LinkedIn groups are an excellent way for professionals to connect and collaborate around shared interests and goals. As a group owner, you have the ability to manage members, post discussions, and set the overall direction of the group. A common question that arises is whether LinkedIn groups can have more than one owner.
The Short Answer
Yes, LinkedIn groups can have multiple owners. When you create a group, you have the option to add up to 10 additional owners. This allows you to share the responsibilities and workload of managing a group among multiple trusted individuals.
Benefits of Having Multiple LinkedIn Group Owners
There are several potential benefits to having multiple group owners on LinkedIn:
- Shared Workload – Managing an active group with hundreds or thousands of members can be time-consuming. Having multiple owners makes it easier to divide up tasks like moderating discussions, approving members, posting content, etc.
- Broader Expertise – A group with several owners can leverage a wider range of knowledge and experience. Each owner brings their own perspective and specialty.
- Improved Member Engagement – More owners means there are additional people available to respond to members, answer questions, and foster discussions.
- Backups for Absences – If one owner is away or unavailable for a period, the other owners can fill in to make sure the group continues running smoothly.
In summary, sharing group ownership allows you to manage a larger, more active group while providing members with quicker responses and a diversity of viewpoints from owners.
How to Add Multiple Owners to a LinkedIn Group
LinkedIn makes it straightforward to add additional owners when first creating a group or after the fact:
During Initial Group Creation
- Go to LinkedIn and click on “Groups” in the top menu bar.
- Click the “Create group” button.
- After naming and configuring your group, you’ll come to a section titled “Add owners.”
- Start typing potential owners’ names and select them from the dropdown list.
- Repeat to add up to 10 total owners in addition to yourself.
- Finish creating the group.
For Existing Groups
- Navigate to your LinkedIn group and click “Manage” on the right rail.
- Select “Owners & moderators” from the left sidebar.
- Click the “+ Add owners” button.
- Search for and select members to add as owners.
- Click “Add” to confirm.
The process is the same whether you are the original group creator or were added later as an owner yourself. Any current owner can add new ones up to the 10-person limit.
Removing Owners from a LinkedIn Group
If an owner needs to be removed from your LinkedIn group, follow these steps:
- Go to your group’s Manage page and select “Owners & moderators.”
- Locate the owner you want to remove.
- Click the “More” button next to their name and select “Remove owner.”
- Confirm you want to remove them when prompted.
Note that only the original group creator can fully remove another owner. Owners who were added later can only demote other owners back to being members.
Rules and Best Practices for Multiple LinkedIn Group Owners
Having multiple owners for your LinkedIn group can be beneficial, but it does require some coordination. Here are some best practices to consider:
- Agree on Roles – Make sure all owners understand their responsibilities like moderating, posting, recruiting, etc.
- Share Editorial Plans – Maintain an editorial calendar outlining planned posts and discussions.
- Communicate – Fill owners in on any changes related to policies, members, or content plans.
- Document Procedures – Have documented guidelines for how to handle common group tasks and issues.
- Respect Owners’ Time – Don’t overwhelm owners by adding too many without consent or clear roles.
- Don’t Overlap Discussions – Coordinate content plans so multiple owners don’t post on the same topics simultaneously.
Following these tips and maintaining open communication between owners will keep your group running productively and positively.
Limits on LinkedIn Group Owners
While having multiple owners provides flexibility, LinkedIn does impose some limits:
- No more than 10 total owners – The original creator plus up to 9 added subsequently.
- Only owners can add new owners – Members cannot add owners, even if they have moderator abilities.
- Owners can’t remove primary creator – An original creator retains “ultimate control” and can remove other owners.
- Agreement required to join – Members must consent before being added as owners.
These restrictions help maintain order and prevent groups from being hijacked. As the founder, you will always have the highest permissions.
Moderators vs. Owners in LinkedIn Groups
In addition to multiple owners, LinkedIn groups can also have moderators. Here is how they differ from owners:
Owners | Moderators |
---|---|
Can add/remove moderators and owners | Cannot add/remove owners |
Can edit group settings and properties | Cannot change group settings |
Full administrative permissions | Limited to moderating content |
In summary, owners have full managerial control, while moderators mainly focus on content moderation. Both play important roles in keeping groups engaging but serve different functions.
Should You Have Multiple LinkedIn Group Owners?
Adding multiple LinkedIn group owners can benefit larger, more active groups but may be unnecessary for smaller ones. Consider the following factors when deciding:
- Group size – The more members, the greater the workload. Additional owners help spread the responsibilities.
- Posting frequency – Frequent discussions and content require more moderation and management.
- Engagement – Highly interactive groups need more oversight from owners.
- Niche focus – More niche groups may need fewer owners with specialized expertise.
- Available time – Will you have time to properly manage the group by yourself?
Take an honest look at your bandwidth, resources, and group activity. Having multiple owners isn’t mandatory but can unlock more growth and engagement potential.
Conclusion
LinkedIn groups can definitely have multiple owners. Sharing management responsibilities with up to 9 other members allows you to grow a more vibrant, active community. Carefully select co-owners, coordinate your efforts, and leverage each other’s strengths to maximize the benefit. With the right team in place, your group can connect professionals and empower discussions at a greater scale.