DM stands for “direct message” on LinkedIn. It refers to private messages sent between LinkedIn members within the platform. Direct messaging allows LinkedIn users to communicate and build connections beyond their professional network in a more personal way.
LinkedIn direct messages function similarly to private messages on other social networks. They offer a way for LinkedIn members to have one-on-one conversations securely within the LinkedIn ecosystem. DMs enable users to share information, ask questions, pitch opportunities, and more.
Understanding how to use LinkedIn’s direct messaging feature effectively can help advance business relationships and career prospects. But there are also etiquette guidelines to follow when sending DMs to avoid miscommunication or inappropriate outreach.
What Are the Key Benefits of Sending DMs on LinkedIn?
There are several advantages to connecting with other members through direct messages rather than public posts or comments:
– Private communication allows for more detailed, nuanced conversations beyond surface-level public interactions.
– Users can have productive back-and-forth dialogue through messaging.
– Establishing relationships through DMs can lead to valuable connections and opportunities.
– DM conversations are contained within LinkedIn securely, avoiding the need to exchange private contact information like phone numbers or emails.
– Messenger enables sharing links, media files, and contact info right within the platform.
– Messages can be sent to connect with people outside of your existing network.
Overall, LinkedIn DMs create new avenues for focused, one-on-one communication between professionals on the platform.
Who Can Send Direct Messages on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn members with free or premium accounts can send direct messages. However, there are some limitations based on a user’s account type and connections:
– Free account holders can only message existing 1st-degree connections in their network.
– Paid subscribers with a Premium Career, Premium Business, Sales Navigator Professional, or Recruiter Lite account can message anyone on LinkedIn, including people outside their networks.
– Recruiter, Educator, Business Plus, and Sales Navigator Team account holders also have unlimited messaging capabilities.
So while anyone can send DMs, paying for a Premium subscription unlocks the ability to reach more LinkedIn members. Free users are restricted to only messaging connections.
How to Send a Direct Message on LinkedIn
Sending a DM on LinkedIn is simple. Follow these steps:
1. Access LinkedIn on your desktop or mobile app. Navigate to the profile of the person you want to message.
2. Click the More icon (3 dots) next to the Message button on their profile.
3. Select Send message from the dropdown menu. This will open up a messaging window.
4. Type your message in the text box at the bottom of the window. You can include text, links, images, GIFs, and files.
5. When you’re ready, click the paper airplane icon to send the DM.
You will see when the recipient has read your message based on the read receipt icon. You can continue conversing back and forth with this person through the messaging thread.
LinkedIn DM Etiquette Tips
While direct messaging opens up new networking potential, it’s important to avoid inappropriate or ineffective outreach. Follow these DM etiquette guidelines:
– Only send DMs to reciprocate an existing conversation or establish rapport with a new connection. Don’t spam strangers.
– Personalize messages with specific details about why you want to connect.
– Be clear and upfront about your purpose for messaging without pretense.
– Keep messages concise yet friendly. Don’t overdo it or seem robotic.
– If someone doesn’t respond, don’t overmessage them. Move on respectfully.
– Avoid overly casual language and use proper grammar/punctuation.
– Don’t make inappropriate comments or advances. Keep conversation professional.
– Respect the recipient’s time. Don’t expect an instant response.
– Adjust your approach based on the recipient’s role, industry, seniority, and other factors.
Following proper DM etiquette helps ensure your outreach is well-received and effective. Monitor responses to improve your messaging strategy over time.
What Kinds of Content Should You Send in a LinkedIn Message?
There are many productive ways to use LinkedIn messaging beyond a simple greeting. When crafting DMs, consider including:
– A relevant personalized note explaining why you want to connect.
– An article, image, or video clip you’d like to share.
– A request to continue an existing professional conversation.
– A question seeking the recipient’s advice or insights about a topic.
– An invitation to connect outside of LinkedIn or set up a meeting.
– A pitch proposing a potential business partnership or collaboration.
– An introduction to other contacts who share common interests or goals.
– A congratulatory note about the recipient’s achievements or milestones.
– A follow-up message after meeting someone at an event or conference.
The content you share should always be professional, thoughtful, and valuable to the recipient. Avoid overly promoting yourself/company or making the interaction one-sided.
What Are the LinkedIn Messaging Limits?
LinkedIn does impose some limits on how many DMs users can send:
– Free account holders can send up to 30 messages per month to their 1st-degree connections.
– Paid subscribers with full messaging capabilities can send up to 300 messages per month.
– Premium Business, Sales Navigator Team, Recruiter Lite, and Recruiter account holders have a limit of 1,500 messages per month.
Along with caps on monthly messages sent, LinkedIn also limits how many unanswered DMs you can have at one time before your messaging privileges are restricted. These thresholds are:
| Account Type | Outstanding Unanswered DMs Allowed |
| Free User | 25 |
| Premium Subscriber | 100 |
| Sales Navigator or Recruiter | 350 |
If you go over these thresholds, you will be temporarily blocked from sending more messages until previous DMs are answered. Staying within the limits keeps your account in good standing.
Do LinkedIn Messages Expire?
No, LinkedIn direct messages do not expire. They remain in your account’s messaging inbox indefinitely unless you actively delete threads.
However, if you delete a connection, any DMs exchanged with that person will be permanently erased. So your messages remain visible as long as you stay connected on LinkedIn.
This longevity allows you to revisit and continue old conversations. But it also means messaging inbox clutter can accumulate over time. Regularly prune old threads that are no longer productive to maintain a focused inbox.
That said, LinkedIn does limit how far back you can load previous messages in an ongoing thread (about 6 months). Anything beyond that time frame gets retired but can be retrieved with a member data request to LinkedIn.
Does LinkedIn Notify When You Screenshot a Message?
Unlike apps like Snapchat, LinkedIn does not send any notification if you take a screenshot of a message or content in a DM thread. You can screenshot LinkedIn DMs discreetly without the other user being alerted.
However, remember that messaging on LinkedIn is intended for professional relationship-building. Think twice before capturing or sharing screenshots containing private conversations. Always respect the other member’s privacy.
If there is particular content you want to reference later from a DM discussion, consider asking the sender for permission to screenshot it first. Or simply summarize the key info you need.
Can You Delete LinkedIn Messages?
Yes, LinkedIn gives users full control to delete individual messages or entire conversations from their inboxes. Here are the options to remove messages:
– Delete a specific sent or received message – Hover over the message and click the trash can icon.
– Delete an entire conversation thread – Click into the conversation, click the More actions dots at the top, and select Delete conversation.
– Delete multiple conversations in bulk – Check the boxes next to threads from the All conversations view, click More actions, and choose Delete conversations.
Deleted messages and conversations disappear from your inbox immediately and permanently. However, the other user may still retain the messages in their inbox if they do not also delete the thread.
Pro tip: You can also archive conversations to store them outside your inbox without fully deleting. Click into the DM thread and select Archive from the More actions menu.
Conclusion
LinkedIn messaging opens up new networking possibilities by enabling private conversations within the platform. While direct messaging has many benefits, be mindful of LinkedIn’s guidelines and messaging best practices. Craft personalized, valuable messages that build connections without overstepping professional boundaries. Focus on quality conversations that advance your career opportunities rather than spamming quantity outreach. With these tips, you can effectively leverage LinkedIn messaging to grow your professional network and relationships.
