LinkedIn direct messaging allows you to communicate privately with other LinkedIn members without sharing your actual email address. It enables you to have one-on-one conversations and build relationships through the LinkedIn platform.
How does LinkedIn direct messaging work?
To send a direct message on LinkedIn, you first need to be connected to the recipient. This means you must either be first-level connections, or second-level connections who have enabled messaging from their network.
Once connected, you can find the message icon next to a member’s name and click on it to start a new message thread. You can send text, images, animated GIFs, and other files through direct messaging.
When you receive a new message, you’ll get a notification badge on the messages icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. You can click on this to view new conversations and continue messaging back and forth.
LinkedIn direct messages may sometimes get filtered into the “Other” messages folder instead of the main inbox. So it’s a good idea to check both when expecting an important message.
Who can send direct messages on LinkedIn?
Here are the requirements for sending direct messages on LinkedIn:
- You must have a LinkedIn account
- You can only message people once you’re connected
- You can message 1st-level connections directly
- You can message 2nd-level connections if they have messaging enabled
LinkedIn prevents members from messaging people they are not connected to in order to reduce unsolicited outreach. Having a connection or getting an introduction first builds trust and context for the message.
What are the limits on LinkedIn direct messaging?
LinkedIn places certain limits on messaging to prevent abuse:
- You can send up to 20 messages per day to each connection
- Messages have a limit of 13,000 characters
- You can only message up to 300 unique connections per month
These limits reset monthly. LinkedIn may further restrict messaging if they detect suspicious activity that looks like spam or automated messaging.
What are the benefits of LinkedIn direct messaging?
Here are some of the key benefits of using LinkedIn direct messaging:
- Build relationships – Have more personal conversations to strengthen connections.
- No sharing contact info – Keep your email private while still communicating.
- Open new opportunities – Discuss career openings, business deals, events, and more.
- Free platform – No additional costs to use LinkedIn messaging.
- Manage conversations – Keep up with different message threads conveniently.
In summary, direct messaging enables you to deepen relationships, network, and transact business in a private LinkedIn-based platform.
What are some LinkedIn messaging best practices?
To get the most out of LinkedIn messaging, keep these tips in mind:
- Personalize your messages with each person’s name and details showing you took the time to write it just for them.
- Keep your messages concise yet friendly – don’t overdo formalities.
- Reply promptly when you receive a message to keep the conversation going.
- Respect other people’s time by not sending overly frequent messages.
- Proofread for typos and clarity before sending messages.
- Follow up on any next steps discussed to show you’re reliable.
Treating your LinkedIn messages in a professional, thoughtful way will build your brand and authority on the platform.
What are some common uses for LinkedIn direct messaging?
Here are some of the most popular ways people utilize LinkedIn direct messaging:
- Following up after connecting to say a quick hello.
- Setting up informational interviews to learn about an industry or role.
- Scheduling calls, meetings, or events.
- Introducing yourself when looking for new career opportunities.
- Reaching out to ask for or provide recommendations.
- Sending someone a relevant article or other content.
- Thanking someone after networking in person.
- Checking in with connections you haven’t spoken to in a while.
In general, look for opportunities to build on existing connections by sharing valuable information or updates through direct messages.
What should you not do with LinkedIn direct messaging?
To avoid misusing LinkedIn messaging, avoid:
- Mass messaging people with canned templates
- Sending overly promotional content about yourself or company
- Asking for sensitive personal information
- Harassing other members or sending unwanted messages
- Trying to continue messaging someone who hasn’t replied
- Spamming the same message to many connections
Stay away from sending anything via direct message on LinkedIn that you wouldn’t say publicly. Keep the focus on building mutually beneficial relationships.
Can you send attachments on LinkedIn messages?
Yes, LinkedIn supports sending file attachments through direct messaging. This allows you to share documents, PDFs, images, presentations, and more.
To attach a file when messaging on LinkedIn:
- Click on the paperclip icon in the message composer box
- Select a file from your computer to upload
- The file will preview in the message
- Click send and the recipient can download the attachment
LinkedIn currently supports attachments up to 25 MB in size in direct messages. This allows you to share most typical business files and media.
