LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by millions of people around the world. With over 700 million members, LinkedIn connects professionals with each other and with career opportunities.
One of the great things about LinkedIn is the ability to communicate directly with other members. Whether you want to connect with someone you know, reach out to a new contact, or speak with a representative from LinkedIn, there are options available.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the various ways you can speak to someone on LinkedIn and get the information or assistance you need.
Ways to Communicate on LinkedIn
Here are some of the main ways you can speak to other members on LinkedIn:
LinkedIn Messaging
LinkedIn has its own internal messaging system that allows you to communicate one-on-one with connections and group members. It’s similar to email, but keeps everything within the LinkedIn platform.
To send a message, go to the profile of the person you want to contact and look for the “Message” button. Type out your message and send it off. The recipient will be notified of your message on LinkedIn and via email.
LinkedIn messaging is ideal for short, informal communication with your connections.
InMail
InMail is LinkedIn’s premium messaging system that allows you to contact any member on LinkedIn, even if they are not in your network.
You are allotted a number of InMails per month depending on your account type. InMails often have higher response rates since they are seen as more formal outreach.
To send InMail, click the “Send InMail” button on a member’s profile. Compose your message and send it off. This will go to the member’s LinkedIn Inbox.
InMail is great for making important first connections with people outside your existing network.
Phone Call
For real-time voice conversations, you can call a connection directly through LinkedIn. Phone calls allow for an immediate and personal way to speak with your connections.
To call someone, find their profile and click the phone icon near the top right. This will call their listed phone number through your computer microphone and speakers.
If you want the call to be private, add *67 to the beginning of the number to block your caller ID information before dialing.
Phone calls are useful for more urgent or long-form discussions where messaging may not suffice.
Video Call
LinkedIn also gives you the ability to do face-to-face video calls with your connections. Video chatting makes communication more personal and allows you to pick up on visual cues.
To start a video call, locate the camera icon on the member’s profile and click it. This will open your webcam and ring their end to join the call.
Video calls are great for when you want to have a real conversation and interact visually with your connection.
Group Messaging
Participating in LinkedIn Groups allows you to join in topic-based conversations with other professionals. Within these groups, you can message the group as a whole or message individuals.
Group messaging works just like regular LinkedIn messaging. Just navigate to the group page, find the person or group you want to message, and send them a note. This facilitates communication within your industry niche.
Ways to Contact LinkedIn
In addition to contacting other members, you may also need to get in touch with someone at LinkedIn itself for assistance. Here are some ways to speak with a LinkedIn representative:
LinkedIn Help Center
LinkedIn has an extensive Help Center with articles and info about using LinkedIn. This should be your first stop when looking for assistance with your account.
Many common issues like editing your profile, managing your privacy settings, and troubleshooting problems can be resolved by searching the Help Center support articles.
Chat Support
If you can’t find an answer in the Help Center, LinkedIn offers live chat support with customer service agents.
To start a chat, click your profile picture and look for the “Get help” link. Select the issue you need help with and a chat box will open to message with an agent.
Chat allows you to get real-time support with issues during business hours.
Request a Call Back
For more complex account issues, you can request a call back from LinkedIn’s customer support team.
Again go to your profile picture > Get help. Select the relevant issue and choose “Request a call back”.
Enter your phone number and a representative will call you to investigate your issue over the phone.
This is useful if your problem requires deeper troubleshooting.
Premium Support
LinkedIn offers priority 24/7 phone support for its paying Premium subscribers.
Premium members can call the number listed on the Premium support page and speak to a support agent any time of day or night.
This guarantees fast response times for Premium account issues.
Best Practices for Communication
To make sure your outreach on LinkedIn is effective, keep these best practices in mind:
Personalize Invitations and Messages
When connecting with new people, always personalize your invitation or message. Mention how you found them, why you want to connect, or what you have in common. Generic invitations are easy to ignore.
Be Direct and Concise
Get straight to the point in your communications. Be clear about your purpose for contacting them and what you are asking for or proposing. Don’t bombard people with long-winded messages.
Follow Up Politely
If someone doesn’t respond to your initial message, follow up by sending one additional message expressing continued interest in connecting. But don’t harass people who never respond.
Use Proper Grammar and Style
All written communication should be professional. Use proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. This makes a good impression.
Communicate on LinkedIn Itself
When possible, keep the conversation on LinkedIn’s messaging platform. Don’t immediately ask to continue the chat off LinkedIn. Continuity helps build the relationship.
Speaking with Different Kinds of Contacts
How you speak to people on LinkedIn may vary depending on the type of relationship:
People You Know
When reaching out to people you have an existing relationship with, communicate casually as you would normally interact with them. Remind them who you are and your real life connection.
2nd Degree Connections
For 2nd degree connections who you don’t know directly, briefly explain who you know in common and why you want to get acquainted. Keep it formal but friendly.
Recruiters and Hiring Managers
When interacting with recruiters, focus on how your background fits the roles they are looking to fill. Be clear you are interested in opportunities and are ready to interview.
Potential Customers
If trying to acquire new customers, customize pitches explaining how you can add value. Focus on their pain points and how you can solve them. Provide examples of success with similar clients.
Industry Experts
When engaging experts and thought leaders, showcase your knowledge of their work and insights. Ask smart questions about their opinions on industry trends. Offer your thoughts instead of overtly pitching.
Casual Acquaintances
For people you only sort of know, briefly establish your real life connection, share single relevant pieces of info about your work, and say it would be great to stay in touch. Keep it focused yet friendly.
Following Up
Persistence pays off when trying to speak with LinkedIn contacts:
If No Response…
– Wait at least 1 week before following up
– Send a 2nd message with a specific, personalized question
– Mention you are still interested in connecting
If They Decline…
– Accept the decline gracefully
– You can follow up once more if appropriate
– Offer to connect at a future date if they change their mind
If They Accept…
– Thank them for accepting your invite
– Follow up within a week with a message to start a conversation
– Provide value by sharing a relevant article, resource, or introduction
Avoiding Miscommunication
Limit miscommunications by:
– Keeping messages clear and focused
– Using bullets or numbering for long info
– Summarizing next steps and action items
– Mirroring the recipient’s tone and style
– Clarifying before making assumptions
– Not using sarcasm or humor that may be misunderstood
Troubleshooting Issues
If you encounter issues reaching contacts or using messaging, try:
– Double checking you are sending messages to the right profile
– Confirming the contact’s notifications and privacy settings
– Checking LinkedIn Help Center for platform issues
– Trying an alternate contact method like InMail or phone call
– Verifying your own account settings and configurations
– Switching web browsers or devices in case of technical glitches
Conclusion
LinkedIn provides diverse tools for communicating with professional contacts and getting support. By personalizing your outreach, following best practices, and troubleshooting problems, you can effectively speak with the right people to grow your network and achieve your career goals.
The key is being purposeful in your communications – know why you want to speak with someone and what you hope to gain from the interaction. With focus and perseverance, LinkedIn can connect you to all kinds of new relationships and opportunities.