Alexis Kestler
As a long-time LinkedIn user and data analyst, I wanted to provide some expert insights on read receipts – one of LinkedIn‘s most useful yet controversial features.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll unpack everything you need to know about LinkedIn read receipts:
- Why read receipts matter in online communication
- Exactly how the LinkedIn read receipt system works
- How to turn read receipts on or off on desktop and mobile
- The pros and cons of using read receipts for networking
- Best practices for leveraging read receipts effectively
- Tips to improve your overall LinkedIn messaging strategy
Whether you love or hate read receipts, understanding how they work is key to transforming your LinkedIn messaging and relationships.
So let‘s get started!
Why Read Receipts Are Essential for Online Communication
As an avid LinkedIn user for many years, read receipts have become an essential part of my messaging habits. Here‘s why they matter:
The vast majority of communication has gone digital. We text, DM, and email more than ever before.
The problem? Lack of non-verbal cues. When messaging someone, you lose the facial expressions, voice tones, and body language that help conversations flow smoothly face-to-face.
This creates uncertainty. You don‘t know if your messages are being ignored, overlooked, or engaging the person.
Read receipts solve this problem.
They provide visibility into the intangible. You know if your messages are being:
- ✅ Successfully delivered
- 👀 Opened and seen
- 🚫 Completely ignored
For personal communication, read confirmations give you:
- Confidence your messages are going through
- Clarity on when/if follow up is needed
- Awareness of relationship reciprocation
For sales teams and recruiters, read data offers invaluable behavioral insights:
- Are our cold messages being seen?
- Who are our warm leads vs. cold prospects?
- When are people most active on LinkedIn?
The bottom line? Read receipts bring much-needed transparency to our digital interactions.
While some see them as intrusive, most users appreciate the clarity they provide. Let‘s look at how they work specifically on LinkedIn…
How Do Read Receipts Work on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn‘s approach to read receipts is unique compared to other networks. Read on to see how they function.
Read Receipts Are On By Default
When sending messages on LinkedIn, read receipts are automatically enabled with no action needed.
By default, all LinkedIn users have read receipts turned on. You see read data from your connections without changing any settings.
The only exception is if a connection has specifically disabled read receipts in their account settings (more on this later).
Having them on by default makes the LinkedIn messaging experience smoother. You don‘t have to wonder if each connection can see your read info or not.
Read Status Displayed Through Profile Photos
Most messaging platforms use simple text indicators, icons, or checkmarks to display read status.
LinkedIn went rogue and shows profile pictures instead of standard icons.
When your connection reads a message, you‘ll see their profile photo appear to the right of the message on desktop.
No profile picture = delivered but not read yet. Profile photo visibility = they‘ve opened the message.
Here‘s a look at LinkedIn read receipts in action:
I love this creative use of profile pictures for read receipts. It provides an instant visual signal while adding a personal touch. Well played, LinkedIn designers!
Read Receipts Only Work After Connecting
There‘s a key caveat to understand about LinkedIn read info:
The read receipts only activate after connecting with someone.
For example, if you message people you found via searching LinkedIn, you won‘t see read data until they accept your connection request.
This limits the value of read receipts for cold outreach. However, they still provide visibility into your existing network‘s engagement.
Typing Indicators Show Automatically Too
Along with read receipts, LinkedIn has typing indicators that show when a connection is replying to you in real-time.
When enabled, "Replying" appears under the person‘s name when they‘re actively typing a message to you.
The typing indicator can‘t be turned off independently. If you have read receipts on, typing indicators will display automatically.
Here‘s how the LinkedIn typing notice looks:
I love this feature! Seeing the "Replying" text gets me excited that a response is coming soon.
The typing indicator offers an extra layer of visibility into your important conversations.
Now that we‘ve reviewed how LinkedIn read receipts work, let‘s look at how to toggle them on or off.
How to Turn Read Receipts On or Off
The great news? Toggling read receipts is simple on both desktop and mobile.
Here are the steps to enable or disable read receipts:
On the LinkedIn Website:
- Click your profile image and select Settings & Privacy
- Choose Data privacy under the Privacy tab
- Scroll to Messaging experience and click on Read receipts and typing indicators
- Toggle the slider to turn read receipts on or off
In the LinkedIn Mobile App:
- Tap your profile icon and choose Settings
- Select Data privacy
- Tap Read receipts and typing indicators below Messaging experience
- Slide the toggle to enable or disable read info
And that‘s all it takes! Feel free to turn read receipts off occasionally if you need a break from the notifications.
Next let‘s dive into the pros and cons of leveraging read data for your networking and outreach…
Pros and Cons of LinkedIn Read Receipts for Networking
Read receipts seem great on the surface. But there are some downsides to consider when using them for messaging and networking.
Below I break down the biggest pros and cons based on my experience as an avid LinkedIn user:
Key Pros of LinkedIn Read Receipts
✅ Identify your warm leads – See who engages with your messages to prioritize your follow-ups accordingly. If someone opens your DM, they‘re a warmer lead than those who ignore you.