How do you save LinkedIn messages and attachments?
There are a couple ways to save your LinkedIn conversations:
- Download conversation – Use the download icon in any message thread to save a PDF copy to your computer.
- Save attachments – Download any attached files by clicking on them within a message.
- Replying saves – Replying to a message will save it in your account’s inbox history.
- Bookmarking – You can bookmark important messages to easily refind them later.
LinkedIn retains your direct messaging history and attachments as long as your account is active. But saving important conversations and files yourself is recommended.
How do you organize LinkedIn messages?
LinkedIn provides a few ways to organize and manage your direct messages:
- Main inbox – New messages go to your general inbox by default.
- Filter by sender – Find messages from specific connections easily.
- “Other” messages – Check here for messages that may have been filtered out.
- Search – Look for messages by keyword or name.
- Bookmark – Mark messages as important to stand out in your inbox.
- Folders – Sort messages into different custom folders.
Taking advantage of these tools can help you stay on top of important conversations and connections amidst lots of incoming messages.
How do you delete LinkedIn messages?
To delete a LinkedIn direct message:
- Open the message thread you want to delete
- Click on the More Actions button (3 dots icon)
- Select “Delete conversation”
- Confirm you want to delete the thread
This will completely remove the messages from your inbox. However, the sender will still have their copy in their own inbox.
To delete a single message from a thread instead of the full conversation, hover over the message and click the trash can icon.
Can you recall a sent LinkedIn message?
Unfortunately, there is no way to recall or retract a message after sending it via LinkedIn direct messaging. The message will be visible in the recipient’s inbox.
Some steps you can take after sending an unintended message include:
- Sending a follow up message apologizing for the mistake
- Asking the recipient politely to delete the errant message
- Deleting the message from your own inbox to avoid further mistakes
In the future, double check your messages before sending or use the preview option to verify the content first.
How do you report or block someone on LinkedIn messaging?
If someone is sending you offensive, abusive or spam messages on LinkedIn, you can take action by:
- Blocking – This prevents them from contacting you further on LinkedIn.
- Reporting – Inform LinkedIn of any terms of service violations.
- Deleting – Remove the unwanted messages from your inbox.
- Filtering – Move future messages from a sender directly to the “Other” folder.
To block or report someone, click the More Actions button (3 dots icon) within the message thread and select the appropriate option.
Blocking should stop any unwanted contact, but report any harassment as well to notify LinkedIn.
Can you message someone privately who viewed your LinkedIn profile?
No, you cannot directly message someone who just viewed your profile if you are not already connected on LinkedIn. Viewing a profile alone does not give mutual access to direct messaging.
To message someone who viewed your profile, you first need to send them a connection request which they need to accept. Once connected, you can exchange direct messages.
Alternatively, you can try finding their contact information outside of LinkedIn, such as an email address or social media profile, to try contacting them directly.
How do InMail and direct messages differ on LinkedIn?
Feature | InMail | Direct Message |
---|---|---|
Send to unconnected members | Yes | No |
Appear in main inbox | No | Yes |
Limited number per month | Yes | No |
Cost | Paid feature | Free |
In summary:
- InMail allows contacting anyone, but has limits and fees
- Direct messaging is free but requires an existing connection
- InMail goes to a separate inbox section outside the main inbox
- Best for different use cases based on your goals
Conclusion
LinkedIn direct messaging enables you to easily communicate one-on-one with your professional connections right within the LinkedIn platform. It can help strengthen relationships, increase engagement, and even drive business opportunities through private conversations.
By reaching out thoughtfully, responding promptly, and respecting boundaries, you can build trust and credibility through direct messaging. Just avoid overt self-promotion or mass messaging, and focus instead on quality exchanges that provide value.
With some strategy and practice, LinkedIn messaging can become an integral part of your networking and lead generation toolkit in the modern digital era. The ability to communicate privately with key connections gives you an influential channel for advancing your career or business goals.