5 Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn InMail Subject Lines (25+ Examples)

If you’re not writing winning LinkedIn InMail subject lines, your InMail messages are going to be ineffective or, worse, ignored.

Mastering InMail is like learning a new language, and crafting that perfect subject line might take some practice before you get good at it.

You may ask: “Why so much fuss over just one line?” Well, because it’s your golden ticket – it can make or break whether someone opens your message or hits delete. 

This guide is designed to arm you with strategies for creating non-spammy subject lines using well-crafted templates that work! 

Because let’s face it; no one wants their precious credits wasted.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to craft better InMail subject lines, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned LinkedIn pro, there’s something in this guide to help you. First, we’ll go over why it matters, and then we’ll dive into the tips below:

• Don’t make it sound spammy
• Keep it concise
• Maintain authenticity
• Give lowercase a try
• Power up with personalization

The Importance of Good InMail Subject Lines

Before we get into how to write them better, let’s establish the importance of good InMail practices and why they matter. In a lot of ways, these points could also apply to improving cold email open rates, but the focus of this article is InMail subject lines.

Why are Good Subject Lines Essential?

A common mistake made by many is treating InMails as secondary emails and not giving them the attention they deserve. With no follow-up messages allowed and limited credits available per month (even with premium accounts), each InMail counts significantly more than standard email outreach efforts.

An intriguing yet straightforward fact remains: People won’t read what they don’t open. So yes, while crafting an engaging body text is important for sure, having someone click-open your message in the first place largely depends upon how interestingly you’ve framed those few words in your subject line.

And look, these InMails aren’t 2nd-rate emails. They’re a different thing, entirely. This means that some people are more receptive to receiving and responding to InMails than cold emails. 

Maximizing Your Impact with Carefully Crafted Subject Lines

You might ask yourself “How do I create a great subject line?” A good start would be understanding what catches people’s eye amid countless notifications vying for their attention daily. Put yourself into your recipient’s shoes – think about what would make you stop and take notice?

Remember, you have one goal – to get the recipient to read your InMail. What we’re going to cover is a few pointers to help you achieve that goal. The most important thing is to apply what you learn, so give these tips a try and see what works for you.

1. Craft Non-Spammy Subject Lines

We’ve all been there – opening our inbox to find messages with generic sales pitches. These often give off spammy vibes and are swiftly ignored or deleted. To avoid being lumped into the ‘spam’ category yourself, try sounding more like a colleague or a friend than a salesperson.

In other words, and we’ll use this analogy throughout, write as if you’re catching up with a colleague over coffee. So, here’s what that looks like. Let’s say there’s a world in which you’d like to shoot your colleague an InMail asking them if they want to get coffee with you. 

That would look less like this: 

• Don’t Miss Out – Grab Coffee with Me for a Limited Time Only!

And more like this: 

• Want to grab a coffee?

You’re not trying to seal a deal here. You want your message to be received warmly, not trashed without a second glance. This means keeping things concise yet engaging enough to spark curiosity without appearing pushy or desperate for attention.

But what does this look like from a more professional perspective? We’ll put a few examples here for reference, feel free to refer to them as templates and tweak as you see fit. 

• Quick question about your recent post on AI technology
• Loved your insight on digital sales platforms
• Curious about your thoughts on productivity tools
• Points you made in your article resonated with me
• Seeking your expert opinion on best sales practices

In each of these examples, they aren’t salesy or spammy, but specific and warm. 

2. Keep it Concise

A crisp, clear-cut message helps stand out amidst crowded mailboxes because let’s face it – no one wants to read through long-winded sentences only to decipher what exactly is being said. Keep things short and sweet.

Back to the point about chatting with colleagues – do you use formal language? Or do words flow naturally?

Similarly, when you craft InMail subject lines that mimic a quick message from a colleague, you can significantly improve your open rates.

The 50-Character Rule

In this realm, less is more. An ideal subject line shouldn’t exceed 50 characters.

Not only does this cater to our decreasing attention spans but it also sparks curiosity and makes people want to click for more details.

As long as you don’t mislead anybody, this could be a great way to get a response. This isn’t about playing coy—it’s about getting straight to the point while piquing interest enough for them to take action: opening that mail.

Let’s have a look at some of these examples:

• “Quick catch-up?”
• “Your thoughts on X?”
• “Insights on Y?”
• “Available for a quick call?”
• “Thoughts on industry changes?”

3. Strive for Authenticity

No one likes being sold too aggressively. Authenticity always wins over pushiness when it comes down to attracting attention and securing responses from leads or prospects.

You needn’t resort to high-pressure tactics like “Act Now.” or false promises such as “Guaranteed Success” that would feel right at home in the spam category. Instead try engaging yet straightforward approaches like “Can I help?”. It feels less intrusive and still prompts engagement effectively.

Sounds pretty simple right? But there’s an art to it. Balancing brevity, authenticity and curiosity-inducing elements can be challenging, but with practice and experimentation you’ll find your sweet spot.

