Connecting with people on LinkedIn is one of the most effective ways to build your professional network and relationships. While you can connect with individuals on LinkedIn, many people wonder if you can also connect with people through LinkedIn Company Pages.
Can you send connection requests through Company Pages?
No, you cannot directly send connection requests to others through a LinkedIn Company Page. Company Pages are meant for brands, businesses, and organizations to share updates, showcase products and services, highlight employees, and interact with followers. They are not designed for making direct connections.
Why can’t you connect through Company Pages?
There are a few key reasons why LinkedIn does not allow connecting through Company Pages:
- Company Pages represent brands/organizations, not individuals. The purpose of connections is to build an individual’s professional network.
- Allowing connections through Company Pages could lead to spam and abuse. Brands could send mass connection requests without consent.
- Connections represent reciprocal agreements between professionals. Company Pages are designed for one-way sharing of content.
What are some ways to connect with followers of a Company Page?
While you cannot directly connect with a Company Page’s followers, there are some effective techniques you can use to network with them:
Engage with Company Page content
Comment on posts, react to updates, and share content published by the Company Page. This raises your visibility with those who follow the page.
Interact through LinkedIn Groups
Join Groups related to the company’s industry and connect with their followers who are also in those Groups.
Follow the Company Page
By following the page yourself, you may show up as a suggested connection to others who follow the same page.
Connect at events
Attend industry events, conferences, and meet-ups where the company’s employees and followers will also be participating.
Are there any third-party tools to connect with followers?
Some third-party tools and browser extensions claim to enable connecting through Company Pages. However, this is against LinkedIn’s Terms of Service and could potentially lead to your account being restricted. It’s best to avoid these options and focus on organic relationship building.
Can company employees connect with followers?
Yes, employees who manage a Company Page can connect with followers through their individual LinkedIn profiles. However, they should do so thoughtfully and avoid making mass connection requests solely because someone follows their company.
Best practices for employees connecting with followers
- Make genuine personalized connection requests after engaging with someone.
- Only connect if you have a shared group, school, or interest.
- Include a customized message referencing previous interactions.
- Focus on quality over quantity of connections.
In summary:
While connecting directly through Company Pages is not possible on LinkedIn, employees and individuals can still network effectively with a brand’s followers. By engaging organically with Company Page content, participating in LinkedIn Groups, attending relevant events, and thoughtfully connecting from individual profiles, you can build relationships with those interested in the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send InMail to a Company Page’s followers?
No, you cannot send InMail messages to a Company Page’s followers directly. InMail is designed for sending private messages to individuals you are not connected with. You would need to get the individual follower’s profile URL or email address to message them through InMail.
What is the maximum number of connections I can have on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows you to have up to 30,000 connections on the free version. Paid Job Seeker, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter accounts can have up to 40,000 connections.
Is there a limit on Company Page followers?
No, there is no limit on the number of followers a Company Page can have on LinkedIn. Pages for large brands often have millions of followers.
Can I export a list of Company Page followers?
No, LinkedIn does not allow exporting or accessing email addresses or other data of Company Page followers to protect their privacy.
How do I unlink a connection on LinkedIn?
You can unlink from someone by going to their profile and clicking on the “More” dropdown menu next to the blue “Connected” text. Then choose “Unlink from [Name]”. This will remove them from your connections but won’t notify them.
Conclusion
Connecting with a company’s followers on LinkedIn requires an organic, personalized approach focused on relationship building. While Company Pages themselves don’t allow direct connections, engaging with their content, participating in Groups, attending events, and thoughtfully linking from individual profiles are effective strategies. Maintaining the quality of your connections will always be more beneficial than solely pursuing quantity.
