Following on from LinkedIn's update to on-platform content sharing tools earlier this week, the professional social network has also announced a range of enhancement for its messaging options, providing more ways to facilitate direct connection within the app.

First off, LinkedIn's adding a new option to expand the composition window for on-platform messages:

"You can now move out of the chat-like interface and expand the message compose box across platforms for those times when you just need a little more space to compose longer, thoughtful and more formal messages. This is available now on mobile, and coming in the next few weeks to desktop."

It's a practical solution to a common problem, particularly on mobile devices. Worth noting too, LinkedIn's average age demographic is older, which may mean that tiny composition window is a little harder to see for the average user. 

Having the capacity to stretch it out can make it easier to compose more professional, comprehensive messages, boosting your messaging options.

LinkedIn's also giving users a new option to add attachments when composing messages via the mobile app.

"Contacted by a recruiter and want to send your resume right away? Just tap the attachment icon and select from the approved file types including PDF, DOC, XLS, and PPT to upload."

Given the professional nature of the conversations you're likely having on LinkedIn - like the example above - it makes sense to add in a file sharing option. LinkedIn says this has been one of their most frequently requested updates for messaging.

There's also a new way to create group messages within the LinkedIn app: 

"Now when you tap on the “+” icon to create a new message, you’ll be prompted with smart suggestions for groups based on your current or former company, where you went to school, or people you’ve recently messaged with."

That could make the app a more valuable business tool, as it'll better enable group collaboration and discussion. In addition to this, you can also now @mention any user in a 1-to-1 messaging thread and link to their profile, helping with recommendations and referrals. 

And the last new addition is the ability to copy and paste images from screenshots and on the web into your LinkedIn messages via desktop.

You can see here how the copy and paste process simplifies image attachments.

These are helpful, functional additions, and with more and more people using LinkedIn messaging, it makes sense for the platform to make it a key focus. LinkedIn also added a GIF library earlier this year, and has rolled out more emoji tools to make your messaging experience more fun - though how well those options fit into your LinkedIn messaging will be dependent on your individual approach.

The new LinkedIn messaging features are being rolled out from today.