Tricky LinkedIn messages? Here’s how to master writing them in English.

#1. How formal should a LinkedIn message to a new contact be?

Here you might want to keep in mind that when it comes to LinkedIn messages, we are talking about social media. It is surely not overly formal like a business letter, but when you write to a first contact you don’t know, you might not want to sound too informal either. 

Hence, addressing someone with “Hi there” might not go down well in this situation.

Anyway, let’s assume we are talking about contacting someone for the first time. A friendly but neutral message would be the appropriate style. You could address the contact with:

• Hello
• Hi
• Dear Sinead

Be careful with Dear, as in Dear Ms Wheelan. It would already sound a little formal.

I’ll talk about the content of the message and formality in the second part of this blog.

But how can you sign off the LinkedIn message in a friendly but neutral way?

You could say:

• Warm wishes
• Best wishes
• Kind regards

These would all fit well into a quick LinkedIn message to a first contact.

#2. Why does such a short message take so much time to write?

Let's assume you want to connect with someone on LinkedIn and get in touch with a short message. Then you only have the possibility of using 200 characters in the LinkedIn message.

That’s what makes it a little tricky and sometimes takes a while, because what should you actually write in this small text space?

Here, the KISS formula – keep it short and simple – might come in handy for you. Try to keep your message that way, ideally without being very direct. 

In the first sentence, you could mention something you have in common, something that you liked in a LinkedIn post the contact wrote, or an event like a trade fair you both joined.

Here is an example:

“Hi Susan,

I liked your post about intercultural competence in business writing. We truly need to consider the recipient’s cultural background.

It would be great to connect. 

Best wishes,

Petra”

You can see that the message fits into the 200-character space. It uses the first two sentences that show why the contact matters to you and what you value about her post. It is authentic and not just pure sugarcoating because you want to get a new contact.

It might take a little time to get used to it, but you’ll see that it pays off. Because when you consider the formula and are focused on the content of the message, you get quicker at writing and figuring out what you actually want to mention in the opening lines.

Regarding the directness, please keep in mind that a message that sounds perfect in Berlin might not land the same way in Dubai.

Struggling with professional writing in English beyond LinkedIn? My Business Writing Coaching helps you find your own voice — in emails, messages, and beyond.

#3. What's the English equivalent of the German 'Sie/Du' problem on LinkedIn?

I've seen many professionals make mistakes with Du. 

After all, it seems logical that "you" is the equivalent of "Du" in German, and you can just use that for everyone you are talking or writing to. Actually, it is not the case.

In English there are two ways of distinguishing between Du and Sie.

On the one hand, it depends on whether someone introduces themselves with their surname or their first name when you first meet. Surely you have heard the famous sentence:

“My name is Bond. James Bond.” 

It means that he wants to be called Mr. Bond, which would be a sign to use “Sie” in case he ever spoke German.

Another sign is the level of formality someone uses when communicating with you.

A rather formal way of talking to you means that your communication partner talks to you on a “Sie” level.

Here is an example of a formal version equivalent to “Sie”:

“Would you be so kind as to provide your proposal at your earliest convenience?”

In comparison, the same sentence on “Du” level:

“Can you send me your docs whenever you get a chance?”

The level of formality of the first sentence is hardly ever used on LinkedIn. You’ll sometimes find it in emails or other written documents.

Nevertheless, when you write to someone with a high-context culture - e.g. Dubai, Japan, China, etc you might want to use this level of formality, as it is also a way of showing respect and politeness. 

Takeaway

Writing LinkedIn messages can become easy for you. You just need to stick to some simple ideas:

Use the appropriate salutation and closing of the message, for example:

Hello, Hi 

Or:  

Warm wishes, kind regards

And try to write in a neutral way.

Use the KISS formula: keep it short and simple.

Try to find something you have in common with the recipient or like about a post they wrote for your first sentence in the body of the message.

Keep in mind that a rather formal way of writing a message also means longer sentences and can mean the equivalent of the German “Sie” when you write to an English-speaking person.

Want to write LinkedIn messages with confidence?
Book a free discovery call and learn how to make your English both clear and professional.
👉 Book your free 15-minute call.