Do LinkedIn messages get sent to email?

LinkedIn messages do not automatically get sent to a user’s email inbox. However, there are a few ways LinkedIn members can have their messages forwarded to their email.

Receiving LinkedIn Messages in Email

The main ways to get LinkedIn messages delivered to email are:

• Turn on LinkedIn message notifications in account settings
• Connect an email to the LinkedIn account
• Use a third-party email integration tool

Enabling notifications and connecting an email allows basic message forwarding to that email address. Using a dedicated integration tool provides more customization options.

Turning on LinkedIn Message Notifications

LinkedIn members can opt to receive email notifications when they get new messages within LinkedIn. This sends a simple notification email with a link to view the message on LinkedIn.com.

To enable LinkedIn message notifications:

1. Go to the LinkedIn website and log into your account
2. Click on the Me icon at the top of the page and select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown menu
3. Go to the Communications tab
4. Under Messages, check the box next to “Get notifications about new LinkedIn messages via Email”
5. Select the frequency for email notifications – immediately, daily, or weekly summary
6. Click Save at the bottom of the page

Once enabled, an email notification will be sent whenever a new message is received on LinkedIn. The email contains the subject line and sender details, with a link to view the full message on LinkedIn.

Connecting an Email Address

Another way to get LinkedIn messages in email is to add and verify an email address connected to your LinkedIn account. This allows basic forwarding of messages to that address.

To connect an email to your LinkedIn account:

1. Go to your LinkedIn Settings
2. Select the Email address tab
3. Enter the email you want to connect in the “Add email address” field
4. Click Add
5. Check your email inbox for a verification message from LinkedIn and click the confirm link

Once an email is connected and verified, incoming LinkedIn messages will be forwarded to that address. The forwarded email states the message subject and sender name, with a button to view the full message on LinkedIn.

Using a Third-Party Integration

For more options in forwarding LinkedIn messages, third-party integration tools can connect LinkedIn to email services like Gmail or Outlook. Some popular tools include:

• Zapier
• IFTTT
• Automate.io
• Integromat

These tools allow setting up custom integrations to have LinkedIn messages sent to your email with added features like:

• Complete message text included in email body
• Customized subject lines
• Conditional forwarding based on sender, keywords, etc.
• Auto-replies to LinkedIn messages

The setup steps vary for each tool but generally involve:

1. Connecting your LinkedIn account to the tool
2. Connecting your email service (Gmail, Outlook, etc)
3. Configuring the specific forwarding rules and preferences
4. Running and testing the integration

While most core features are free, advanced functionality usually requires a paid subscription to the integration service.

Considerations Around Emailing LinkedIn Messages

While forwarding LinkedIn notifications or messages to email can be helpful, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:

• It can clutter your email inbox with notifications
• The full context and threading may be lost in email
• You need to toggle between LinkedIn and email to manage conversations
• Messages could end up in spam folders
• Email open trackers can show the message as read early

Weighing the benefits versus potential drawbacks can help determine if emailing LinkedIn messages is worthwhile for your personal usage and communication style.

Best Practices for Managing LinkedIn-Email Integration

If you do integrate LinkedIn messaging with email, some best practices include:

• Use a separate folder or labeling system to organize LinkedIn emails
• Check both email and LinkedIn when managing conversations
• Adjust notification frequency to avoid overwhelm
• Personalize subject lines in integrations to identify important messages
• Turn off open tracking if available in your integration

Conclusion

While LinkedIn does not directly synchronize messages to member email inboxes, there are a few ways to enable email notifications or forwarding:

• Turn on message notifications in LinkedIn settings
• Connect and verify an email address with your LinkedIn account
• Use a third-party integration service

This allows LinkedIn members to get messages sent to an email address for convenience. However, potential drawbacks like inbox clutter and out-of-context conversations should be considered. With the right settings and workflows, integrating LinkedIn messaging with email can be beneficial for users who rely heavily on email communication.