Blog

How To Personalize Invitations On LinkedIn’s Mobile App

November 17, 2015 / in General Information, How To, LinkedIn / by Mic Johnson

Ok, full disclosure here. I train people and companies on how to leverage LinkedIn both personally and professionally. And for a long time even I didn’t know how to do it. I looked and looked and couldn’t figure it out. But I knew there HAD to be a way to do it. All I knew was that it certainly wasn’t obvious. So I finally broke down one day and contacted LinkedIn directly and asked…

“Why can’t I customize LinkedIn invitation requests from your mobile app?”

Of course they replied back and said “You can” and went on to tell me how. I felt like an idiot, which I’m assuming isn’t how LinkedIn wants their users to feel. But I digress.

To prevent you from feeling like an idiot and to further prevent you from sending that mindbogglingly annoying and impersonal “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” message ever again, here’s all you have to do:

1. Find a person’s profile on the LinkedIn Mobile App by searching for their name in the SEARCH box. Click on their name. It will take you to their personal profile. (Note: This is for the iPhone. I’m assuming Android devices are similar.)

2. Click on the COMPLETELY UN-OBVIOUS three little dots in the upper right hand corner of the screen. DON’T CLICK ON THE COMPLETELY OBVIOUS BIG FAT BLUE CONNECT BUTTON because it will automatically send the aforementioned mindbogglingly annoying and impersonal “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” message.

JaySenter1

3. Choose CUSTOMIZE INVITE. Type your customized, personal, thoughtful invitation message and hit SEND.

Customized LI Invite

That’s it. So totally NOT OBVIOUS, right? One of these days LinkedIn will finally listen to my pleas to have customized invites be the default option anytime you click the BIG FAT BLUE CONNECT BUTTON.

But until then, at least now you know what to do. Happy connecting!

(Thank you to the awesome Jay Senter from the equally awesome Prairie Village Post for allowing me to use him to illustrate this tip for you! PVPost.com is a hyperlocal news site covering government, sports, events and business in northeast Johnson County, KS.)

Carol Bush says:

November 18, 2015 at 8:30 am

Great tip, Mic…as I have also missed those little dots in the upper corner. :)
1. Mic Johnson says:
  
  November 18, 2015 at 9:10 am
  
  Thanks Carol! Glad to help!
Jen Tubbesing says:

November 18, 2015 at 8:59 am

Great to know! That has been my biggest annoyance and has stopped me from adding contacts from my phone.
1. Mic Johnson says:
  
  November 18, 2015 at 9:11 am
  
  I know, right! Glad this helped you!
Pat Iseman says:

November 19, 2015 at 3:56 pm

Thanks Mic. I thought I was fairly savvy about using LI, but didn’t know this.

One problem, though – now there’s no excuse for sending impersonal default-style invites. :(
1. Mic Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2015 at 4:04 pm
  
  Lol, thanks Pat. Yes no more excuses for sending that default message!

Comments are closed.

Recent Article

4.10

Using a Corporate Seal to Level Up Your Notes and Cards

We have worked with Blue Gurus since 2010, and in that time they've become trusted colleagues and friends.

"One thing becomes very clear soon after you meet Jason. He genuinely cares about you and helping your business. We have worked with Blue Gurus for more than six years and in that time they have become trusted colleagues and friends. Including our new LaunchKC website, they have guided us through four new Wordpress websites for our various initiatives at the Downtown Council.

In addition, they have taught us the importance of having a strong presence on social media and have helped us grow our audience on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Blue Gurus always makes this process very fun and affordable. I have not worked with a better team in my ten years at the Downtown, I am honored to call them business partners and friends."