100+ sales intelligent companies uses Valley

Learn More

Email or LinkedIn Message: Choosing the Best Outreach Method

Saniya Sood

Email or LinkedIn Message: Choosing the Best Outreach Method

Saniya Sood

Email or LinkedIn Message: Choosing the Best Outreach Method

Jul 31, 2025

Response Rates and Open/Reply Rates

Professional Context and Credibility

Automation and Tools

Make LinkedIn your Greatest
Revenue Channel ↓

Try Valley

Make LinkedIn your Greatest Revenue Channel ↓

Try Valley

Response Rates and Open/Reply Rates

Professional Context and Credibility

Automation and Tools

Make LinkedIn your Greatest
Revenue Channel ↓

Try Valley

Response Rates and Open/Reply Rates

Introduction

Are you struggling to decide between email or LinkedIn messages for your outreach campaigns? According to recent data, LinkedIn messages have a 85% reply rate, which is significantly higher than the average of 4.1% for cold emails. This highlights how much engagement potential LinkedIn has.

In this article, we'll break down the key factors that influence your decision, response rates, scalability, cost, and more. By understanding each method's strengths, you'll be able to optimize your outreach strategy for maximum engagement and conversion.

Let’s start with response rates, and see how they compare across these two channels.

TL;DR

Choosing between email or LinkedIn messages for outreach depends on your goals. LinkedIn offers higher response rates and better relationship-building potential, while email excels in scalability and cost-efficiency. With the help of tools like Valley can enhance your outreach strategy, improving engagement and conversions.

Response Rates and Open/Reply Rates

Response rates are essential in determining the success of your outreach efforts. A higher response rate typically indicates better engagement and more opportunities for conversions. Knowing how email or LinkedIn messages differ in this area can assist you in selecting the best approach for your outreach plan.

Here are the response and Open/Reply Rates of Email and LinkedIn:

LinkedIn's High Reply Rate: According to LinkedIn research, the average reply rate to LinkedIn messages is 85%, which is three times higher than the response rate to traditional email. LinkedIn's professional setting encourages more relevant and personal responses.
Email's Lower Response Rate: Email tends to have a much lower reply rate. However, emails can still be highly effective when used strategically, offering the ability to share detailed information and follow-ups.
Personalization Boosts Engagement: Messages that are personalized for each individual on both platforms typically receive more responses. LinkedIn's format naturally allows for personalized outreach, while email requires more effort to ensure that your message stands out in crowded inboxes.
Platform Context Matters: Messages on LinkedIn gain credibility and authenticity from the professional setting of the platform. However, depending on the content of the communication, emails can occasionally come across as impersonal.
Open Rates Can Vary: Emails have a broader reach, but they face a significant risk of being ignored or sent to spam. LinkedIn's messaging system offers a more controlled environment, meaning your messages are more likely to be noticed by recipients.

Now that response rates are covered, let's explore how scalability and cost play into the decision between email and LinkedIn for your outreach campaigns.

Scalability and Cost Considerations

Cost and scalability are important considerations when selecting an outreach strategy, particularly for campaigns with a large volume. Understanding the advantages and limitations of both email or LinkedIn messages in terms of scalability and cost will help you make an informed decision for your outreach strategy.

Here are the limitations of both platforms:

Email: Email offers unmatched scalability. With automation tools, you can send thousands of personalized messages at once, making it ideal for reaching a large audience without significant increases in cost.
LinkedIn's Volume Limitations: LinkedIn has restrictions on how many messages or connection requests you can send daily. According to recent data, LinkedIn allows users to send up to 100 connection requests per week, limiting scalability for high-volume outreach.
Cost-Effective Email Campaigns: Email outreach is generally more affordable. Email service providers often base their fees on the volume of emails sent, which facilitates scaling and keeps expenses under control.
LinkedIn's Premium Features: LinkedIn offers paid features like InMail and Sales Navigator, but they come at a higher cost. While effective, these tools can quickly add up for high-volume campaigns.
Budgeting for Each Platform: While email is more cost-effective, LinkedIn's paid features can be beneficial for more targeted, smaller campaigns. The cost should be weighed against your outreach goals.

