Tagging someone in a LinkedIn message allows you to get their attention and notify them that you have mentioned them in a post. When you tag someone, their name becomes clickable and linked to their profile. They will receive a notification that they have been tagged, drawing them into the conversation.
Why Tag Someone in a LinkedIn Message?
There are a few key reasons you may want to tag someone in a LinkedIn message:
- To notify them of something relevant to them – Perhaps you are mentioning an accomplishment, sharing an article they would find interesting, or want their input on a discussion.
- To give them credit – If you are mentioning work the person has done or thanking them, you can tag them to highlight their contributions.
- To draw them into a conversation – By tagging, you are inviting them to engage and respond.
- To get their attention – Tagging someone will send them a notification, which can help make sure they see your message.
Tagging strategically can help facilitate conversations and engagement on LinkedIn.
How to Tag Someone in a Regular LinkedIn Post
Tagging someone in a regular LinkedIn post is easy to do:
- When writing your update, type the @ symbol anywhere in the body of your post.
- Start typing the person’s name or handle. Matching connections will pop up as options.
- Select the correct person from the list of matches.
- Finish your update and click “Post.”
The person you tagged will receive a notification letting them know you mentioned them. Their name will also appear as a clickable link in your post leading back to their profile.
How to Tag Someone in a LinkedIn Group Post
The process for tagging in a LinkedIn Group post is the same as a regular post:
- When writing an update in a LinkedIn Group, type @.
- Start entering the person’s name or handle you want to tag.
- Select the correct match from the list.
- Complete your post and click “Post.”
Group members who are tagged will be notified of the mention. Tagging in Groups can be useful for getting input from specific members or recognizing their expertise.
How to Tag Someone in a LinkedIn Message
You have a couple options for tagging someone in a LinkedIn message:
Within the Message Text
- When composing your message, type @ anywhere in the body text.
- Start entering the person’s name and select the right match.
- Finish your message and click “Send.”
This will send them a notification they were mentioned in your message. Their name will also appear as linked to their profile.
In the “To” Field
- Begin typing your message.
- In the “To” field, type @ followed by the person’s name or handle.
- Select the correct match.
- Finish your message and click “Send.”
This tags the person while also sending them the message directly. The tag ensures they are notified.
Who Can You Tag in LinkedIn?
You are only able to tag 1st-degree connections on LinkedIn. These are people who you are directly connected to on the platform. You can also tag company pages if you want to mention a business or organization.
You cannot tag someone who is not a 1st-degree connection or tag people in sponsored posts. Make sure you have a direct connection on LinkedIn with anyone you want to tag.
Tips for Tagging on LinkedIn
Here are some tips to use tagging effectively on LinkedIn:
- Tag thoughtfully – Only tag people who you think will genuinely appreciate the mention.
- Tag sparingly – Do not over-tag or annoy your connections.
- Check spelling – Make sure you tag people using the exact spelling of their name so it links properly.
- Add context – Give some background when tagging to explain why you are mentioning them.
- Utilize tagging in Groups – Draw on Group members’ expertise by tagging relevant members in discussions.
- Be timely – Tag people in timely updates they would have an interest in.
- Send a note – Consider sending a LinkedIn message to explain the tag if it needs clarification.
Why Can I Only Tag 1st Connections?
LinkedIn restricts tagging to 1st-degree connections as a spam and privacy protection. Allowing tagging of anyone would open the door to abuse.
Limiting tags to your direct connections helps maintain a trusted network. LinkedIn wants tagging to enhance meaningful engagement between connections, not enable unwelcome targeting of strangers.
While you can only tag people you are connected to, your posts themselves can still be viewed broadly by your network and beyond depending on your privacy settings.
What Happens When You Tag Someone?
A few things happen when you tag another LinkedIn member:
- They receive a notification of being tagged along with the post or message preview.
- Their name appears as a clickable link to their profile in your post/message.
- The notification and tag appear under the “Mentions” section of their LinkedIn account.
- The post/message also appears on their “Recent Activity” feed.
- The tag contributes to their overall engagement metrics and notifications.
So in summary – tagging someone draws their attention, links to their account, and signals your post/message is relevant to them.
Can You Remove or Undo a Tag?
Unlike other social networks, LinkedIn does not allow you to untag someone after the fact. Once you post an update tagging a connection, it cannot be undone.
However, you can delete the post or message entirely if you need to remove the tag. But this would also delete the rest of the content at the same time.
So be sure you want to tag someone before clicking post or send. Check that you’ve tagged the right person and that the mention makes sense in context.
Can You Tag in a LinkedIn Profile?
You cannot tag other LinkedIn members directly in your profile. However, you can include mentions of connections in the content of your profile.
For example, you could reference someone in your Summary section or Experience descriptions. You can type their name normally without using the ‘@’ symbol.
You also have the option to add Recommendations in which you visibly endorse and tag connections. This allows highlighting your connections while showcasing their recommendations of you.
In Closing
Tagging on LinkedIn can be a great way to engage with your professional network by mentioning connections in relevant discussions. Use tags thoughtfully to notify others and draw them into constructive conversations.
Make sure to only tag people you are directly connect with. Follow LinkedIn’s tagging guidelines to avoid spamming. And don’t overdo it – just a few thoughtful tags when appropriate can go a long way.