Summary

• The solid green dot means a user is currently active and ideal for a live chat, while the green circle with a white dot means they'll receive a mobile notification of your message.

• Leveraging these signals is crucial, as messaging an active user can increase one-minute reply rates by 10%.

• Tailor your message to the status: send a concise, engaging question to an active user, and a compelling, value-driven first line to a mobile user.

• An organized inbox is key to acting on these moments; use tools like Kondo to label and prioritize conversations so you can strike when a key contact is online.

Ever stared at a contact's profile on LinkedIn, wondering what that green circle with a white dot really means? Or maybe you've noticed the 'active status' feature behaving inconsistently and felt completely in the dark. You're not alone. Many users are confused by these subtle visual cues, and the lack of clear communication from LinkedIn doesn't help.

While these tiny indicators might seem trivial, understanding LinkedIn's status symbols is actually crucial for effective networking, sales outreach, and recruitment success. It's the difference between sending a message into the void and starting a real-time conversation that could lead to your next big opportunity.

This article will demystify LinkedIn's active status indicators once and for all. We'll explain exactly what the solid green dot and the green circle with white dot mean, and then give you actionable strategies to leverage this knowledge to get faster replies and build better professional relationships.

Decoding the Dots: Solid Green vs. Green Circle with White Dot

Let's clear up the confusion about LinkedIn's status indicators:

The Solid Green Dot - "They're Online Right Now"

A solid green status dot next to a person's name indicates they are currently active on LinkedIn. They are likely on the website on their desktop or have the mobile app open and actively using it.

Implication: This is your signal for a potential "live chat." According to LinkedIn's sales blog, messaging someone with this status increases the likelihood of an immediate response by a significant margin.

The Green Circle with White Dot - "Available on Mobile & Will Be Notified"

This is the indicator that causes the most confusion. The green circle with a white dot signifies that the user is not currently active on LinkedIn, but is available on mobile and has push notifications enabled.

Implication: When you send them a message, their phone will buzz with a notification. They won't see it instantly, but your message will likely be the first thing they see when they check their LinkedIn notifications. Think of this as a "priority delivery" signal rather than an "online now" indicator.

Why This Tiny Indicator is a Strategic Goldmine

These small status indicators aren't just interesting visual elements - they represent real strategic advantages backed by data:

Drastically Increased Response Rates

Companies have reported a 10% increase in one-minute reply rates and a ~9% increase in five-minute reply rates when messaging users who are currently active. This data transforms a simple observation into a measurable advantage.

Conversations Drive Opportunities

More than one-third of LinkedIn members have discovered new opportunities (jobs, clients, partners) through conversations started in LinkedIn messages.

Even more compelling: over 70% of people are hired at companies where they have some connection, highlighting the power of initiating these conversations.

The Psychology of Immediacy

Timing your message when someone is "present" respects their attention and frames the conversation as timely and relevant, not just another message in a cluttered inbox. The green circle white dot or solid green dot gives you insight into when your message is most likely to be seen and acted upon.

Taking Control: How to Manage Your Own Active Status

Before you start strategically using others' status indicators, you should understand how to manage your own visibility:

1. Click on the "Me" icon in the top right corner of your LinkedIn homepage.

2. Select "Settings & Privacy" from the dropdown menu.

3. On the left-hand menu, click on "Visibility."

4. Under the "Visibility of your LinkedIn activity" section, find and click on "Manage active status."

5. Here, you can choose who sees when you're active:

   • Your connections only

   • All LinkedIn members

   • No one

The Critical Caveat: If you set your status to 'No one,' you will also lose the ability to see the active status of others. It's a two-way street. This is a crucial piece of information that users often miss when adjusting their privacy settings.

4 Actionable Strategies to Leverage LinkedIn's Active Status

Understanding what the LinkedIn green circle white dot means is just the first step. Now let's explore how to turn this knowledge into actionable strategies that drive results.

1. Organize Your Outreach So You Can Strike While the Iron is Hot

The Problem: The native LinkedIn inbox is a chaotic mess. You see a top prospect is online with that green dot, but their message thread is buried under 50 other chats. By the time you find it, the moment is lost.

The Solution: Kondo transforms your LinkedIn inbox from a mess into a strategic command center, described as 'Superhuman for LinkedIn'.

How Kondo Helps:

• Labels & Split Inboxes: Before starting your outreach, use Kondo to categorize conversations with custom labels like Hot Lead, Candidate, or Follow Up Needed. When you see that green dot or green circle with white dot appear on a key contact's profile, you don't have to search. Simply click into your prioritized inbox, find their name instantly, and send your message. You can even apply multiple labels like Lead > Hot for granular organization.

• Reminders (Snooze): Spotted a CEO online but need 15 minutes to draft the perfect message? Don't let the opportunity slip. Use Kondo's 'H' shortcut to snooze the conversation. It will reappear at the top of your inbox at the exact time you specify, ensuring you follow up when the timing is right.

2. Tailor Your Message to the Dot

Different status indicators should trigger different messaging approaches:

Solid Green Dot (Active Now): Treat this as a real-time chat opportunity.

• Action: Send concise, engaging messages that invite a quick reply. Ask a question or share a quick, valuable insight.

• Example: "Hi Sarah, I noticed you're online and had a quick question about your recent post on AI in marketing. How are you measuring the ROI on your generative AI experiments?"

Green Circle with White Dot (Mobile Notifications): Treat this as priority delivery.

• Action: Your message needs to be compelling enough to make them tap the notification. Make the first line count since that's what they'll see in the preview.

• Example: "Hi Michael, following up on our chat about your team's hiring goals. I came across an article with data on Q3 tech hiring trends that I thought you'd find valuable."

