What Is LinkedIn Open Profile and How Does It Work?
LinkedIn Open Profile is a Premium account feature that allows any LinkedIn member to send you a free message – even if they are not in your network – without using their InMail credits. When you enable Open Profile, you essentially lower the barrier for others to reach you on LinkedIn.
Who Can Enable Open Profile
Open Profile is available to LinkedIn Premium subscribers only (Premium Career, Business, Sales Navigator, or Recruiter Lite). Free LinkedIn accounts cannot enable Open Profile. If you have a Premium subscription, you can toggle Open Profile on from your profile settings under the Privacy section.
How Open Profile Works
When Open Profile is enabled, your profile will show an Open Profile badge. Members who visit your profile will see that they can message you for free – no InMail credits required. From their perspective, messaging you costs them nothing extra, which makes them more likely to reach out. From your perspective, you may receive more unsolicited messages, but also more legitimate outreach from potential opportunities.
Who Should Enable Open Profile
Open Profile is most beneficial for: consultants and service providers who want inbound leads to be able to contact them easily, job seekers who want recruiters to reach out without friction, thought leaders and content creators who want to be accessible to their audience, and speakers or authors who want to be contactable for opportunities. If you want to maximize the quantity of legitimate inbound messages, Open Profile removes a significant barrier.
Who Should Avoid Open Profile
If you already receive too many unsolicited messages, enabling Open Profile will make the situation worse. Senior professionals at large companies who receive volume outreach from salespeople may prefer to leave Open Profile disabled to maintain inbox quality.
Open Profile vs. InMail
When you contact someone with Open Profile enabled, you do not use InMail credits – the message is free. When you contact someone without Open Profile enabled and they are outside your network, you need to use an InMail credit. For senders, identifying Open Profile accounts in LinkedIn search saves InMail credits by letting them send free messages. Sales Navigator shows an Open Profile indicator in search results, making it easy to identify and prioritize these contacts.