Can I transfer LinkedIn page to another account?

Introduction

Many professionals use LinkedIn to build their professional brand and network. Naturally, over time people may want to transfer their LinkedIn page to another account for various reasons. The main questions people have are: Can I transfer my LinkedIn page to another account? What steps do I need to take? Here are quick answers to these common questions about transferring LinkedIn pages:

Can I transfer my LinkedIn page to another account?

No, LinkedIn does not allow users to directly transfer their profile and connections from one account to another. This is because LinkedIn profiles are tied to a single email address.

What are my options for switching LinkedIn accounts?

While you cannot directly transfer your LinkedIn profile, you do have a few options:

– Create a new LinkedIn account and rebuild your profile and connections from scratch. You can download your connections and endorsements to help speed up the process.

– Maintain both your old and new LinkedIn accounts. Use your new account going forward but keep your old for reference.

– Delete your old account and create an entirely new one if you do not need your old connections or profile information.

Why You Cannot Directly Transfer LinkedIn Pages

There are a few key reasons why LinkedIn does not allow users to directly transfer their entire profile from one account to another:

LinkedIn profiles are tied to a single email address

When you create a LinkedIn account, it is permanently tied to the email address you signed up with. This email is used to log in and identify your account. For security reasons, LinkedIn does not allow users to disconnect an email or transfer the account elsewhere.

Transferring connections raises integrity concerns

Your LinkedIn connections represent an endorsement from professional contacts. If LinkedIn allowed transferring connections from one account to another, it could undermine the integrity of this endorsement system.

For example, someone could build up connections under a fake persona then transfer those connections to a new legitimate account to appear more reputable.

Loss of advertising revenue

LinkedIn relies heavily on advertising revenue tied to active user accounts. If users could freely transfer their entire profile and connections, LinkedIn could potentially lose revenue as activity shifts from one account to another.

By tying profiles to a single email address, LinkedIn maintains stability for advertisers and integrity in their user endorsement systems.

How to Rebuild Your LinkedIn Presence Under a New Account

While you cannot make a direct transfer, it is possible to rebuild your LinkedIn connections and presence under a new account. Here are some tips:

Download a copy of your LinkedIn data

Before deleting your old LinkedIn account, be sure to download a copy of your profile data from LinkedIn’s settings. This will allow you to see key information like your connections, group memberships, posts, and profile details.

Let your network know you have a new account

Notify close contacts and connections that you have switched to a new LinkedIn account. Ask if they can connect with your new profile and endorse you for key skills to help establish your professional brand.

Revise your profile and settings

Craft your new LinkedIn profile using your previous positions, skills, education, and honors. Be sure to customize your profile URL, notifications, and other settings.

Send connection requests to your top contacts

Search for your most important connections and send them requests from your new account. Focus on connecting with close colleagues first before expanding your network.

Join the same LinkedIn groups

Look for relevant professional groups you belonged to under your old account. Join them under your new account to regain access to those communities.

Follow company pages important to you

Refollow company pages, organizations, and thought leaders you want to keep tabs on via your new LinkedIn profile. This maintains your customized feed.

Alternatives to Transferring Your LinkedIn Account

If you want to switch LinkedIn accounts but maintain access to your existing profile, here are some alternatives to consider:

Keep both accounts active

You can simply keep your old LinkedIn account active while creating and building up a new account. Use them simultaneously for as long as needed.

Turn your old profile into a company page

Convert your unused LinkedIn profile into a company page for a business you are associated with. You maintain the connections without actively using the account.

Delete your old account

If you have no need for your previous LinkedIn connections or profile information, deleting the old account entirely can provide a clean slate.

Export your full profile history

Before deleting your old account, be sure to download your entire profile history. This provides a useful record of your professional activities.

What Happens When You Delete a LinkedIn Account

If you opt to simply delete your old LinkedIn account instead of keeping two accounts active, here is what happens:

• Your profile is removed from search results and the platform.
• You lose connections made under that account.
• Group memberships and posts are eliminated.
• You can no longer log in using that account’s email.
• The email associated with the closed account remains tied to it and cannot be added to a new account.
• After 30 days, LinkedIn removes the account from their systems entirely.

Essentially, deleting your account erases that LinkedIn presence after 30 days – so be certain before taking this step.

Pros and Cons of Deleting versus Maintaining Accounts

Steps to Take When Switching LinkedIn Accounts

If you do opt to create a new LinkedIn account and transition away from your old one, follow these key steps:

On your old account:

1. Download your full account data from LinkedIn’s settings.
2. Change the password to limit access.
3. Export your connections list.
4. Save any posts or content you want to retain.

On your new account:

1. Craft your profile using old position and education info.
2. Customize your URL, notifications, settings.
3. Upload your profile photo and customized background image.
4. Send connection requests to close contacts.
5. Join groups and follow companies relevant to you.

Finally:

1. Let your network know about your new account.
2. Consider turning old account into a company page.
3. Delete your old account if you want a clean slate.

Conclusion

While LinkedIn does not allow directly transferring your profile or connections, you can take steps to rebuild your presence under a new account. Notify your network, re-establish connections, customize settings, and upload your content. Consider maintaining both accounts temporarily or permanently if needed. Just be sure to download your account data before deleting your old profile. With effort, you can switch LinkedIn accounts and continue growing your professional network.