Now that you know the scalability and cost, let's look at how personalization affects engagement on LinkedIn and email.

Personalization

Personalization plays a crucial role in driving engagement and conversions. A study found that 80% of customers are more likely to buy from companies that offer personalized experiences.

Personalized outreach is an effective technique in any outreach plan on LinkedIn since it can significantly increase response rates. Although personalizing emails is also beneficial, LinkedIn offers unique opportunities for deeper and more lasting interactions.

Here is why personalization in LinkedIn outperforms Email:

30% Higher Response Rate with LinkedIn Personalization: According to LinkedIn research, sending a single, customized message can increase your response rate by 30%. According to HubSpot (2025), customized LinkedIn messages have 40% higher acceptance rates, demonstrating the critical impact that personalization plays in developing connections.
Building Meaningful Connections on LinkedIn: LinkedIn's platform allows for deeper personalization by referencing shared connections or professional achievements, helping you build genuine relationships with prospects.
Email Can Still Benefit from Personalization: While LinkedIn excels in personalized outreach, email also reaps the benefits of personalization. Although LinkedIn provides a more direct connection, email messages can still be personalized to specific interests to increase engagement.

Let’s see how to craft effective LinkedIn Outreach Messages.

Crafting Effective LinkedIn Outreach Messages

Here are some practical tips and examples to improve your LinkedIn outreach messages:

Personalized Greeting:
Reference a mutual connection or recent activity.
Example: "Hi [Name], I noticed we’re both connected to [Mutual Connection] and thought I’d reach out."
Clear Purpose:
State why you’re reaching out and how it benefits the recipient.
Example: "I wanted to connect and discuss how [Your Product/Service] can help streamline your [specific need]."
Call to Action:
End with a simple, direct ask.
Example: "Would you be open to a 10-minute chat to explore this further?"
Tone:
Keep it professional yet friendly to encourage a response.
Example: "Looking forward to connecting and learning more about your work!"

Now that you know how personalization enhances engagement, let's explore how the professional context and credibility of each platform influence outreach success.

Professional Context and Credibility

The professional context in which you reach out plays a significant role in how your message is received. Since LinkedIn is a professional networking site, it automatically makes your messages seem more credible.

However, depending on the outreach strategy, emails might occasionally feel less personal and more transactional, even when they are effective. Let's see the difference.

LinkedIn’s Professional Environment

LinkedIn messages benefit from the platform's professional setting. Users on LinkedIn expect business-related communication, which naturally makes your outreach feel more credible.

For example, suppose you're reaching out to a CMO at a tech company. In that case, your message about a relevant industry trend will naturally be seen as more valuable because LinkedIn is designed for such interactions.

Establishing Credibility Through Connections

One of LinkedIn's biggest advantages is the ability to reference mutual connections. Mentioning a shared connection or even a recent post a prospect engaged with can increase trust.

For instance, "I noticed we both know Jaden Smith, and I wanted to connect to discuss how your company might benefit from our software." This small touch demonstrates a level of research and relevance that builds credibility.

Email’s Less Targeted Approach

While email is widely used, it doesn't carry the same professional context that LinkedIn does. A cold email to a stranger can come off as intrusive, especially if it's generic.

For instance, a LinkedIn message mentioning shared professional interests or connections may be seen as more trustworthy than an email with a subject line like "Here's a solution to increase your sales."

Building Trust with LinkedIn Profiles

LinkedIn profiles provide a wealth of information that can be used to make your outreach more relevant.

For example, if you're reaching out to a marketing manager who recently posted about their latest campaign, referencing that post can help you connect. "I saw your recent post about improving customer engagement. It really resonated with me, and I believe our solution could support your goals."

This personalized approach makes your message more authentic and trustworthy.

Email Still Has Its Place in Building Trust

Though LinkedIn's context is important for developing trust, email can still build credibility when done correctly.

