Time to read: 3 minutes. The new LinkedIn InMail policy change is in effect. Upset? Confused? InMail just got much more expensive for average sellers. However, top-performers are getting a nearly unlimited supply of InMail credits under the new policy. Just by making one small change to how InMail messages are written.
Yes, I said nearly unlimited. No, I’m not kidding, nor risking my integrity. You can do the same. I’ve done the research and tried this method myself.
There is a way to send 100 InMail messages and get 193 credits back. (for you to re-use again)
The LinkedIn InMail policy change (in plain English)
LinkedIn screwed up.
When InMail was introduced LinkedIn’s “guaranteed response” policy rewarded spammy messages. So, as of January, LinkedIn gives InMail credits (that you buy) back—BUT only for InMails that earn a response in 90 days.
This is radically new.
LinkedIn’s old InMail policy rewarded sellers who were not successful with InMail. LinkedIn’s new InMail policy change rewards you (only) for writing messages that get strong response.
Under the old system:
- If you did not receive a response within a week, the InMail credit you purchased was given back
- LinkedIn said this policy “guaranteed you a response”
- Spam increased across LinkedIn since this policy rewards you for failing to earn response (whoops!)
For example, let’s say you purchased 50 InMails and sent them. A (poor) 10% response rate allowed you to earn credits and send over 400 InMails per month. Woah!
LinkedIn’s original policy increased the amount of spammy InMail messages being sent. The system rewarded it.
What LinkedIn’s new policy means to you
Going forward from January 2015 you:
- will receive one InMail credit back for each message receiving a response;
- have 90 days to earn that response; (get the credit back)
- can re-use the money (credit) invested again … and again and again;
- will gain a credit every time a recipient marks your message “Not Interested;”
- are still at risk of being banned from using InMail if marked “Not Interested” too often.
Bottom line: Every time you fail to get a reply your money is wasted—gone.
How to send 100 InMails and get 193 credits back
If you’re an average InMail user you’re seeing credits vanish lately. But there is a way to send 100 InMail messages and get 93 returned to you. Or even 193 credits back. (for you to re-use again)
Write effective InMail messages.
For example, let’s say you earn a 50% response rate on your first batch of 100 InMails sent. Over time (as you use the InMail credits returned to you) you earn a total of 93 credits. Not bad. You get nearly all of your investment back for re-use.
Send 100 — Get 50 credits
Send those 50 — Get 25 credits
Send those 25 — Get 12 credits
Send those 12 — Get 6 credits
TOTAL Credits “Earned Back” Over Time: 93
But what if you were really good? Let’s say you earned a 70% response rate to your InMail messages. Hey, it’s possible. I have students who earn between 50 and 73% response rates.
With a 70% response rate you would earn 193 InMail credits (of your original 100) to re-use for prospecting.
In actual practice the math is a bit messy due to the delays between prospects responding and LinkedIn’s re-issuing credits. But you get the picture.
Should you stop using InMail?
Most sellers who invested in LinkedIn Sales Navigator (and InMail) are complaining loudly. Many are resigning accounts.
And they should.
As Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Change for the better.
Have you become addicted to InMail? A lot of us have. That’s what happens when failure doesn’t have a consequence!
Look … as much as it may hurt, your never-ending stream of InMail credits were part of LinkedIn’s lack of foresight. They were a fantasy. The idea of rewarding failure–and calling it a guarantee–made no sense.
Not using InMail yet? You’re in luck. Learn from this experience.
What to do next: Adapt, improve & thrive
Having an effective messaging technique has never been more important.
Literally.
I’m not just saying that. Don’t believe me? Keep pumping out InMails and running out. LinkedIn will be glad to sell you more!
Here (below) is a proven, effective and repeatable system. When you send email messages, make sure you/your sellers systematically:
- Spark curiosity in prospects;
- provoke buyers to act (become a lead) using “trigger words”;
- connect that curiosity to what you sell.
If you don’t follow this process your LinkedIn Sales Navigator and InMail investment will be wasted.
Want to learn this system now? Here’s low-cost way t get started right now.
Still believe in InMail? Good. Me too.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator can be worth your investment. But only if you/your sellers have a practical, repeatable communications process in place to exploit it.
LinkedIn’s InMail policy change is a signal. Another warning. A reason to abandon Fairy Tale beliefs like:
- email prospecting doesn’t cost anything when it fails—or under-performs
- it’s mostly a numbers game
- getting response & appointments means sending more emails
Yes, it is a numbers game. Just like cold-calling. But what is the basis of an effective cold-call routine?
An effective communications process.
More specifically: A systematic, repeatable, scale-able way to turn calls in to leads. I recently described this technique—gave next steps and templates to help make it easy.
Bottom line: If you are not serious about learning an effective process you won’t experience predictable success.
“Lazy individuals will still be able to send indifferent InMails, but they won’t be rewarded for it.” says Bruce Johnston of The Practical Social Media blog.
“The new InMail system will reward people with imagination that experiment to get optimal response rates,” says Johnston.
Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions.
