When sending a direct message on LinkedIn, the ideal length will depend on the context and your relationship with the recipient. In general, LinkedIn messages should be concise yet personalized. Aim for 2-4 sentences or 50-100 words to introduce yourself, reference your connection, and explain the purpose of your message. For continuing a conversation, 1-2 paragraphs or 100-200 words is appropriate to share additional details and make your request or proposal clear. The tone should be professional but friendly. Open with a warm greeting, write confidently and clearly, and close politely. Adjust length as needed based on the recipient and goal, while keeping messages focused.
Tailor the message length to your recipient
Consider who you are messaging and what your existing relationship is, if any, as this impacts ideal message length. For instance:
- If contacting someone you know well professionally, a brief 1-2 sentence message may suffice to get your point across.
- If introducing yourself to someone for the first time, 3-4 sentences will allow a proper introduction and explanation of your outreach.
- When messaging a recruiter or hiring manager about a job opening, 5-6 sentences can convey your fit and interest effectively.
- If following up after meeting someone at an event, 2-3 sentences reiterating that enjoyment of the conversation and asking to connect further is appropriate.
Essentially, your familiarity with the recipient dictates the needed length to properly explain who you are and why you are contacting them. When in doubt, err on the slightly longer side for an initial outreach to provide context.
Match length to your communication goal
In addition to considering your relationship with the recipient, ensure your message length aligns with your purpose for connecting. For example:
- When introducing yourself or requesting an informational interview, 3-5 sentences can convey your background and reason for reaching out.
- If following up after an informational interview, 4-6 sentences thanking them and highlighting your key takeaways shows appreciation.
- When asking for career advice, 5-7 sentences outlining your current situation and asking for their guidance is appropriate.
- If inviting someone to connect on other platforms or meet for coffee, 2-3 sentences is all that’s needed.
- When sharing an article or other content, 2-3 sentences summarizing the key points and relevance keeps the message focused.
Tuning length to match your purpose ensures you communicate effectively while respecting the recipient’s time. Err on the shorter side for casual outreach, while allowing additional length for substantive requests or proposals.
Follow standard professional communication best practices
Beyond length considerations, certain best practices apply for optimizing any professional LinkedIn messages:
- Open with a warm, enthusiastic greeting referencing your connection such as “Hi [Name],” or “Good morning [Name],”.
- Introduce yourself if needed, summarizing your background and qualifications relevant to why you are messaging them.
- Convey a confident, casual tone using first names and natural language. Avoid over-formality or appearing unsure.
- Make your purpose/request clear upfront. Don’t make them guess why you are reaching out.
- Close politely with a call to action such as “I’d appreciate the opportunity to connect further” or “Let me know if you have any advice”.
- Use proper spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation to put your best foot forward.
- Thank them for their time and consideration, expressing hope for helpful discussions.
Mastering these basic communication techniques ensures your messages make a positive first impression regardless of length.
Keep initial outreach focused and scannable
When connecting with someone for the first time, keep initial messages more focused and scannable:
- Get to the point quickly within 2-4 sentences, assuming no existing relationship.
- Highlight common connections when possible to establish relevance.
- List qualifications and interest in their company/role if messaging about an opportunity.
- Split unrelated topics into separate messages to avoid confusion.
- Craft subject lines that summarize topic/purpose at a glance.
This immediacy and brevity remove friction during initial outreach. Once a conversation is underway, longer messages may be appropriate.
Leverage length for complex conversations
For ongoing discussions around substantive topics, moderately longer messages may strengthen communication:
- 1-2 paragraphs or 100-200 words lets you elaborate on concepts, ideas, and proposals.
- Concise bulleted lists can outline key points clearly.
- A question-and-answer format engages them in two-way dialogue.
- Follow-up messages allow you to extend conversations naturally over time.
Here, avoid excessive wordiness that obscures meaning. But utilize length to explain and discuss in depth where needed.
Personalize messages whenever possible
While message length should align with your goals, remember that personalization also enhances professional communication by instilling a human touch. Ways to personalize include:
- Referencing previous conversations or connections you have in common.
- Commenting on details in their profile such as shared interests, experiences, or contacts.
- Asking thoughtful questions to deepen engagement.
- Sharing advice and insights relevant to things that matter to them.
Personalized messages demonstrate sincerity, establish common ground, and spark reciprocal engagement critical for building relationships and leaving a positive impression.
Be prepared to adapt length as conversations progress
While keeping early outreach focused and on-point is key, remain flexible should the conversation gain traction. For example:
- If their response prompts deeper discussion, longer follow-up messages may make sense.
- Posing additional questions naturally extends constructive dialogue.
- Conversations leading to substantive collaboration may warrant increased length and detail over time.
Judge the recipient’s engagement level and willingness to connect, adjusting message length accordingly to maximize outcomes. Letting conversations unfold organically allows impactful relationships to develop.
Find the optimal balance for your goals
When determining how long your LinkedIn messages should be, carefully balance brevity and depth based on your objectives, existing relationships, and conversational flow. While defaulting to concise outreach is prudent, leverage message length where appropriate to build connections, strengthen understanding, and drive results.