3. Provide Value, Don't Just Pounce

Many LinkedIn users report feeling overwhelmed with sales pitches and spam. Seeing a green dot or green circle with white dot isn't an invitation to pitch - it's an invitation to start a meaningful conversation.

The Rule: Your message must have a legitimate business reason and offer value.

Context is Key: Before messaging, take 30 seconds to check their recent activity. Did they post something new? Share an article? Reference that. It shows you're paying attention and builds instant rapport.

Example: "Hi Rachel, I saw you just shared that article on sustainable supply chains. The point about carbon-neutral shipping really resonated with me, especially since our team just implemented similar measures. Would love to exchange notes on how you're measuring the impact."

4. Use the Green Dot as a Natural Follow-Up Trigger

The Scenario: A promising conversation has gone cold. You need to follow up but don't want to seem pushy.

The Trigger: Seeing them online (solid green dot) or available on mobile (green circle with white dot) is the perfect, low-pressure excuse to re-engage.

The Message: Frame your follow-up around the timing.

Example: "Hi James, hope you're having a great week. I noticed you were online and it reminded me to follow up on our conversation about your team's marketing analytics challenges. Any new thoughts since we last spoke?"

This feels timely and opportunistic, not desperate or pushy.

Tracking Conversations for Maximum Impact

Understanding the LinkedIn green circle white dot and solid green dot indicators is valuable, but maintaining effective conversations requires a system. Here's how to ensure no opportunity falls through the cracks:

The Challenge of Conversation Management

The average professional has dozens of active LinkedIn conversations at any given time. Without a proper system:

• Important messages get buried under newer, less important ones

• Follow-ups are forgotten or sent too late

• You waste time searching for specific conversations

• You miss opportunities when someone becomes active

Implementing a Conversation Tracking System

To maximize the value of LinkedIn's status indicators, you need a reliable system for tracking and organizing conversations. Here are three approaches:

1. Manual Tracking (Basic)

• Create a spreadsheet with columns for contact name, conversation topic, last contact date, and next follow-up date

• Check this list daily against LinkedIn's active status indicators

• Update manually after each interaction

2. Calendar-Based Reminders (Intermediate)

• Schedule follow-up reminders in your calendar

• When a reminder comes due, check if the contact has the green dot or green circle with white dot

• Prioritize outreach to those who are currently active

3. Dedicated LinkedIn Inbox Management (Advanced)

• Use Kondo to transform your LinkedIn inbox into an organized system

• Apply labels to conversations based on priority, relationship stage, or topic

• Set specific reminders that bring conversations back to the top of your inbox at the perfect time

• Use keyboard shortcuts to quickly navigate, archive, and manage large volumes of messages

Kondo's approach is particularly effective because it integrates directly with the LinkedIn messaging experience, allowing you to immediately identify and reach out to contacts who show the green circle white dot or solid green dot indicators.

From Passive Indicator to Proactive Strategy

The green dots on LinkedIn are more than just simple presence indicators; they are strategic signals that smart professionals leverage for better results. Understanding the difference between the solid green dot and the green circle with a white dot allows you to time your outreach for maximum impact, leading to faster replies and more meaningful conversations.

The biggest obstacle isn't knowing when to message—it's having the organizational system to act on that knowledge effectively. A cluttered LinkedIn inbox means missed opportunities when those green status indicators appear, forgotten follow-ups, and hours of wasted time searching through messages.

Turn Knowledge Into Results

Knowing your prospect is showing a green circle with white dot is useless if their message thread is buried in your inbox. With Kondo's powerful features like Labels, Reminders, Snippets, and lightning-fast Keyboard Shortcuts, you can:

• Instantly identify high-priority contacts when they come online

• Send perfectly timed follow-up messages

• Track conversation progress without letting anything fall through the cracks

• Achieve Inbox Zero and ensure you never miss the perfect moment to connect

Ready to transform your LinkedIn outreach strategy and leverage those green status indicators for real results?

Try Kondo risk-free today with our 14-day money-back guarantee and experience the difference that organized, strategic LinkedIn messaging can make for your professional relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the green circle with a white dot mean on LinkedIn?

The green circle with a white dot on LinkedIn means the user is not currently active on the platform but is available on their mobile device and has push notifications enabled. This means that if you send them a message, they will receive an immediate notification on their phone, signaling a "priority delivery" for your message.

What is the difference between the solid green dot and the green and white circle?

The solid green dot indicates a user is currently active on LinkedIn's website or mobile app, making it a perfect time for a real-time conversation. The green and white circle means they are not active right now but will be notified of your message on their mobile device, which is better for sending a compelling message they can review shortly.

Why can't I see anyone's active status on LinkedIn?

You likely cannot see other people's active status on LinkedIn because you have turned off your own active status visibility in your privacy settings. The feature is reciprocal; to see when others are online, you must allow others to see when you are online.

How can I turn off my active status on LinkedIn?

You can manage your active status by navigating to "Settings & Privacy," clicking on "Visibility," and then selecting "Manage active status." Here, you can choose to share your status with all members, only your connections, or no one.

Is it better to message someone with a solid green dot or a green circle with a white dot?

It is generally better to message someone with a solid green dot for an immediate, real-time conversation, as this can increase one-minute reply rates by 10%. However, both indicators are valuable strategic signals. Use the solid green dot for quick, chat-style messages and the green and white circle for value-driven messages that compel the user to open the notification.

How accurate is the LinkedIn green dot?

LinkedIn's green dot status is generally accurate but can have slight delays. The solid green dot appears when a user has the LinkedIn website or app open and should disappear shortly after they close it, though a lag is possible. The green and white circle indicates push notifications are enabled, which is a reliable setting based on the user's mobile app preferences.