Quick Answer
Yes, it is possible to send a message to all attendees of a LinkedIn event that you are hosting or co-hosting. As the event host or co-host, you have access to the full list of attendees and can message them directly through LinkedIn. There are a few ways to do this:
- Send an InMail to each attendee individually. This allows you to personalize each message.
- Post an update and @mention all attendees. This will notify them of your post.
- Use LinkedIn Groups to message attendees. If the majority of attendees are in the same LinkedIn Groups, you can post an update in the group.
The best approach depends on the number of attendees and your purpose for messaging them. Personalized InMails are ideal for more intimate events and important updates. Group posts or @mentions are better for larger scale events and broadcasts.
In Depth Explanation
As the host of a LinkedIn event, you have special access to tools and information that other attendees do not. One of the key advantages is that you can view and export the full list of event attendees within LinkedIn.
This gives you the ability to directly message all attendees, share updates and announcements, or continue the conversation after your event.
Here are some specific ways you can leverage the attendee list to communicate with your event guests:
Send Individual InMails
LinkedIn’s InMail system allows you to directly email any other member via LinkedIn, even if you are not connected. As the event host, you can use InMail to reach out to attendees one-by-one. This is great for sending personalized messages, follow-ups, or sharing individual notes after connecting at the event.
The steps are:
- Export the list of event attendees from LinkedIn Events.
- Open each attendee’s LinkedIn profile.
- Click “More” and then “Send InMail”
- Compose your message and send.
While sending individual InMails allows for personalization, it can be time consuming for events with hundreds of attendees. Still, it is the best way to share thoughtful, one-to-one messages.
Post an Update and @Mention All Attendees
Another option is to write a LinkedIn post, and individually @mention each attendee in the post. For example:
“Thanks to everyone who attended our event yesterday, including @JohnDoe @JaneDoe @BobSmith and all other attendees!”
This will notify each attendee and share your post directly on their LinkedIn feed. The notification can also drive more attendees back to interact with your post.
This works best for quick announcements, reminders, or recaps that you want all attendees to see. However, it lacks the personalization of direct InMails.
To @mention attendees, you need to add their first and last name as written in their LinkedIn profile. This can be time consuming with long attendee lists. Some tips:
- Export the attendee list and use Excel commands like “Text to Columns” to quickly separate first and last names.
- Copy and paste to remove formatting and extra spaces.
- Break the mentions into multiple comments if you have hundreds of attendees.
Post in Relevant LinkedIn Groups
If the majority of your event attendees belong to certain LinkedIn groups, you may be able to reach them through a group post. This can work well for niche professional events centered around a specific industry or role.
For example, if you held an accounting conference, you could post a recap and tag attendees in relevant accounting professional groups on LinkedIn. Group members who did not attend can still benefit from the post.
This can be an easy way to broadly share info without manually messaging each person. However, some attendees may not be part of the relevant groups you post in. So you may wish to supplement with another communication channel like InMail or @mentions.
Consider Additional Communication Channels
While LinkedIn provides several built-in tools to message attendees, you may wish to supplement with external communication channels. Some additional options include:
- Collecting email addresses to build an external mailing list.
- Setting up a Facebook group, Slack channel or other online community to continue discussions.
- Using an email marketing platform to send follow-up emails after the event.
- Sending quick reminders or updates via SMS text messages.
Multi-channel communication allows you to stay in touch with attendees depending on their preferences. Just be sure to comply with any privacy regulations and get opt-in consent before emailing or texting attendees externally.
Key Takeaways
To recap the best practices on messaging LinkedIn event attendees:
- Export the attendee list from LinkedIn Events to access names and profiles.
- Personalize outreach with InMails for smaller events.
- Use @mentions and group posts to broadcast to larger groups.
- Supplement with external communication channels as needed.
- Obtain opt-in consent before messaging externally.
- Follow LinkedIn’s Terms of Service when messaging attendees.
With your attendee list and LinkedIn’s tools, you can continue conversations, share valuable insights, and build relationships well after your event concludes. Providing timely, personalized follow-up is key to creating a valuable experience and loyal audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export the list of LinkedIn event attendees?
Yes. As the event host or co-host, LinkedIn provides the ability to download a CSV file with the full list of attendees, including their name, profile URL, position, and company. This enables you to access their information for messaging and follow up.
Do all event attendees receive notifications when I @mention them?
Mention notifications are only sent to attendees who are direct LinkedIn connections with the account that posts the update. Attendees who are not connections will not receive notifications unless they visit the post directly. However, the @mention will still display in the post next to their name.
What is the limit on how many I can @mention in one post?
You can @mention up to 100 LinkedIn members per post or comment. If you need to message more attendees, you will need to create multiple update posts and mention 100 members in each one.
Can I add event attendees to a LinkedIn Group without their approval?
No. Users must request to join a LinkedIn Group or explicitly accept an invitation. As the event organizer, you cannot directly add attendees to a Group without going through this process. However, you can invite all attendees which gives them the option to join.
Is there a way to automate or schedule InMail messages to all attendees?
Unfortunately, there is no built-in way to automate sending individual InMails. LinkedIn limits automated messages to prevent abuse. Each InMail must be triggered manually based on a personal connection to the recipients. There are some third-party services that offer InMail blasts but these violate LinkedIn’s terms.
Conclusion
Engaging with your professional event attendees and building an ongoing community is crucial for any organizer. While you have limited messaging capabilities during the live event, the attendee list unlocks more options.
Segment and customize your post-event communication strategy based on the number of attendees, your purpose, and how you connected during the event. Combine LinkedIn’s built-in tools with external channels to maximize reach and engagement. With meaningful, value-driven follow up, you can grow alongside your attendees and transform one-time participants into loyal community members.