PM
.. And send inmails between:
1-99
words
Subject Message
0-6M
6M-2Y
Years in current company
+17%
+2%
31. WHAT DOES BIG DATA SHOW? – Software
Engineering, Belgium
1
Sent inmails
per batch
29%
Higher acceptance
Rate than average
1 – 2
words
Subject &
Message length
Sat -
Sun
Influence your hires
By sending inmails on..
10PM
–
2AM
.. And send inmails between:
1-99
words
Subject Message
0-6M
6M-2Y
Years in current company
+26%
+2%
32. WHAT DOES BIG DATA SHOW? – Traditional
Engineering, Belgium
1
Sent inmails
per batch
29%
Higher acceptance
Rate than average
1 – 2
words
Subject &
Message length
Thu - Fri
Influence your hires
By sending inmails on..
9AM
6PM
8PM
.. And send inmails between:
1-99
words
Subject Message
0-6M
6M-2Y
Years in current company
+21%
+7%