How to Send a Voice Message on LinkedIn

Sending a standard text message on LinkedIn is easy, but a voice message is how you get remembered. This short audio clip cuts through the notification noise, adds a human touch, and turns a cold contact into a warm conversation. This guide will walk you through exactly how to send a voice message, when to use it for the best results, and the simple best practices that can transform your networking strategy.

Why Voice Messages on LinkedIn are a Game-Changer

In a sea of identical, pre-written templates and copy-pasted connection requests, doing something different matters. A voice message is a surprisingly effective way to build genuine rapport and stand out. Before we get into the "how," let's cover the "why."

1. It Builds an Immediate Human Connection

Text is flat. It lacks emotion, inflection, and personality. When you send a voice message, you're not just sending words, you're sending a piece of your personality. The listener hears your enthusiasm, your sincerity, and your tone of voice. This creates an instant sense of familiarity and trust that text just can't replicate. It transforms you from a faceless profile picture into a real person, making the receiver far more likely to engage with you.

2. You'll Stand Out from the Crowd

Think about your own LinkedIn inbox. It's likely filled with text messages, InMail promotions, and automated follow-ups. Receiving a thoughtfully recorded voice message is an event. It’s different, it’s novel, and it’s memorable. Most professionals aren’t using this feature yet, giving you an easy opportunity to make a lasting impression, whether you're reaching out to a potential client, a recruiter, or a networking contact.

3. It's Efficient and Adds Clarity

Sometimes, typing out a complex thought or a nuanced message can be a real pain. It's often much faster to simply speak your mind. Voice messages let you convey an idea in 30 seconds that might have taken several minutes to type and edit. Furthermore, your tone can add layers of meaning that get lost in text. Sarcasm, excitement, or sincerity are communicated effortlessly through voice, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and making your communication more effective.

The Step-by-Step Guide: How to Send a LinkedIn Voice Message

Recording and sending a voice message is straightforward, but you need to know where to find the feature. One important thing to know upfront: sending voice messages is currently a mobile-only feature. You can listen to voice messages on the desktop version of LinkedIn, but you can only record them using the iOS or Android app.

Sending a Voice Message on the LinkedIn Mobile App

The process is identical for both iPhone and Android users. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open the LinkedIn App and Go to Messaging: Launch the app on your phone and tap the messaging icon. It typically looks like a speech bubble with three dots and is located in the upper-right or bottom navigation bar.
2. Select or Start a Conversation: Tap on an existing conversation with the person you want to message, or tap the "New message" icon (usually a pencil in a square) to start a new chat.
3. Find the Microphone Icon: In the message composition field at the bottom of the screen (where you'd normally type), look to the right. You should see a microphone icon.
4. Tap and Hold to Record: Press and hold the microphone icon. A timer will appear, showing you the length of your recording. Keep your finger held down for the entire time you are speaking. Remember, LinkedIn limits voice messages to one minute.
5. Release to Send: Once you're finished speaking, simply lift your finger off the screen. The message will send automatically. There's no confirmation step, so be ready for it to go!
6. Canceling a Message: If you trip over your words or want to start over, don't lift your finger! While still holding the microphone icon, slide your finger to the left away from the icon until you see a cancel icon (often a trash can or an "X"). Releasing your finger there will delete the recording without sending it.

Best Practices: Sending Voice Messages That Actually Work

Now that you know the mechanics, let’s talk strategy. A bad voice message can be worse than no message at all - it can come across as awkward or rambling. A great one, however, can open doors. Here’s how to make sure yours land in the second category.

Before You Record: Nail the Preparation

• Have a Clear Purpose: Don't just hit record and start talking. Know your goal. Are you following up after a connection request? Congratulating someone on a new role? Asking for an introduction? Having a clear purpose prevents your message from sounding pointless.
• Plan Your Talking Points: You don't need a full script (in fact, that can make you sound robotic), but you should have two or three bullet points in mind. This keeps you focused and moving forward. For example: 1) Thank them for connecting. 2) Mention one specific thing you admire about their work. 3) State your "ask" or your reason for connecting.
• Find a Quiet Space: Background noise is distracting and unprofessional. Avoid recording in a noisy coffee shop, a windy street, or an office full of chatter. Find a quiet room where a listener can hear you clearly.

