LinkedIn Massaging may seem like one of the social media platform’s more obscure features, but it has the potential to be an incredibly powerful tool. As the name suggests, LinkedIn Massaging enables you to connect with people in your professional network through targeted messages sent via email or regular mail. While many people may use this feature simply to send out their business card and request a connection, there are ways to customize your approach and grab people’s attention, so they actually pay attention to what you have to say. Here are some simple tips for getting the most out of LinkedIn Massaging.

1) Customize your profile

Customizing your LinkedIn profile is one of those things that’s easier said than done. But, if you want to use LinkedIn as a professional networking tool, it’s essential to ensure your profile reflects who you are and what you do. Three main areas need to be addressed: 1) Your summary; 2) Your experience; 3) Your education. These three sections should be updated regularly so potential connections can learn more about you at a glance.

2) Link up with the right individuals

If you’re not careful, you could lose a lot of time connecting with people who aren’t worth your attention. You want to make sure that every person you connect with is someone who can help you or give you valuable feedback on your ideas or goals. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of time. Make sure that when using LinkedIn messaging, all recipients will be able to provide something to you or help your career in some way.

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3) Grab your Target's attention

Your message should answer all three W’s—Who, What, and Why. It is up to you to grab people’s attention and explain why they need to pay attention to you. Once you have their attention, ensure your profile answers these questions: Who are you? What do you do? Why are you doing it? If you don’t answer all three questions, then your recipients will not know how to contact you or what exactly you want from them. This will leave them confused about whether or not they should reply.

4) Give people a reason to reply

People are busy and don’t want to respond unless they see that a conversation will lead somewhere. When you message people, give them some context as to why you’re messaging them; most importantly, be clear that you’re looking for a response. A good example would be: I noticed we have one mutual connection; I wanted to introduce myself and see if we have any other shared connections or interests!

Conclusion

Getting the magic out of LinkedIn messaging is a matter of having a good profile, knowing who to connect with, and giving people a reason to reply. If you want to expand your network or get more business leads, learn how to use LinkedIn effectively.