The short answer is yes, you can mark LinkedIn messages as unread. LinkedIn allows users to mark messages as unread after opening or reading them. This can be useful for saving messages to read later or for keeping your inbox organized.
How to Mark LinkedIn Messages as Unread
Marking a LinkedIn message as unread is easy to do on both desktop and mobile. Here are the steps:
On Desktop:
- Open the LinkedIn message you want to mark as unread.
- In the upper right of the message window, click the “Mark as unread” icon (it looks like an open envelope).
- The message will now appear unread (bold text) in your inbox.
On Mobile:
- Open the LinkedIn message you want to mark as unread.
- Tap the “Mark unread” link at the bottom of the message window.
- The message will now show as unread in your mobile inbox.
That’s all there is to it! LinkedIn will mark the message as unread both on desktop and mobile so it will appear bold and unopened everywhere you access your inbox.
Why Mark LinkedIn Messages as Unread?
There are a few reasons why you may want to mark a LinkedIn message as unread after opening it:
- Save for later – If you don’t have time to deal with a message right now, you can mark it unread to come back to it later.
- Keep inbox organized – Mark messages as unread to keep them easily visible in your inbox for follow up.
- Review again before responding – If you need to re-read a complex message before crafting your response, mark it unread.
- Remember to follow up – Mark messages from key contacts unread to create a visual reminder to follow up.
Marking messages unread can help you control your inbox rather than letting it control you. It lets you triage messages on your own terms.
Tips for Managing LinkedIn Messages
In addition to marking messages unread, there are a few other tips to effectively manage your LinkedIn inbox:
- Check LinkedIn messages daily – Make it a habit to log into LinkedIn and scan new messages at least once a day.
- Respond promptly – Try to reply to messages within 24 hours, if possible, to maintain relationships.
- Stay organized – Use unread status and LinkedIn’s archiving features to stay organized.
- Adjust notifications – Customize notifications in Settings so you don’t get overwhelmed.
- Go mobile – Use the LinkedIn app to manage messages on-the-go.
With over 740 million members, LinkedIn is a key platform for professional networking and communication. Adopting smart message management skills helps you build relationships, spark conversations, and avoid letting your inbox get out of control.
LinkedIn Message Limitations
While marking messages unread is useful, there are a few limitations with LinkedIn messaging to be aware of:
- No recall option – Unlike email, there’s no way to recall or delete a sent message on LinkedIn.
- Limited search – You can only search messages up to 90 days old, making older content harder to find.
- No invites to connect via InMail – You cannot use InMail, LinkedIn’s premium messaging, to invite someone to connect.
- No attachments – Users cannot send document attachments or media files through standard LinkedIn messaging.
Due to LinkedIn’s focus on professional networking, messaging capabilities are more limited compared to traditional email. Standard messages also have lower response rates than InMails.
Using LinkedIn InMail to Message
If you want fewer limitations, LinkedIn InMail can enhance how you connect and build relationships through messaging. Here’s an overview of InMail:
- Paid feature – InMail is part of premium LinkedIn subscriptions which start around $30/month.
- Higher response rate – Recipients are more likely to respond to InMails vs standard messages.
- Message anyone – You can InMail people who aren’t 1st-degree connections.
- More visibility – InMails bypass the Other inbox and get prominent placement in recipients’ inboxes.
- Template options – Send customized or templated InMail messages.
For recruiters, sales professionals, and other power users, LinkedIn InMail can make messaging much more effective for connecting with prospects and hard-to-reach contacts. But standard messaging works fine for general networking.
LinkedIn Messaging Best Practices
To maximize the impact of your LinkedIn messages, keep these best practices in mind:
- Personalize each message – Avoid copy/paste templates and add personal details when possible.
- Write clear subject lines – Summarize your purpose in a few words to get opened.
- Make it conversational – Use a friendly tone and don’t make it too salesy.
- Ask open-ended questions – Give the recipient something to respond to.
- Adjust by relationship – Take a more formal or informal tone depending on your connection.
- Follow up strategically – Try a 2nd message if you don’t get a response after 3-5 days.
- Watch response rate – If your response rate drops below 25%, re-evaluate your approach.
With practice, you’ll get a feel for what makes someone more likely to engage with you on LinkedIn messaging. Test different message styles and timing to see what works best.
FAQs about LinkedIn Messaging
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about using LinkedIn messaging features:
Can I message someone who isn’t a 1st degree connection?
Yes, you can send an InMail to anyone on LinkedIn, whether they’re in your network or not. With a standard message, you can only message 1st and 2nd degree connections.
Is there a size limit for LinkedIn messages?
Standard LinkedIn messages have a limit of 5,000 characters, similar to email. LinkedIn InMail messages can be up to 10,000 characters long.
How do I know if someone read my LinkedIn message?
Unfortunately there is no read receipt feature for LinkedIn messaging. The only indication a message was read is if the recipient likes or replies to the message.
Can I search for old LinkedIn messages?
LinkedIn’s search only goes back 90 days for standard messages. You can search older InMail conversations with a premium account. Otherwise messages over 90 days old cannot be searched.
What happens if I reach the limit of free InMails?
With a free account, you can send just 5 InMails per month. After that you would need to upgrade to a premium