While You're Speaking: Sound Confident and Authentic

• Keep It Brief: The maximum is 60 seconds, but the sweet spot is closer to 30-45 seconds. Respect the listener's time. A brief, impactful message is always better than a long, rambling one.
• State Your Name and Context First: Don't make them guess who you are. Start with a warm greeting like, "Hi [Name], it's [Your Name] from [Your Company]." Then, add context immediately: "We connected last week after the webinar on content strategy." This immediately helps them place you.
• Smile While You Talk: It might feel silly, but it genuinely works. Smiling changes the tone of your voice, making you sound warmer, more positive, and more approachable.
• Speak Clearly at a Normal Pace: Don’t rush through your message. Speak at a moderate, conversational pace. Enunciate your words, especially their name! Getting someone’s name right is the foundation of personalization.

After You Send: The Professional Follow-Up

• Consider a Quick Text Chaser: Not everyone can listen to a voice note right away. They might be in a meeting or a loud environment. It's often a good practice to follow up your voice message with a short text right after, like, "Just sent a quick voice note with a thought I wanted to share." This gives them notice and a reminder to listen later.
• Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): End your message with a next step. It can be soft, like "Let me know if this sounds interesting," or more direct, like "Would you be open to a quick 15-minute call next week to discuss?" Don't leave them wondering what you want.

Real-World Examples: When to Use a Voice Message on LinkedIn

The key is to use voice messages in situations that benefit from a personal touch. Here are a few perfect scenarios:

1. Post-Connection Request Thank You

Once someone accepts your connection request, skip the generic text. A voice message makes an incredible first impression.

Example: "Hey Sam, it's Alex Parker. Thanks so much for connecting! I really enjoyed the article you shared yesterday on agile manufacturing. I'm looking forward to following your work and hope we can chat more in the future."

2. Post-Event Follow-Up

You met someone at a networking event, webinar, or conference. A voice message helps you stand out from the other hundred business cards they collected.

Example: "Hi Jane, it's Michael here. It was great to meet you at the Future of Tech conference yesterday. I really enjoyed our conversation about AI ethics at the coffee stand. Hope you had a great rest of the event!"

3. Offering Genuine Congratulations

LinkedIn will tell you when a contact starts a new role, has a work anniversary, or gets a promotion. Instead of just clicking "Like" or sending the default "Congrats!", record a message. It's much more meaningful.

Example: "Hey Sarah! I just saw the news about your promotion to Director of Marketing. That's absolutely fantastic news, couldn't happen to a better person. A huge congratulations to you, I'm thrilled for you."

4. The "Gentle Nudge" for Outreach

Instead of a sterile "just checking in" email, a voice message can re-engage a contact in a friendly, low-pressure way. It feels less like a sales pitch and more like a personal check-in.

Example: "Hi David, Mark here from Ignite Solutions. I know we chatted a few weeks back about your team's workflow. I just had a quick thought about it that I figured was easier to say than to type up. Hope you're having a great week."

Final Thoughts

At its core, a LinkedIn voice message is a simple but powerful tool for building genuine connections in a professional space. By using the feature thoughtfully and following a few best practices, you can differentiate yourself, add a deeply personal touch to your outreach, and make your networking far more memorable and effective.

Building those personal, memorable moments is key to social media growth. We know that managing these individual conversations across platforms–while also trying to schedule posts, create content, and track what’s working–can be overwhelming. At Postbase, we work to simplify this with our unified inbox, which brings all your comments and DMs into one manageable place. This way, you don’t miss those opportunities to connect personally, even while our scheduling and calendar tools help you manage the bigger content strategy.