LinkedIn messages allow you to directly communicate with other LinkedIn members privately. You can use LinkedIn messaging to connect with connections, reach out to people you don’t know, and have one-on-one conversations.
Who can send and receive messages
To send and receive messages on LinkedIn, you need to have a LinkedIn account. Both free and premium LinkedIn accounts allow messaging capabilities.
You can send messages to any LinkedIn member, whether they are in your network or not. However, if the recipient does not know you, your message may go to the ‘Other’ messages folder instead of their main inbox.
How to send a message
To send a message on LinkedIn:
- Go to the profile of the person you want to message.
- Click the ‘More’ icon near the top right of their profile.
- Select ‘Send message’ from the dropdown menu.
- Type your message in the text box.
- Click ‘Send’.
You can also start a new message thread by going to your inbox and clicking the ‘Compose message’ button.
Message length and formatting
LinkedIn messages can be up to 28,000 characters in length. This allows you to send detailed, informative messages.
You can format your messages using rich text editor functions like bold, italics, hyperlinks, lists, etc. This helps you customize your messages.
You can also include emojis and GIFs to add some personality to your messages.
Replying to messages
When someone sends you a message on LinkedIn, you will receive a notification. To view and reply to messages:
- Click the notifications icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Click ‘See all messages’.
- Open the message thread and type your reply in the text box at the bottom.
- Click ‘Send’.
You can also reply directly from message notifications without going to your inbox.
Managing conversations
Your LinkedIn inbox shows all your ongoing message conversations. You can view message threads, recall sent messages, and search for conversations.
To keep your inbox organized, you can archive message threads that you want to revisit later. Archived messages still appear in search results.
If you no longer want to receive messages from a particular person, you can block them.
Message privacy
LinkedIn messages are private conversations between you and the recipient. Message content is not visible to anyone else on LinkedIn.
However, LinkedIn may monitor messages to enforce their User Agreement and ban policy violations like spam, harassment, etc. LinkedIn also scans messages and content for security purposes.
Connecting with LinkedIn members you don’t know
One way many people use LinkedIn messaging is to reach out to and connect with professionals they don’t already know. For example, you may want to message someone you admire in your industry. Or message a recruiter at a company you want to work for.
When messaging members outside your network:
- Personalize the message by mentioning why you want to connect.
- Introduce yourself and provide some background on who you are.
- Explain why you think the connection would be mutually beneficial.
- Ask if they would be open to connecting.
- Keep the message concise and focused.
While there’s no guarantee they will respond, this approach can be effective at building new relationships.
InMail for sending messages
With a LinkedIn Premium account, you get access to a feature called InMail. InMail allows you to send private messages to any LinkedIn member, even if they are not in your network.
Here are some key points about InMail:
- Your message will show up directly in the recipient’s inbox rather than the ‘Other’ folder.
- You have a limit on the number of InMails you can send per month.
- Your message will display as an InMail, indicating you paid to message them.
- Premium members are more likely to read and respond to InMails.
InMail can improve your response rate when messaging professionals you don’t already know.
Advertising in messages
LinkedIn prohibits sending promotional messages or advertising through standard messaging. This is considered spam.
However, LinkedIn does offer paid products for sending targeted sponsored messages to your desired audience on the platform. This can be an effective LinkedIn advertising strategy when done properly.
LinkedIn messaging etiquette
To ensure you have positive messaging interactions on LinkedIn, keep these etiquette tips in mind:
- Be professional and polite in your messages.
- Address people appropriately based on your relationship.
- Check for misspellings and typos before sending.
- Respond to messages in a timely manner when possible.
- Avoid sending unsolicited promotional messages.
- Don’t overshare personal information.
- Respect if someone doesn’t respond or connect with you.
Using bots for automating messages
While you can manually send customized messages to connect with members, some people use chatbots and automated messaging tools to message prospects at scale.
Bots can help you quickly reach a larger audience. However, automated messages often get flagged as spam on LinkedIn. Use this approach carefully or your account may get restricted.
Alternative communication options
In some cases, LinkedIn members may wish to continue the conversation offline if information needs to remain extra private or messaging is inconvenient.
Some examples of taking conversations off LinkedIn include:
- Moving to email or phone instead.
- Switching to an online chat platform like Slack.
- Having an in-person meeting.
The optimal communication channel depends on the situation and people involved.
Key takeaways
LinkedIn messaging allows for direct communication between LinkedIn members. Key points include:
- All members can exchange private messages.
- You can message connections as well as members outside your network.
- Messages have a 28,000 character limit.
- Reply to messages via notifications or your inbox.
- Organize threads by archiving and blocking as needed.
- Follow proper etiquette when messaging.
- Consider alternative channels like email if needed.
Understanding how LinkedIn messaging works can help you have more productive conversations that build relationships and opportunity.
