What’s an Open Profile on LinkedIn

YOUR LINKEDIN QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Do you have questions about your LinkedIn profile or how to use LinkedIn? Send your questions to our LinkedIn Expert Debbie McCormick and she’ll answer them in the magazine! Use info@LinkedInBossLady.com with subject Dear Debbie.

Dear Debbie:

What is an Open Profile on LinkedIn?

                                                                                                                ~ Bettina M.

Thank you for your question, Bettina.

Open Profile is a feature accessible only to Premium members.

When a Premium member has Open Profile toggled On in their privacy settings, they’re allowing any member of LinkedIn to message them, even if the messaging member is not directly connected to the Premium member.

If the Open Profile feature is not toggled On in the Premium member’s profile, a member must be within the Premium’s direct connections to have the ability to message them. Otherwise, no messaging allowed. 🚫

Here’s another wrinkle you’ll be interested in if you’re a Premium member:

Let’s call you Premium Member A.

Say you want to message Premium Member B, but you’re not directly connected to her.

If Premium Member B has Open Profile, you can message away.

If B doesn’t have Open Profile, you still have a way to message her called InMail.

As a Premium member, you have the use of five InMails per month at no extra charge. AND you can carry them over for up to three months, so at any one time you could have 15 InMails at your disposal.

(Once you hit that 16th InMail, though, you’ll be charged $10 per extra InMail.)

Member B will receive your InMail just like she receives any other message on LinkedIn.

If you’re famous, you may want to consider toggling Off your Open Profile, as Richard Branson has, so you’re not bombarded with messages by people you don’t know.

But if, unlike Sir Richard, you’re growing your business and want to prospective clients the chance to  reach out to you, I say open that baby up.

When you get more spam than potential client inquiries, that’s the time to rethink the Open Profile choice.

 __________________________________________

Debbie answers your LinkedIn questions every week here in YES I CAN Living Magazine.

For further help or support from her, you can schedule a one-on-one Make Your LinkedIn Profile A Client Magnet profile review at https://LinkedInWithDebbie.as.me.

You can also connect with her on these platforms:

 LinkedIn.com/in/DebbieMcCormick

@LinkedInBossLady

facebook.com/DebbieMcCormickConsultingLinkedIn