When sending messages to candidates through LinkedIn Recruiter, it can be very useful to include hyperlinks to provide additional information and resources. However, the LinkedIn messaging interface doesn’t make it obvious how to add hyperlinks. Here’s a quick guide on how to easily insert clickable links in your Recruiter messages:
Copy and paste the link
The simplest option is to copy and paste the full URL you want to link to directly into your message text. For example:
https://www.example.com/jobs/product-manager
When your message is sent, LinkedIn will automatically convert the full URL into a clickable link.
Use Markdown link syntax
You can also use Markdown syntax to create cleaner links in your messages. The format is:
[Text to display](https://www.example.com)
So an example would be:
[Check out our job openings](https://www.example.com/jobs)
The text in brackets is what will display in your message, while the URL in parentheses is what it will link to. This lets you use text rather than long URLs.
Paste from Microsoft Word
If you already have content in Word with hyperlinks, an easy way to transfer it to LinkedIn is to:
- Copy the text from Word
- Paste it into your LinkedIn message composer
The hyperlinks should carry over automatically.
Use the text formatting toolbar
LinkedIn Recruiter’s messaging interface includes a text formatting toolbar with options like bold, italic, bullets – and links. To use it:
- Type or paste the text you want to be linked
- Highlight the text
- Click the chain links icon in the text formatting toolbar
- Enter the URL to link to
- Click OK
This will insert the link for you without needing to use Markdown or copy/paste full URLs.
Link to LinkedIn profiles
You may want to direct candidates to LinkedIn profiles of employees, founders, executives etc. To do this:
- Go to the LinkedIn profile you want to link to
- Copy the URL from the browser address bar
- Use one of the methods above to insert it as a link in your message
For example, your message might say:
You can learn more about our CEO Joan Smith on her LinkedIn profile here.
Link to LinkedIn Jobs posts
If you want candidates to easily view and apply for your open positions, include links to the LinkedIn Jobs posts. To get the URL:
- Go to the LinkedIn Jobs post
- Click the three dots icon
- Select “Copy link to job”
- Paste this link into your message
For example:
Here’s a link to our Product Manager position I think you’d be a great fit for.
Add a call-to-action
When including links in your messages, add some text encouraging the candidate to click on it. For example:
– Check out our careers page to see all open positions.
– Learn more about our fast-growing startup by visiting our About Us page.
– See the job description and apply here: [Link to LinkedIn Job]
Let them know why they should click and what they’ll get from the linked resource.
Use link tracking
To see if your links are getting engagement, use a link tracking tool like Bitly to create shortened URLs that come with click analytics. Then use those trackable links in your Recruiter messages.
This will let you see how often candidates are actually clicking your links, so you can understand what resonates and improve your messaging.
Best practices
Here are some best practices when using links in Recruiter messages:
- Be selective – only include links that are highly relevant
- Focus on company resources like your careers site, LinkedIn company page, Instagram, etc.
- Use brief, descriptive anchor text – don’t say “Click here”
- Check links to make sure they work before sending
- Place links in logical areas of message flow
- Don’t overdo it – 1-2 links per message max
Avoid common mistakes
Some things to avoid when linking:
- Linking to the wrong content – always double check URLs
- Using long, complex URLs without text links
- Linking to outside sources not relevant for candidates
- Overloading candidates with too many links
- Using affiliate links or pointing to sponsored content
Test before sending
Finally, it’s a good idea to test your links before firing off messages to candidates. Either:
- Send a test message to yourself or a colleague
- Paste the message content into a Word doc to check link functionality
This ensures your links work as expected and your recipients will have a smooth experience.
With the ability to conveniently add hyperlinks, you can create more informative, engaging recruiting messages and provide candidates with valuable additional resources. Follow the tips above and you’ll be linking like a pro in your LinkedIn outreach in no time!