Having a locked LinkedIn message can be frustrating when you’re trying to connect with your network. There are a few potential reasons why your message may be locked on LinkedIn.
You don’t have enough connections
One of the most common reasons for a locked LinkedIn message is not having enough connections in your network. LinkedIn restricts members who don’t have many connections from freely messaging others to prevent spam and abuse. Here are the connection requirements to send messages:
LinkedIn Account Type | Minimum Connections to Message |
---|---|
Basic (Free) | 15 |
Premium Business & Premium Career | 30 |
Sales Navigator | 30 |
Recruiter Lite, Professional, & Corporate | 25 |
As you can see, LinkedIn requires a minimum number of connections for messaging depending on your account type. If you try to message someone with fewer connections, LinkedIn will lock the message.
How to get more connections
Here are some tips for building your LinkedIn network to unlock messaging:
- Accept connection requests from people you know and trust.
- Join LinkedIn Groups related to your industry or interests.
- Connect with people you meet at events, conferences, and trade shows.
- Follow companies you want to work for and connect with their employees.
- Reach out and connect with friends, family members, colleagues, and acquaintances.
- Use LinkedIn’s search tool to find and connect with potential contacts.
You don’t meet the member requirements
LinkedIn also has requirements for member profiles before messaging is enabled. Your profile needs to be robust, including a profile photo, skills, experience, and education. Here are LinkedIn’s profile completeness requirements to send messages:
Profile Requirement | Minimum to Message |
---|---|
Profile Photo | Photo Uploaded |
Current Position | Position Filled Out |
Skills | 3 Skills Listed |
Education | 1 School Listed |
Profile Completeness | 50% Complete |
Make sure your profile meets these requirements or else LinkedIn will restrict messaging abilities. Having an incomplete profile signals you may be a fake or spam account.
Tips for improving your LinkedIn profile
To unlock messaging, optimize your LinkedIn profile by:
- Adding a professional headshot photo
- Filling out your current work position with a detailed description
- Listing at least 3 key skills or areas of expertise
- Including your education history and qualifications
- Adding past work experiences
- Customizing your LinkedIn URL
- Writing a summary about yourself
You don’t share any connections
LinkedIn also analyzes your connections in common with the person you are trying to message. If you have no shared connections, it will restrict your ability to message that member.
This policy aims to limit unwanted solicitation and build quality engagement between members with established mutual connections. Having shared connections implies you likely share common interests or operate in the same professional networks.
Ways to connect with shared connections
To message members outside your network, focus on getting shared connections by:
- Connecting with colleagues who work at companies you want to target.
- Messaging people in your industry community and location.
- Getting introduced through someone in your network.
- Joining alumni and professional groups.
- Following companies and connecting with their employees.
- Attending events and conferences to network.
You have sent too many messages
If you send a high volume of messages on LinkedIn, your account can be restricted temporarily. LinkedIn may throttle users who message extensively to protect the platform from spam.
If you encounter issues sending messages, try to reduce your messaging volume. Avoid sending blanket or copied/pasted messages, and focus on personalized engagement.
Tips to avoid messaging limits
- Personalize each message with a specific reason for connecting.
- Only message members you have a genuine interest in contacting.
- Use LinkedIn’s search tools to find the best contacts.
- Connect with contacts and build relationships before messaging.
- Message selectively instead of contacting your whole network.
Your account has been restricted
In some cases, LinkedIn may impose messaging restrictions on accounts that violate their policies. Violations that can limit messaging abilities include:
- Sending spam or unsolicited messages
- Harassing other members
- Scraping data or contacts
- Automated messaging bots
- Selling or promoting prohibited services
If you believe your account has been incorrectly restricted, you can submit an appeal to LinkedIn by clicking “Appeal” on the messaging locked notification. However, make sure your account and messaging aligns with LinkedIn’s terms to avoid limitations.
Following LinkedIn’s policies
To maintain full messaging abilities, be sure to:
- Comply with all LinkedIn terms, guidelines, and policies.
- Message others only with valid reasons for connecting.
- Do not send unsolicited or spam messages.
- Be honest about your identity and intentions.
- Treat other members with courtesy and respect.
You have been banned from messaging
In severe cases of policy violations, LinkedIn may ban member accounts from sending messages completely. Getting banned is rare but can happen if:
- You harass or threaten other members.
- You send large volumes of unwanted messages.
- You operate fake or fraudulent accounts.
- You scrape LinkedIn data without permission.
- You participate in illegal or prohibited activities.
Banned accounts lose all messaging abilities and privileges. Appealing a messaging ban is difficult, so you should be careful to follow all LinkedIn guidelines and communicate professionally.
Avoiding a messaging ban
Here are some best practices to employ so that LinkedIn never bans your messaging:
- Never harass, threaten, or mislead other members.
- Do not message members who ask you to stop.
- Get consent before adding someone to a group message.
- Do not spam or send blanket copy/pasted messages.
- Always identify yourself honestly in messages.
Conclusion
Having your LinkedIn messaging locked or limited can certainly be frustrating. But LinkedIn puts these policies and restrictions in place to protect its members and maintain a professional community.
By building out your connections, profile, and shared networks – while avoiding spamming behavior – you can unlock the ability to freely message your LinkedIn contacts. With some proactive effort, you can open up two-way messaging and take advantage of the platform’s communication potential.