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 optimal times, days of the week, and message lengths for sending inmails to different roles in Belgium. The overall goal is to start a relationship, trigger candidate interest, and get a response through a targeted, personalized approach.

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+

4. HOW DOES
YOUR IDEAL
INMAIL LOOKS
LIKE?

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!

6. INFLUENCING FACTORS INMAILS

7. Brand Search Approach Content Data
Higher
Response
Rate
5 INFLUENCING FACTORS

8. BRAND

9. Experience
Summary
Name
HeadlinePhoto
Rich Media
Customized link
+ contacts
YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

10. ©2013 LinkedIn Corporation.
RULES OF THUMB + OUTLETS

11. SEARCH

13. BOOLEAN MODIFIERS
AND
OR
NOT
“ ”
( )
financial AND analysis
“financial analysis” OR
accounting
NOT recruiter
“financial analyst”
“financial analyst” AND (oracle
OR SAP)

14. 15©2013 LinkedIn Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
(hr OR personel OR personnel OR personeel OR hrpm OR hcm OR hrms OR cipd OR hrcm OR shrm OR human OR talent OR hrm OR
hrbp OR “employee relations” OR “hr business partner” OR hrbp OR “human resources business partner” OR “hr generalist” OR “hr
Manager” OR “hr consultant” OR “hr advisor” OR “hr manager” OR “head of hr” OR hoofd OR “human resources manager” OR
“human resources” OR “hr business partner” OR “hr consultant” OR “human resource manager”) AND (partner OR associate OR
Principal OR director OR consultant OR “managing director” OR channel OR manager) AND ("employee relations" OR "labor
relations" OR ER OR “HR” OR "human resources" OR "human resource" OR "industrial relations") AND (regulations OR regulatory
OR compliance OR policy OR regulation) AND (compliance OR regulatory OR regulations OR risk OR equality OR “personnel audit“
OR "compliance manager" OR "compliant" OR "audit" OR "validation“ OR vertrouwenspersoon OR trustperson OR “trust person”)
(channel OR sales OR customer OR partner) AND (marketeer OR marketing OR marketer) AND ("sales and marketing manager“
OR "sales manager") AND ("marketing communications" OR marketing) AND (campaigns OR campaign OR marketing) AND
(promotion OR marketing) AND (events OR event OR trade show) AND ("product manager" OR "product marketing" OR "product
management" OR "product marketing manager" OR "project manager" OR "marketing manager" OR "account manager" OR
sales OR "product mgr" OR marketing OR "product developer" OR "product owner" OR "business development" OR director OR
“brand manager") AND ("channel marketing" OR marketing OR "product lifecycle management" OR plm OR pr OR "public
relations" OR communications OR marketing OR media OR advertising OR “product launch” OR assortment OR “product
selection” OR “shelf space” OR “premium”)
(logistics OR distribution OR operations OR manufacturing OR supply chain OR warehouse OR supply OR warehousing OR
logistical OR freight OR shipping OR planning OR procurement OR transport OR retail OR logistic OR export OR import OR
transportation OR logistiek OR 3PL OR 4PL OR “third party logistics provider” OR “third party logistic” OR “3rd party logistic”
OR “third party logistics” OR “3 party logistics”) AND (manager OR boss OR “business partner” OR chargehand OR directeur OR
Head OR leader OR lead OR leadership OR leidinggevende OR mgr OR mngr OR manger OR management OR manages OR mgmt
OR managed OR managing OR manage OR managr OR mnger OR mng OR managers OR mangr OR managerial OR owner OR
responsable OR responsible OR principle OR principal OR supervisor OR superintendent OR teamlead OR teamleader OR
teamleider OR “team leider”) AND (“supply chain management” OR supply chain OR scm) AND (inventory OR warehousing OR
distribution OR planning OR warehouse OR procurement OR purchasing OR “supply chain” OR buyer OR buying OR category OR
categories OR procuring OR supplier OR acquisition OR facilities) AND (“change management” OR “business analyst” OR design
OR “change manager” OR change OR “project manager” OR “project management” OR transformation OR workflow OR “work
flow”) AND (english OR englisch OR engels)

15. *Belgium – 11/9/2015
 Engneer 12
 Engenier 39
 Engineeer 65
 Enginer 101
 Engeneer 974
----------------------------------
1191
ENGINEER
MARKETING
 Marketng 9
 Marketin 32
 Markting 136
 Maketing 173
----------------------------------
350
EVERYTHING “WORKS”

16. REFINEMENT FILTERS
Most Utilized Most Under Utilized

17. APPROACH

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

20. CONTENT

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

22. HOW DOES
YOUR INMAIL
LOOK LIKE?

23. Use commonalities
Choose/Save template
Subject
SAVE YOUR 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

26. INSIGHTS

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%

33. ©2013 LinkedIn Corporation.