For instance, a personalized email that starts with something like, "I've been following your company's growth and I noticed you're expanding into new markets," indicates you've done your research and are not just sending a mass email.

Now that you've explored the role of professional context, let's look into how legal and regulatory considerations impact your outreach on LinkedIn and email.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Legal and regulatory compliance is crucial when it comes to outreach. Failing to follow the correct regulations can result in penalties, loss of credibility, and damaged relationships. While both LinkedIn and email require adherence to legal standards, the regulations for each platform vary.

Here are the differences that will help you ensure your outreach stays compliant and effective:

Email Compliance with CAN-SPAM and GDPR

Emails are governed by strict laws, such as the CAN-SPAM Act (in the U.S.) and GDPR (in Europe). These regulations require business founders to get consent before sending marketing emails and offer recipients a method to unsubscribe easily.

For example, if you're sending bulk marketing emails, you need to include an unsubscribe link. If you're sending an unsolicited email to a prospect, be sure you get their approval first, or you may face legal consequences.

LinkedIn’s User Agreement and Spam Restrictions

LinkedIn is slightly more liberal in terms of regulatory standards, but it still has policies to avoid spamming. LinkedIn's User Agreement prevents the use of its platform for unwanted bulk messaging. It also restricts the number of connection requests and messages you can send per day.

For instance, if you're sending connection requests or InMails, it's crucial to ensure your outreach is personal and relevant, or LinkedIn may restrict your account. LinkedIn also includes an ability to report unsolicited messages, so be aware of how often you reach out to someone.

Best Practices for Compliant Outreach

Always ensure your outreach is personalized, relevant, and respects privacy regulations. Include an unsubscribe option in email campaigns and ensure LinkedIn communications are meaningful and targeted to avoid getting tagged as spam. Regularly monitor the platform’s policies to be compliant with any updates.

Also read: What are Advanced AI Applications in Data-Driven Outbound?

Now that you’ve learned the legal responsibilities, let’s discuss how automation and technologies may streamline your outreach campaigns.

Automation and Tools

Automation is a game-changer for outreach campaigns, enabling you to scale efforts without compromising personalization. Using the right tools can save time, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent messaging.

Platforms like Valley provide AI-powered solutions to automate LinkedIn outreach, making it easy to manage and optimize personalized connection requests, messages, and follow-ups.

Email Automation Tools

Email automation platforms, such as Mailchimp and HubSpot, allow you to send personalized messages at scale. These tools can automate follow-ups, segment lists, and track engagement, helping you reach a larger audience with minimal manual effort.

While email may not have the same professional context as LinkedIn, automation can make it highly effective for outreach campaigns.

LinkedIn Automation with Valley

LinkedIn has more restrictions on automation, but tools like Valley can help you automate connection requests, InMails, and follow-ups within LinkedIn's guidelines. Valley's AI-powered automation ensures that every message is personalized and relevant, improving engagement rates without exceeding LinkedIn's daily limits.

Here is one of the Valley’s Customer Success Stories:

GoCanvas, a leader in mobile forms and workflow automation, struggled to boost its outbound efforts on LinkedIn, despite generating plenty of inbound leads.

By implementing Valley's AI-powered automation, they saw a 30x increase in pipeline growth and a 5x increase in meetings booked. Their sales team was able to efficiently generate high-quality leads and improve messaging with minimal manual effort.

Want to see how Valley can transform your outreach? Check out more success stories.

Let's look at how LinkedIn's professional context influences the credibility of your outreach.

Relationship Building Potential

Building long-term, meaningful relationships is the ultimate goal of outreach. LinkedIn is excellent in this area because of its professional environment, which allows you to interact with potential customers over time by liking and commenting on their posts or congratulating them on milestones. This regular interaction keeps your connection going and builds trust.

While LinkedIn is ideal for ongoing relationship-building, email plays a crucial role in nurturing these connections. Email keeps your connection active and encourages deeper contact over time by providing updates, insightful information, and personalized follow-ups. Stronger, longer-lasting professional ties can result from combining the two platforms.

