LinkedIn is a popular professional social networking platform used by over 700 million members worldwide. On LinkedIn, members can connect with other professionals, search for jobs, follow companies, join groups, and more. One of LinkedIn’s key features is the ability to share content and messages with your network.
What is a private message on LinkedIn?
A private message on LinkedIn is a direct one-on-one message sent from one LinkedIn member to another. Private messages on LinkedIn function similarly to direct messages on other social platforms like Twitter or Facebook. They allow you to communicate privately with your connections without broadcasting to your whole network.
To send a private message on LinkedIn, you simply need to navigate to the profile of the person you want to message and click the “Message” button. This will open up a private chat window where you can type your message. The recipient will be notified and can respond back to continue the private conversation.
Sharing via private message
One of the key uses of private messaging on LinkedIn is to share content directly with your connections. Rather than posting content publicly to your whole network, you may want to only share certain things privately with select individuals. This is where the “Share via private message” feature comes in.
The share via private message feature allows you to share content like articles, images, links, documents, and more directly through a private message with your connections. To use it, you simply need to click the “Share via private message” option on any piece of content you find on LinkedIn.
Sharing an article
For example, if you come across an interesting article that you think would benefit a connection, you can share it privately with them. To do this:
- Click the “Share” button below the article
- Select “Share via private message” from the dropdown menu
- Type in the name of the connection you want to share it with
- Add a personal note if you want
- Click “Send”
This will send the article directly to that connection through a private message. They will be able to read the full article and your note without it being visible to anyone else.
Sharing an image
You can use the same process to privately share images with your network. For example:
- Right click on the image and select “Copy image address”
- Start a new private message with a connection
- Paste the image URL into the message box
- Add a caption or note if desired
- Click “Send”
This shares the image directly through the private chat. The recipient can simply click the URL to view the full image.
Sharing a document
Sharing documents works similarly. To privately share a document:
- Click the “Attach file” button in the private message window
- Select the document file you want to share
- Add any notes you want to include
- Click “Send”
This will attach the document to the private message for the recipient to view and download.
Benefits of sharing via private message
There are a few key benefits to sharing content privately rather than publicly on LinkedIn:
Targeted sharing
Private messaging allows you to share content with only the connections that would find it relevant. Rather than blasting content to your whole network, you can selectively share with specific individuals who would benefit most.
Personalization
By adding a personal note, you can provide context around why you are sharing something privately. This personal touch can help the content resonate more strongly.
Privacy
Sensitive information can be shared securely through private messaging without being visible to your wider network.
Engagement
Directly messaging someone draws their attention more than a general public post. It can prompt more engagement and dialogue around the content.
Use cases for private sharing
Here are some common use cases where sharing via private message may make more sense than public posting:
Sharing job opportunities
Rather than broadcasting job openings to your whole network, you can privately message qualified candidates to share opportunities that seem like a good fit.
Following up after networking
After meeting someone at an event, share relevant articles or resources with them via private message as a way to follow up.
Sending confidential news or documents
If you need to share sensitive company information like press releases or financials, a private message keeps it private.
Making personalized recommendations
Suggest great content like books, articles, or blogs that you think specific connections would find interesting based on their interests.
Sending feedback or advice
Share candid feedback, advice, or mentorship privately rather than publicly posting reviews.
How to find the share via private message option
The “Share via private message” option can be found in a few places on LinkedIn:
News feed posts
When viewing posts in your news feed, click the “Share” button then select “Private message” to share that post privately.
Company pages
On a company’s LinkedIn page, click “Share” on any of their posts and choose “Private message” to share.
Product pages
You can share product pages for services or software by clicking the “Share” button and selecting “Private message.”
Article pages
For articles, click “Share” then “Private message” to share the full article with a connection.
People profiles
On someone’s LinkedIn profile, click “Message” to start a private chat to share content and messages.
Search results
You can also share search results privately by clicking the “Share” icon next to each result.
Tips for sharing via private message
To use private sharing most effectively on LinkedIn, keep these tips in mind:
- Personalize each message with a relevant note rather than just pasting links.
- Target connections who would truly appreciate the content.
- Follow up on any shares with additional discussion or answers to questions.
- Share privately first instead of posting publicly if unsure about relevance.
- Monitor your messages and reply promptly when recipients respond.
- Let recipients know if they can share insights privately with others.
Conclusion
Sharing via private message is a valuable LinkedIn feature that allows you to selectively share helpful content and messages with your most relevant connections. By personalizing shares and utilizing private messaging for more sensitive information, you can build deeper relationships, spark productive discussions, and position yourself as a thoughtful resource to your network. Just remember to use it selectively and strategically for the greatest impact.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Targeted sharing | Limited reach |
| Personalization | More time intensive |
| Privacy | Harder to track engagement |
