How many characters does the LinkedIn InMail preview show?

Roughly 280 to 320 characters depending on device and UI surface. Mobile shows the lower bound; desktop inbox shows the upper bound. Plan for 300 as the practical budget.

Why do most InMails get ignored?

The first 300 characters waste the preview surface on greetings, self-introductions, generic compliments, permission-asking, and long company explanations.

What lift does rewriting the first 300 characters produce?

30 to 50% lift on InMail reply rate when the signal anchor and specific ask land in the first 300 characters.

Where should the greeting go?

Below the preview cutoff, after the signal anchor, relevance bridge, and ask. Greetings, full company explanations, and PS lines belong in the bottom 60% of the message.

The First 300 Characters of an InMail: Why Most Reps Waste Them

The InMail preview shows 280 to 320 characters. Greetings and self-introductions waste them; signal anchors lift reply by 30 to 50%.

Why It Matters

The preview decides whether the prospect opens or ignores. Templated openings get marked Not Interested.

How Reps Waste It

Greeting opener, self-introduction, generic compliment, permission-asking, long company explanation.

Working Structure

80-120 chars signal anchor, 80-120 chars relevance bridge, 60-100 chars specific ask. Greetings below the fold.

Lift

30 to 50% reply rate lift on the same audience and same Sales Nav credit cost.