✅ Optimize your outreach strategy – If your messages aren‘t being opened, try tweaking your subject lines, timing, or messaging. Use read data to perfect your approach.
✅ Avoid redundant follow-ups – No need to hassle people who you can clearly see have already read your previous messages. This saves you (and them) valuable time.
✅ Focus on reciprocal relationships – Doubly prioritize people who engage in a two-way dialogue as shown by their read receipts. De-prioritize one-way relationships.
✅ Save time on cold prospects – Don‘t waste effort pursuing prospects who never read your initial outreach attempts. Focus on warmer leads.
Key Cons of LinkedIn Read Receipts
❌ Feeling pressure to respond – Recipients may feel anxious seeing "READ" on your message but not having time to respond right away.
❌ Misinterpreting lack of response – Just because someone reads your message doesn‘t necessarily mean they‘ll respond quickly. Don‘t take it personally.
❌ Getting distracted by notifications – The constant receipts and typing indicators could disrupt your productivity and focus while working.
❌ No reciprocity – You only see read data from your own 1st-degree connections. You don‘t get read receipts on your own messages.
❌ Privacy concerns – Some people may not like others tracking their reading activity and response times. Read receipts enable this inherently.
So in summary – when used properly, read receipts provide valuable visibility into the engagement levels of your network. But don‘t let them control your messaging habits completely.
Next I‘ll share my top tips for using read confirmations effectively on LinkedIn.
Best Practices for Using LinkedIn Read Receipts
Through much trial and error, I‘ve learned some best practices for effectively leveraging read data:
🔹 Segment your outreach lists – Organize your prospects into buckets like "Hot" vs "Cold" leads based on their read receipt engagement. Prioritize following up with those who open your messages.
🔹 Avoid spamming cold prospects – If someone ignores your initial messages, don‘t bombard them with relentless follow-up just because you can see they‘ve read them. Move on gracefully.
🔹 Follow up max 1-2 times – If you don‘t get a reply within a few days after they‘ve read your message, follow up once or twice max. Then move on if no response.
🔹 Personalize connection requests – Use the custom message field when sending connection invites to grab their attention better and stand out.
🔹 Send messages during business hours – Target Tuesday – Thursday 9am – 6pm when LinkedIn engagement seems highest in my experience.
🔹 Don‘t take lack of response personally – Assuming positive intent goes a long way. Their lack of reply likely has nothing to do with you. Don‘t let it get you down.
🔹 Turn off read receipts if needed – To focus without constant notifications, disable read receipts for a period of time. Check them occasionally vs. constantly.
The key is using read receipts thoughtfully, not obsessively. Take the hints they provide, but don‘t let them control your conversations.
Next I‘ll share my top strategies for mastering your overall LinkedIn messaging and networking approach.
Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Messaging Strategy
Beyond read receipts, there are many other ways to transform your LinkedIn outreach efficacy.
Here are my top tips for mastering your LinkedIn messaging as an expert user:
1. Expand your network continuously – Grow your 1st-degree connections through thoughtful invitations. A larger network means more people who can see your content and messages.
2. Join relevant LinkedIn Groups – Engage in Group discussions to establish your credibility and meet new people without cold messaging them.
3. Publish thoughtful content – Share your insights, expertise and opinions via posts and articles. Good content will get you noticed organically.
4. Comment on others‘ posts – Be an active contributor by engaging with other people‘s updates. This raises your visibility.
5. Offer value in your outreach – Don‘t just pitch people or ask for favors. Provide relevant advice, resources or help in your messages.
6. Personalize invitations – When requesting to connect, be specific about why you‘d like to connect with that person‘s unique experience and interests.
7. Follow up patiently – If someone doesn‘t respond initially, follow up once or twice spaced out over a couple weeks. Avoid bombarding their inbox.
8. Use tracking tools cautiously – Sales tools like Mixmax and Yesware can help gauge engagement levels. But avoid stalking prospects or spamming.
9. Message consistently – Set reminders to stay in touch your network with updates and check-ins. Out of sight is out of mind.
With the right approach, LinkedIn can be a very effective platform for professional networking and conversations.
Read Receipts Give Valuable Visibility Into Your Networking
As we‘ve explored in this guide, LinkedIn read receipts provide unique visibility into how your connections are engaging with your messages.
While not a perfect system, read confirmations give helpful behavioral clues you can act on as part of an effective networking approach.
To recap:
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Read receipts are automatically on for all LinkedIn users by default
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You can easily toggle them on or off in your settings anytime
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Used properly, read data helps identify warmer leads and relationships
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But don‘t become obsessed with read receipts, or let them dictate your messaging approach
The ultimate goal is leveraging read receipts to build more genuine relationships – not stalk prospects. Test different messaging strategies and see what works for your unique outreach goals.
I hope these tips help you get more from LinkedIn‘s read confirmations. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow LinkedIn enthusiasts.
