Understanding LinkedIn Message Drafts
Ever found yourself in the middle of crafting the perfect LinkedIn message, only to be interrupted? That’s where LinkedIn message drafts come to the rescue! These handy little lifesavers allow you to save your brilliant thoughts and come back to them later, ensuring you never lose that spark of inspiration.
But what exactly are LinkedIn message drafts, and why should you care? Simply put, they’re your unfinished messages stored for future use. Think of them as your personal message vault, keeping your ideas safe until you’re ready to hit that send button.
Benefits of using message drafts
Using LinkedIn message drafts isn’t just about convenience; it’s a game-changer for your networking strategy. Here’s why:
- Time management: Draft your messages when inspiration strikes, and polish them later when you have more time.
- Collaboration and feedback: Share drafts with colleagues for input before sending important messages.
- Error prevention: Take your time to proofread and perfect your message, avoiding those embarrassing typos.
- Content organization: Keep track of different message versions for various scenarios or recipients.
As Alex Rodriguez, a LinkedIn marketing guru, often says, “Your first draft is never your best draft. Give yourself the gift of revision with LinkedIn message drafts.”
Creating and Saving LinkedIn Message Drafts
Now that we’ve covered the ‘why’, let’s dive into the ‘how’. Creating and saving LinkedIn message drafts is easier than you might think. Follow these steps, and you’ll be a draft master in no time!
Step-by-step guide
- Accessing the message composer: Click on the ‘Messaging’ icon in the top right corner of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Writing the draft message: Start composing your message as you normally would.
- Saving the draft: Here’s the kicker – LinkedIn automatically saves your message as a draft when you exit the composer without sending. No extra clicks required!
Pro tip: If you’re working on a particularly important message, consider typing it out in a separate document first. This way, you have a backup in case of any technical hiccups.
Tips for managing multiple drafts
When you’re juggling multiple conversations, keeping your drafts organized is key. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your game:
- Organizing drafts: Use a naming convention for your drafts. For example, “Follow-up_JohnDoe_ProjectX” can help you quickly identify the purpose and recipient of each draft.
- Collaborating on drafts: If you’re working with a team, consider using shared documents or collaboration tools to work on message drafts together before transferring them to LinkedIn.
Finding and Editing Saved Drafts
You’ve crafted your masterpiece and saved it as a draft. But where did it go? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Let’s explore how to find and edit your saved drafts on both desktop and mobile.
Locating drafts on desktop
- Click on the ‘Messaging’ icon in the top right corner of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Look for the ‘Drafts’ folder in your message list. It’s usually near the top.
- Click on the draft you want to edit or send.
Locating drafts on mobile app
- Tap the ‘Messaging’ icon at the bottom of your screen.
- Look for the ‘Drafts’ section at the top of your message list.
- Tap on the draft you want to work on.
Editing and refining drafts
Once you’ve found your draft, it’s time to polish it to perfection. LinkedIn offers several formatting options to make your message stand out:
- Formatting options: Use bold, italic, or underline to emphasize key points. You can also create bulleted or numbered lists for clarity.
- Adding visuals: While LinkedIn doesn’t allow images in messages, you can add emojis to inject some personality into your text.
Remember, as the saying goes in San Francisco’s tech circles, “The best messages are like the best code – clean, concise, and bug-free.”
Best Practices and Advanced Techniques
Now that you’re a LinkedIn message draft pro, let’s explore some advanced techniques to take your networking game to the next level.
When to use message drafts
Message drafts are particularly useful for:
- Complex outreach messages that require careful wording
- Follow-up messages after events or meetings
- Responses to sensitive topics or inquiries
Scheduling draft messages
While LinkedIn doesn’t offer native scheduling for messages, you can use your drafts as a pseudo-scheduling tool. Write your messages in advance and save them as drafts, then send them at the optimal time for your recipient.
Integrating drafts with content calendar
Align your message drafts with your overall LinkedIn content strategy. Create drafts for messages that complement your planned posts or articles, ensuring a cohesive presence across all LinkedIn interactions.
Utilizing drafts for collaboration
For team efforts, use drafts as a collaborative tool. Create template drafts for common scenarios (like client outreach or event invitations) that your team can customize and use.
As I often tell my clients in my Stanford MBA lectures, “Your LinkedIn messages are an extension of your brand. Treat each draft as an opportunity to refine and elevate your professional voice.”
FAQs
- Do drafts sync across devices?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn message drafts don’t currently sync across devices. Drafts created on desktop will only be available on desktop, and the same goes for mobile. - How many drafts can you save?
LinkedIn doesn’t specify a limit on the number of message drafts you can save. However, it’s good practice to regularly clean up your drafts folder. - Can you save drafts on LinkedIn mobile app?
Yes, you can save drafts on the LinkedIn mobile app. The process is similar to the desktop version – just exit the message composer without sending, and your draft will be automatically saved. - How long do LinkedIn message drafts stay saved?
LinkedIn doesn’t provide a specific timeframe for how long drafts are kept. It’s best to assume they’re not permanent and to save important drafts elsewhere if needed. - Can I recover a deleted draft message on LinkedIn?
Unfortunately, once a draft is deleted, it can’t be recovered. Always double-check before deleting any drafts. - Is there a way to organize or categorize my LinkedIn message drafts?
LinkedIn doesn’t offer a built-in organization system for drafts. Consider using a naming convention in the first line of your draft to help you identify and organize them.