LinkedIn InMail remains one of the most effective channels for B2B prospecting, but what counts as a “good” reply rate often depends on your sector and strategy. With fresh data emerging in 2025, here’s how current benchmarks stack up — and what you can do to outperform them.
What’s a Good LinkedIn InMail Response Rate?
LinkedIn reports that the average InMail reply rate sits at 18–25%. Top-performing campaigns, however, can hit 35–40%, while poorly executed ones struggle below 10% (SalesLoft, 2024). The difference comes down to message quality, personalisation, and sender credibility.
Industry Benchmarks
Reply rates vary widely across industries:
- Technology & SaaS – Avg. 22–28%, best campaigns 35–42%
- Professional & Financial Services – Avg. 15–20%, best campaigns 28–35%
- Manufacturing & Industrial – Avg. 18–24%, best campaigns 30–38%
- Healthcare & Pharma – Avg. 16–22%, best campaigns 25–32%
Tech companies consistently perform better, largely because their audiences are more comfortable with digital communication (Outreach.io, 2024).
What Drives Higher Reply Rates
Personalisation
HubSpot data shows personalised InMails generate 3x higher response rates than generic templates. The best-performing tactics include referencing recent company news, commenting on a prospect’s LinkedIn post, or connecting your message directly to an industry-specific challenge.
Sender Profile Quality
Prospects are far more likely to respond when your LinkedIn profile looks credible. Profiles with a professional headshot, detailed work history, keyword-rich summaries, and recent content activity consistently see higher response rates.
Timing
According to Woodpecker, InMails sent Tuesday–Thursday between 8–10am or 2–4pm GMT perform best. Messages sent Monday mornings or Friday afternoons see 20% lower response rates.
How SendIQ Clients Beat the Benchmarks
At SendIQ, our B2B campaigns regularly outperform industry averages thanks to three core practices:
- Multi-channel sequencing – Combining LinkedIn outreach with email, cold calling, and website visitor identification increases reply rates by 45%.
- Advanced personalisation – Every message is based on company research, trigger events, and decision-maker mapping, ensuring relevance.
- Constant optimisation – We A/B test subject lines, tone, and timing, driving 25–30% long-term improvements in reply rates.
How to Improve Your InMail Performance
- Subject lines matter – Keep them short, specific, and benefit-driven (e.g. “Quick question about [Company’s expansion]”).
- Be concise – Messages under 200 words consistently see higher replies. Lead with context, outline value, and finish with a clear call-to-action.
- Follow up – 80% of positive replies happen after the first message (Reply.io). Strategic, value-driven follow-ups can boost replies by another 20–25%.
Beyond Reply Rates: What Really Matters
A high reply rate is great — but success is better measured by outcomes:
- Positive reply rate (interested vs. generic responses)
- Meeting conversion rate (from replies to booked calls)
- Pipeline value generated
- Cost per qualified lead
The Outlook for 2025
LinkedIn continues to reward authentic, relationship-driven engagement over transactional outreach. Businesses that combine InMail with multi-channel prospecting strategies — email, phone, LinkedIn, and website visitor tracking — see up to 60% better results than those relying on InMail alone.
If your team is still stuck at industry-average response rates, the good news is this: outperforming the benchmarks isn’t about luck. It’s about strategy, personalisation, and consistent optimisation.