Let’s try on some authenticity-focused InMail subject lines:

• “Can I offer a helping hand with X?”
• “Insights on Y – would love your take”
• “Genuinely curious about your approach to Z”
• “Seeking advice on industry challenges”
• “Hoping to learn from your experience in X”

4. Use Lowercase Letters in Subject Lines

Lowercase subject lines can give off an impression of informality and immediacy, similar to how you might message a colleague on Slack or send them a quick text.

It’s not about poor grammar skills; it’s about strategy. When we read something written entirely in lowercase, our brains interpret it as more personal and less formal than standard writing. It feels like someone quickly typed out the note without worrying too much about perfecting every detail – just like they would do if they were messaging you directly.

In today’s fast-paced world where everyone is battling for attention online, anything that makes your outreach stand out could potentially be beneficial. So yes, breaking away from grammatical norms and going all-lowercase can catch people’s eyes amidst their crowded LinkedIn Inboxes.

A Word Of Caution On Using All-Lowercase Subject Lines

All good things come with caution. While using only lowercase letters has its benefits, there are potential pitfalls too: Not every situation calls for casual language – some prospects may find it unprofessional or confusing.

Analyze the impact of various letter cases on your brand and message, testing to determine what yields the most favorable outcome for your target demographic. If you’re not sure whether all-lowercase is right for a particular prospect, it’s usually safer to stick with traditional capitalization.

In the end, it’s about knowing your audience and understanding how they prefer to communicate. After all, successful B2B outreach on LinkedIn involves making real connections – and that starts by speaking their language (even if that means breaking a few grammar rules).

• “wanted to get your thoughts on x”
• “have you ever tried y?”
• “quick question about your post”
• “loved your insights on z”
• “can I pick your brain about x?”

5. Personalization in InMail Outreach

Let’s take a minute to think about your own inbox. You probably get tons of messages daily, but how many do you actually open? The ones that catch your eye usually have something personal and relevant to you, right?

By customizing messages, it is possible to make them stand out from the rest. With an ocean of generic emails out there, standing out from the crowd can be as simple as adding a sprinkle of personal touch.

Keep things subtle yet specific – mention common connections if any or reference information pertinent to their industry or role.

Be mindful that personalization isn’t a universal approach; it may be successful with one recipient and not another, so experiment to determine the best outcome. What works for one recipient may fall flat with another, so be ready to test and tweak your approach.

• “John, your latest post really made me think!”
• “Saw you attended the X conference, Jane!”
• “Congrats on the new role, Mike! Quick question.”
• “Emma, your insights on Y were spot on!”
• “Loved your article on X, Alex – have you tried Y?”

Further Tips and Tricks for Better InMail Subject Lines

With the right approach, you can turn LinkedIn InMail into a powerful tool for connecting with prospects. Here are a few more things that could help you craft better InMail subject lines.

For Recruiters – Mentioning Interviews and Job Opportunities

If you’re looking to attract potential candidates, mentioning interviews in your subject lines could be an effective strategy. For example, instead of using a generic subject line such as “Hello,” try something more engaging like “Invitation for an exploratory chat.” This type of language conveys interest and immediately signals that there’s an opportunity on offer.

A well-crafted interview-invite subject line may feel like stumbling upon buried treasure amidst countless uninspiring messages. Remember though, while invitations are appealing, they need to be genuine to maintain trust and rapport with recipients.

Likewise, mentioning job opportunities directly within subject lines can act as a beacon drawing attention from qualified professionals browsing through their crowded InMail inbox. Phrases such as “Exciting role at [Company Name]” or “Your skills caught our eye.” give users a clear indication about why they should open and read further.

The effectiveness here lies not just in brevity but also clarity – similar to seeing road signs clearly marking out directions when driving down unfamiliar lanes.

Leveraging Personal Connections in Subject Lines

Tapping into personal connections adds another layer of engagement when crafting compelling InMail subjects. Utilizing mutual connections or interests helps establish common ground even before communication commences: think “Fellow [Alma Mater] alum reaching out” or “[Mutual Connection]’s colleague interested.”

This approach is akin to meeting someone at a networking event through a mutual acquaintance – the shared connection often makes the introduction smoother and more likely to result in meaningful interaction.

Practice Makes Perfect

A/B testing is a powerful tool for fine-tuning your subject lines, and you don’t need fancy tools to do it. Send out two versions of the same message with different subject lines to see which one gets more opens or replies. 

You might do this by creating a very simple spreadsheet with two columns: subject line A and subject line B. Send out 15 messages with subject line template A and 15 with subject line template B.

Your InMail outreach strategy should evolve over time as you learn what works best for your audience – remember that success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s about constant refinement based on results.

Conclusion

Mastering InMail? You’re closer than you think. This guide gave you the lowdown on crafting the best subject lines for LinkedIn InMail messages.

The key is to keep it short and sweet, and to try out different things to see what works for you and your target audience. 

So, don’t be afraid to give it a try, but remember – action is the most important thing. Don’t give yourself room for overthinking subject lines to death. Go with your gut, hit send when it’s time, and refine from there. 

And you’ll be on your way to better and better InMail subject lines with every one you send.