Now, let's take a look at how integrating both LinkedIn and email channels can further enhance your outreach strategy.

Integrating Both Channels for Maximum Impact

Using both LinkedIn and email together in your outreach strategy can enhance your chances of success. By combining the strengths of each platform, you can engage prospects through multiple touchpoints, increasing your reach and improving conversion rates.

Here is how it helps:

Broader Reach: Email allows for large-scale outreach, while LinkedIn enables targeted, personalized communication. Using both expands your reach across different networks.
Multi-Touch Engagement: You can follow up more successfully when you use LinkedIn and email together. To strengthen your message, send a follow-up email after sending the initial LinkedIn message.
Increased Touchpoint Frequency: By ensuring that your prospects hear from you on several platforms, a multi-channel strategy raises the frequency of touchpoints and promotes engagement.
Seamless Automation Across Channels: Tools like Valley allow you to automate LinkedIn and email outreach, ensuring consistent, personalized communication across both platforms.
Better Conversion Rates: Engaging prospects via both email and LinkedIn creates a stronger connection, leading to higher conversion rates than relying on just one platform.

Now that you know how integrating both channels enhances your outreach, let's wrap up with some final thoughts and a look at how Valley can help.

How Valley is Revolutionizing LinkedIn Outreach?

Valley utilizes AI and automation to streamline and enhance LinkedIn outreach campaigns. By utilizing its platform, business founders, SDR managers and various other businesses can send personalized messages at scale, improving engagement and conversion rates. With AI-powered insights, Valley ensures that outreach efforts are timely, relevant, and impactful, without the manual effort.

Key Services Provided by Valley:

AI-powered lead generation and segmentation for better targeting
Real-time personalized messaging and automated follow-ups
Analytics-driven insights to optimize LinkedIn outreach strategies

Note: Valley does not natively integrate with any CRM systems at this time, so users must manage integrations separately if needed.

To learn more about how Valley can transform your LinkedIn outreach, check out Valley's site.

Conclusion

Choosing the right outreach method, whether email or LinkedIn, depends on factors like response rates, scalability, and personalization. Email is still a strong tool for cost-effectiveness and scalability, but LinkedIn typically performs better in terms of response rates and relationship-building potential.

Valley transforms LinkedIn outreach with its AI-powered platform, helping businesses automate and personalize messaging at scale. With its real-time analytics and automation, Valley ensures that your outreach is timely, relevant, and impactful.

Contact Valley today to see how their platform can streamline your LinkedIn outreach and increase your lead generation efforts.

FAQs

Q. How do LinkedIn messages compare to cold emails in response rates?

A. LinkedIn messages typically yield higher response rates than cold emails. According to industry data, LinkedIn messages have an average reply rate of 85%, while cold emails average just 4.1%.

Q. Is it possible to automate LinkedIn outreach without violating platform rules?

A. Yes, tools like Valley help automate LinkedIn outreach within platform guidelines. Valley's AI-powered automation ensures personalized messaging and compliance with LinkedIn's daily limits, enhancing efficiency without risking account restrictions.

Q. Can LinkedIn outreach be integrated with CRM systems?

A. Currently, Valley does not natively integrate with CRM systems. Users can manage integrations separately if needed, but native CRM integration is not available at this time.

Q. What are the legal considerations for LinkedIn and email outreach?

A. Email outreach must comply with laws like CAN-SPAM and GDPR, requiring consent before sending emails and an easy opt-out option. LinkedIn has fewer regulations but prohibits unsolicited mass messaging and limits the number of daily connection requests to prevent spam.

Q. How can combining LinkedIn and email improve outreach effectiveness?

A. Integrating LinkedIn and email outreach allows for broader reach and multi-touch engagement. A multi-channel approach increases the frequency of touchpoints, ensuring that prospects hear from you across various platforms, which boosts engagement and conversion rates.