Ending a LinkedIn message effectively is key to leaving a good impression on the recipient. The conclusion of your message should reinforce your main points and purpose for reaching out, while also signalling that the conversation is coming to a close. Here are some tips on how to properly end a LinkedIn message.
Keep it Professional
LinkedIn is primarily used for professional networking and communication. Therefore, you’ll want to maintain a polite, formal tone when ending your message, even if you have an established relationship with the recipient.
Avoid using overly casual sign-offs like “TTYL”, “Later!”, or just your first name. While these closings can be fine for texts with close friends, they generally aren’t appropriate for professional correspondence.
Some good professional sign-off options include:
- “Best regards,”
- “Sincerely,”
- “Thank you,”
- “Best,”
- “Regards,”
- “Cheers,”
You can also simply sign your full name at the end without a closing phrase. The key is to keep it polite and humble.
Reinforce Your Purpose
Use your closing statement as an opportunity to reiterate the purpose for connecting. For example:
- If asking for a referral, say “I’d appreciate any connections you can provide.”
- If following up on an event, say “It was great meeting you at [event]. I’m looking forward to staying in touch.”
- If asking for advice, say “Thank you again for the helpful career insights. I have a few great ideas to move forward with.”
Briefly summing up the reason for your outreach reminds the recipient of the context and makes your message feel complete.
Express Appreciation
LinkedIn messages often require asking for someone’s time or help. Be sure to acknowledge this by thanking them or expressing appreciation in your closing.
For example:
- “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”
- “I really appreciate you sharing your advice and experience with me.”
- “Thanks so much for agreeing to make an introduction. I’m looking forward to connecting with them.”
Showing gratitude leaves people with a positive impression of the interaction and makes them more inclined to respond helpfully in the future.
Extend an Offer
If appropriate, close your message by offering to extend the same courtesy to them. This keeps the relationship reciprocal. For instance:
- “I’m happy to return the favor if you ever need an introduction on my side.”
- “Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you think of any other contacts who could be helpful.”
- “Let me know if you would ever like to connect and discuss [industry topic] trends.”
Making it clear you are willing to help them down the line as well strengthens your professional relationship.
Leave it Open-Ended
Usually you’ll want to leave the door open for future communication. To do this, include a line prompting the recipient to follow up if they have any other questions or ideas.
Some examples:
- “Don’t hesitate to reach back out if you need anything else.”
- “Please let me know if you have any other feedback or suggestions.”
- “I look forward to hearing your thoughts if anything else comes to mind.”
This gives them permission to reply back engagingly. You want to avoid seeming like you are closing off the conversation completely.
Provide Your Contact Information
In most cases, you’ll want to end your message by clearly indicating the best ways to get back in contact with you. This typically includes:
- Your full name
- Your company
- Your phone number and/or email address
- A link to your LinkedIn profile
Having this information makes it easy for the recipient to follow up and continue the conversation on their end. Avoid assuming they already have your contact details at hand.
Proofread Before Sending
Be sure to set the right tone from start to finish by proofreading your entire message before hitting send. Check for typos, unclear phrasing, missing information, and any content that could come off as unprofessional.
Read the message aloud to catch awkward grammar and sentences. Reviewing the ending is just as important as the beginning and body of your message.
You want the recipient’s final impression of you to be positive. The closing sets the tone for whether they feel inclined to continue communicating moving forward.
Examples of Effective LinkedIn Message Closings
To see these tips in action, here are some good examples of professional LinkedIn message closings:
Following Up After Meeting Someone
Hi [name],
It was a pleasure meeting you at [event] last week. Thank you for taking the time to discuss [topic]. Hearing about your experiences and insights within [industry] was really helpful.
I’m looking forward to staying in touch, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you come across any [relevant opportunities]. In the meantime, I’ll be sure to keep you in mind if I come across anything that could be of interest on my end.
Thanks again, and hope you have a great rest of your week!
Best regards,
[Your name]
[Your company]
[Your phone]
Connect on LinkedIn
Requesting an Informational Interview
Dear [name],
I hope this email finds you well. We connected recently through [context] and I wanted to follow up regarding some career advice.
I’m very interested in transitioning into a [role] position within [industry]. I understand from your experience at [company] that you have specialized expertise in this area that would be tremendously valuable.
Would you be open to a quick 20-30 minute phone call to discuss your career path and any tips you may have for someone looking to break into this field? I would sincerely appreciate any guidance you can provide.
Please let me know if this could work for you and what dates/times tend to be most convenient. I’m happy to schedule around what fits best with your availability.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I look forward to your thoughts!
Best regards,
[Your name]
[Your phone]
Connect on LinkedIn
Following Up After Receiving Help
Hi [name],
I wanted to send a quick note to say thank you again for connecting me with [contact name]. We have a meeting set up for [date] that I’m really looking forward to.
I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to make that introduction. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is ever anything I can help with in return.
Beyond our meeting next week, I’ll plan to keep you posted on how things progress with [company/role]. Your guidance through this process has been incredibly helpful.
Thanks once more, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season ahead!
Best,
[Your name]
[Your company]
[Your phone]
Connect on LinkedIn
Closing Type | Example Phrases |
---|---|
Professional Sign-Off | Best regards, Sincerely, Thank you, Best, Regards, Cheers |
Reinforce Purpose | I appreciate any connections you can provide, It was great meeting you at [event], Thank you again for the helpful insights |
Express Appreciation | Thank you for your time, I appreciate you sharing your advice, Thanks for agreeing to make an introduction |
Extend an Offer | I’m happy to return the favor, Please reach out if you think of other contacts, Let me know if you’d like to discuss [topic] |
Leave it Open-Ended | Reach out if you need anything else, Let me know if you have any other feedback, I look forward to hearing your thoughts |
Provide Contact Info | Full name, Company, Email, Phone number, LinkedIn profile link |
Key Takeaways
Ending a LinkedIn message effectively takes practice, but following these tips will ensure your closes leave a professional, courteous impression:
- Maintain a formal tone using a polite sign-off phrase
- Reiterate the purpose of your outreach
- Express gratitude for their time and assistance
- Extend an offer to help them in return
- Leave the door open for future conversations
- Include your contact information
- Proofread before sending
With the proper etiquette, your message closing helps nurture an ongoing professional relationship that benefits you both.