LinkedIn’s messaging settings allow you to control who can send you messages on the platform. By default, your settings are likely set to only allow 1st-degree connections to message you directly. However, you can change these settings to allow all LinkedIn members to message you if desired.
Why You Might Want To Allow All LinkedIn Members To Message You
There are a few reasons why you may want to open up your LinkedIn messaging to all members, rather than just your 1st-degree connections:
- To increase opportunities for networking and making new connections
- To allow anyone to reach out to you about job opportunities
- To enable conversations with people interested in your business or services
- To participate in LinkedIn Groups more easily
- To join conversations about topics that interest you
Allowing open messaging means you can connect with a wider range of professionals on LinkedIn. This increases your visibility and opens up more possibilities for building your network and career. Of course, it also means you may get more unsolicited outreach, so you’ll have to filter through more messages.
How To Allow All LinkedIn Members To Message You
Enabling open messaging on LinkedIn is simple to do by adjusting your account settings:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the ‘Me’ icon at the top of your LinkedIn feed and select ‘Settings & Privacy’ from the dropdown menu
- Choose ‘Communications’ from the menu on the left side of your Settings page
- Under ‘Messages and invitations,’ click on ‘Change’ next to ‘Who can send you messages?’
- Select the option for ‘Anyone on LinkedIn’
- Click ‘Save’
Once you save this setting, any LinkedIn member will be able to send you direct messages. Keep in mind you can always filter messages or adjust these settings again later.
Who Can Message You By Default On LinkedIn?
If you haven’t adjusted your messaging settings, LinkedIn’s default is to only allow 1st-degree connections to message you. This means the following groups can directly message you:
- Anyone in your 1st-degree network (direct connections)
- Anyone who is a 2nd-degree connection in common with you
- Anyone who is a member of the same LinkedIn Groups as you
With the default messaging settings, other LinkedIn members who aren’t connected to you in one of these ways won’t be able to directly message you.
LinkedIn Messaging Settings Options
In your account settings, you’ll find three options for controlling who can send you messages on LinkedIn:
| Setting | Who Can Message You |
|---|---|
| Your 1st-degree connections | Only people in your direct network |
| Your network (1st and 2nd-degree connections) | Your 1st-degree connections plus people you share connections with |
| Anyone on LinkedIn | All LinkedIn members |
Most people stick with the default ‘Your 1st-degree connections’ option. But opening your messaging to ‘Anyone on LinkedIn’ gives the widest reach.
Customizing Your LinkedIn Messaging Settings
While the three main options control messaging at a broad level, you can also customize your settings further:
- Open to getting messages from recruiters? Toggle this on/off in your settings.
- Show a photo of each new message sender? Turn this on or off too.
- Get notifications for new messages? Choose if you want notifications for each new message.
Take a look at these additional messaging controls in your account settings. Tweak them so your LinkedIn messaging experience matches your preferences.
How LinkedIn Messaging Differs From Other Social Media
Compared to other social networks, LinkedIn takes a more conservative approach to private messaging between members:
- You can only message connections by default, unlike more open messaging on platforms like Facebook.
- There are no group messaging options on LinkedIn.
- You can’t attach files or other media to LinkedIn messages.
This focus on one-on-one, text-based communication creates a more professional tone for messaging on the platform. But the tradeoff is LinkedIn messaging lacks some of the flexibility of other sites.
LinkedIn Messaging Best Practices
To make the most of LinkedIn messaging, keep these tips in mind:
- Personalize your messages with the recipient’s name and profile details.
- Keep your messages concise and focused.
- Follow up any online conversations with more substantive discussions by phone or video chat.
- Monitor your messages and reply promptly when appropriate.
- Adjust your notification settings so you stay on top of incoming messages.
With open and prompt communication, you can build strong connections through LinkedIn messaging. But quality matters more than quantity when reaching out.
The Risks of Allowing Open Messaging on LinkedIn
While enabling messages from anyone allows wider connection, there are some risks to weigh:
- You may get messaged by people you don’t know soliciting business deals, recruiting pitches, or other offers of dubious quality.
- Scammers often use messaging to try phishing attacks and spread malware links.
- Opening messaging could enable harassment or abusive behavior in some cases.
- You may receive more spam and unsolicited messages overall.
Practice caution in responding to unfamiliar people reaching out over LinkedIn messaging. Polite declines or non-responses are perfectly acceptable ways to limit engagement.
How to Handle Unwanted LinkedIn Messages
If you receive inappropriate, offensive, or excessive unwanted messages, here are some ways to handle it:
- Politely ask the sender to stop messaging you if it’s an otherwise well-meaning person.
- Use LinkedIn’s blocking tools to prevent specific accounts from contacting you.
- Report offensive, harassing, or spam messages to LinkedIn as abuse.
- Adjust your settings again to limit who can message you.
While open messaging gives more access, you still have controls to filter and limit unwanted communication.
Does LinkedIn Have a Spam Filter?
Yes, LinkedIn does have systems in place to detect and filter potential spam or abusive messages:
- Messages with dangerous links or malware may be blocked automatically.
- Messages from accounts demonstrating spammy behavior get filtered out.
- AI helps identify problematic messages and suspicious accounts.
That said, some unwanted messages still make it through, so remaining vigilant is important.
Can You Have Private Conversations on LinkedIn?
Yes, LinkedIn messaging allows private one-on-one conversations.
Key aspects of private messaging on LinkedIn:
- Only you and the person you message can see the conversation.
- There are no group conversations – each message goes to one recipient.
- Your connections list is not visible to others.
- You can remove connections anytime to limit message access.
LinkedIn messaging is intended for private communication, rather than public posting. Treat it as confidential.
Conclusion
Adjusting your LinkedIn settings to allow open messaging from all members gives you wider connection possibilities – but it also requires more discretion in who you engage with. Finding a middle ground that works for your preferences and tolerance of unsolicited outreach is important. With the right settings and prudent judgment, LinkedIn messaging can provide valuable new professional relationships.