LinkedIn Introduces New Messaging Tool

If you've ever been frustrated by the clunky design of LinkedIn's messaging feature, then you'll be happy to know that the site is redoing its website design to include a completely overhauled messaging feature. The new messaging center will include a chat interface rather than the old, email-style inbox.

What Will it Look Like?

The new messaging center will resemble some of the other chat centers on the market today, by using a thread-based interface. All of your messages will appear in the messaging center, so that you can quickly see which people have sent you new messages. As you click on each person's name and picture, the entire thread of your conversation will appear, so that you can quickly see what was said last in the conversation. These updates are designed to make it more convenient to respond to messages quickly. 

Besides the layout changes, there are also a few new updates to the features of the messaging app. For instance, now you will be able to send emojis in your message. You can also attach a file, including a word document or a photo. The site will also make stickers available for messaging. These new updates could make it easier to personalize your messages and make them stand out to your contacts.

How Will it Change Communication on the Site?

The new linked in messaging feature will have a big impact on how users communicate on the site. For one, the old inbox feature was clunky, and it made it hard to hold short professional conversations. The new chat-style website design will make it easier for people to connect more casually.

Since the new feature resembles chat more than email, you might expect for people's language to change, more towards an informal style than a formal email. And if the new feature makes it more convenient to message professional contacts, we may see it being used more frequently.

Other Planned Features

LinkedIn isn't done revamping its website design when it comes to the messaging feature. The site's developers are talking about adding even more features in the future that will make the messaging center more useful. For instance, video chat is one of the potential features that will upgrade the messaging feature.

There is also talk of a messaging assistant that would make smart suggestions about who you should contact, based on your career goals. These features would make the messaging center even more useful as a means to develop your career.

What to Expect

LinkedIn plans to make the new features available to all of its members, regardless of their paid subscription status. While the site will first launch this new feature for its English website, there are plans in the works to release the feature for other users globally.

While it's hard to say for sure how much of an impact this new feature will make, this is a big step for LinkedIn in updating its website design to match the latest technologies. Other sites like Facebook and Whatsapp have had great success with a chat-style application on their platforms, so LinkedIn may stand to benefit a lot from making the switch.

About the Author: Malcom Chakery helps businesses improve website design, SEO strategy, and user experience. Learn more at chakery.com. Get in touch with him on Twitter @chakery , LinkedIn or Google+for more articles like this!