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Saniya Sood
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Published October 6, 2026 · Updated October 6, 2026
The short answer: an InMail is a paid message to someone you are not connected to, so it has to earn its place. The ones that get answered have a short, specific subject, open with the reason you chose this person, stay under 100 words, and end with a question that takes one line to answer. Below are seven templates for sales, each with a subject line, the situation it fits and why it works.
Who wrote this: Valley runs outbound for 1,000+ LinkedIn accounts and has sent 30M+ messages. The examples below are patterns we see get replies, written out so you can copy them. Valley appears once, near the end, clearly marked.
If this is true | Use template | Subject line |
|---|---|---|
Their company just had an event | 1. The trigger | [Company]'s [event] |
You share a connection | 2. The shared connection | [Mutual name] |
They posted about the problem | 3. The content | your post on [topic] |
They changed jobs recently | 4. The new role | congrats on the new role |
A peer of theirs is a customer | 5. The peer proof | how [peer company] handles [problem] |
You are unsure who owns it | 6. The right person | who looks after [area]? |
They viewed your profile | 7. The return visit | saw you stopped by |
1. The trigger
Use it when: the company has raised money, started hiring, or launched something.
Subject: [Company]'s [event]
Hi [Name], I saw [Company] [specific event].
Teams usually run into [problem] right after that. We helped [similar company] get through it by [one line].
Is that on your radar yet?
Why it works: the event is your reason for spending a credit on them, and it shows in the first line.
2. The shared connection
Use it when: you have a real mutual contact who would vouch for you.
Subject: [Mutual name]
Hi [Name], we both know [Mutual name]. I worked with her on [project] at [Company].
She mentioned your team is looking at [topic]. We do [one line].
Would it be worth a short conversation?
Why it works: the subject line is a name they recognize, which is why the message gets opened.
3. The content
Use it when: they wrote or shared something on the problem you solve.
Subject: your post on [topic]
Hi [Name], your post on [topic] made a point I rarely see: [their point].
We see the same thing with [type of customer], and the fix that tends to work is [one line].
Curious whether that matches your experience.
Why it works: it responds to their thinking, and the question invites an opinion, which is easy to give.
4. The new role
Use it when: they started a new job in the last three months.
Subject: congrats on the new role
Hi [Name], congratulations on joining [Company].
People in their first few months in a [role] seat are usually reviewing [area]. If that is on your list, we helped [similar company] [result].
Useful now, or better in a couple of months?
Why it works: new leaders review their tools early, and offering to wait makes the message easy to answer.
5. The peer proof
Use it when: a company they would recognize is a customer.
Subject: how [peer company] handles [problem]
Hi [Name], [peer company] was dealing with [problem] this time last year.
They [what they did] and saw [specific result].
Happy to share the details if it would help. Want them?
Why it works: a peer's result does the persuading, and the ask is for information, not time.
6. The right person
Use it when: you cannot tell who owns the problem.
Subject: who looks after [area]?
Hi [Name], I am trying to find who looks after [area] at [Company].
We help [type of team] [outcome], and I would rather ask than guess.
Is that you, or could you point me the right way?
Why it works: it is honest, short, and easy to redirect.
7. The return visit
Use it when: they viewed your profile recently.
Subject: saw you stopped by
Hi [Name], thanks for looking at my profile.
I am not sure what brought you by, but if it was [topic you post about], I am happy to share what we have learned.
Anything specific you were looking for?
Why it works: they made the first move. Keep it light and let them say why.
InMail subject lines that get opened
[Company]'s [event]
[Mutual name]
your post on [topic]
congrats on the new role
how [peer company] handles [problem]
who looks after [area]?
question about [their team]
an idea for [Company]
Keep the subject to a few words and make it about them. A subject that could be sent to anyone is the fastest way to waste a credit.
InMail costs credits, so it is worth knowing when not to use it:
You can connect instead. If a connection request is likely to be accepted, send that. A message to a connection is free and feels less like an advertisement.
You have no specific reason. A generic InMail is the most expensive way to be ignored. Wait for a trigger.
They have an email address and prefer it. Some roles live in their inbox, not on LinkedIn. Use the channel they answer.
You have already sent one that went unanswered. Do not send a second InMail. Try a different channel or a different contact.
For how credits and limits work, see our LinkedIn InMail guide. For messages to people you are already connected to, see LinkedIn message templates for sales.
Where Valley fits (our product, marked as promised). Every template here starts from a trigger: an event, a post, a job change, a profile view. Valley watches for those signals, qualifies each person against your ICP, researches them and drafts a personalized message for LinkedIn and email that you review before it sends. See job change alerts and profile viewers as leads. Plans start at $149 per seat per month billed quarterly ($199 monthly). Valley pricing.
FAQ
What is a good InMail template for sales? One with a short, specific subject, an opening line that says why you chose this person, under 100 words, and a single easy question at the end.
How long should a LinkedIn InMail be? Under 100 words. Long InMails are read less and answered less.
What should the subject line of an InMail be? A few words about them: their company's recent event, a mutual contact's name, or the topic of their post.
Is InMail better than a connection request? It depends. A connection request is free and feels more personal. InMail reaches people who are unlikely to accept a request.
Should I follow up on an InMail? Not with a second InMail. Try a connection request, email, or a different contact at the company.
Can I send InMail without LinkedIn Premium? InMail credits come with LinkedIn's paid plans. See our InMail guide for which plan includes how many.
Why is nobody replying to my InMails? Usually because the message could have been sent to anyone. Start from a specific trigger and say what it is in the first line.
How this page was made: the facts were read from the sources named in the text on October 6, 2026; drafted with AI assistance; fact-checked, reviewed and edited by Saniya Sood.
