LinkedIn has become an invaluable tool for networking and building a professional online presence. With over 722 million users worldwide, LinkedIn profiles are often the first impression hiring managers get of job candidates. This makes having an optimized LinkedIn profile crucial for career success. However, not everyone has the time, skills or inclination to perfect their own LinkedIn profile. So can someone else manage your LinkedIn profile for you? Let’s take a closer look at the ins and outs of managing someone else’s LinkedIn profile.
Is It Allowed to Manage Someone Else’s LinkedIn Profile?
Yes, LinkedIn’s User Agreement does allow for one person to manage another person’s LinkedIn profile, with that person’s consent. The relevant section states:
“You may authorize someone to manage your account on your behalf, but you are responsible for any and all activity that occurs under your account.”
So it is perfectly acceptable for someone to take on managing duties for someone else’s LinkedIn profile. This can be advantageous for those who want an optimized profile but may not have the expertise or bandwidth to achieve it themselves.
Why Would You Want Someone Else Managing Your Profile?
There are several reasons why having someone else manage your LinkedIn profile for you can be beneficial:
- Expert optimization. A professional LinkedIn profile writer will know how to optimize every section for maximum impact.
- Ongoing maintenance. Keeping a LinkedIn profile updated consistently takes time. Having someone handle this allows you to focus on other priorities.
- Content creation. A manager can create and upload relevant published articles, presentations, images, videos and other content.
- Networking assistance. A manager can help grow your connections and interact with your network on your behalf.
- Job search optimization. A manager can tailor your profile specifically for each job you apply to.
Essentially, letting someone else manage it frees up your time while still allowing you to have an impressive, optimized LinkedIn presence.
How to Give Someone Else Access to Your LinkedIn Profile
Giving access to your LinkedIn profile is easy. Here are the steps:
- Go to your LinkedIn Settings
- Click on “Partner Access”
- Select “Account Management Tool Access”
- Enter the LinkedIn member’s name or email address. They will get an email granting them access.
- Choose what level of account access to provide
You can grant full account access or customize access to certain areas of your profile. You can remove access at any time.
What a LinkedIn Profile Manager Can and Can’t Do
If you hire someone to manage your LinkedIn profile, what exactly can they do on your behalf? Here are some key things LinkedIn profile managers can and can’t do:
Can Do
- Edit all sections of your profile
- Change profile photo and background image
- Customize your public profile URL
- Manage your endorsements and recommendations
- Publish articles and long-form posts
- Interact with your connections by liking and commenting on their posts
- Send connection requests and messages to grow your network
- Join LinkedIn Groups and participate in Group discussions
Can’t Do
- Change your LinkedIn password or email address
- Remove connections
- Invite connections directly from your email contacts
- See your private messages and inbox
- See your payment info and change billing settings
So in summary, a manager has fairly wide latitude to optimize most parts of your profile and networking activity. But they can’t access your private account info or make payments on your behalf.
Tips for Hiring Someone to Manage Your Profile
If you want to hand your LinkedIn profile over to someone else to manage, here are some tips for getting the best results:
- Look for specialists. Hire people who specialize in LinkedIn profile management rather than general virtual assistants.
- Check references and reviews. Verify they have happy clients and demonstrated success with optimizing LinkedIn profiles.
- Interview thoroughly. Have an in-depth discussion about goals and strategies for your profile.
- Start with a trial period. Test them out on a limited basis first before granting full account access.
- Provide plenty of info upfront. Give them background details, accomplishments, skills, goals etc to work into your profile.
- Maintain open communication. Check in regularly so they can incorporate your ongoing updates and feedback.
Taking these steps will help ensure you find the right profile manager who can truly enhance your LinkedIn presence on your behalf.
LinkedIn Profile Management Costs
Hiring a professional LinkedIn profile management service costs anywhere from $200 to $2000+ depending on the level of service. Here are some typical price ranges:
Service | Price Range |
---|---|
Initial Profile Optimization | $200 – $500 |
Ongoing Management Retainer (monthly) | $500 – $1000 |
Premium Management with Content Creation | $1000 – $2000+ |
You can often get discounted rates by purchasing bigger packages of 6, 12 or 24 months of management services compared to paying monthly. It’s a good idea to compare rates of a few leading profile management companies before selecting one.
Is Paying for LinkedIn Profile Management Worth It?
At first glance, paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for LinkedIn profile management may seem excessive. But for many professionals, the investment pays for itself by achieving these key benefits:
- Increased profile views and connection requests
- Higher quality connections with key decision makers
- Greater reach for published content and thought leadership
- More endorsements and recommendations
- Higher LinkedIn search rankings
- New career opportunities and job offers
Consider your own goals and career aspirations, and whether leveraging the expertise of a LinkedIn profile management professional could help accelerate you towards them. For many, the return on investment makes it well worth the cost.
Should You Include That Your Profile is Managed?
An important consideration when having your LinkedIn profile managed is whether to disclose this to your profile viewers. There are good arguments on both sides:
Reasons to Disclose
- Shows you have a strong professional brand if you invest in expert management.
- Provides more visible credit to the profile manager.
- Allows you to explain that you aren’t personally active on LinkedIn very often.
- Indicates any recommendations or content were solicited on your behalf.
Reasons Not to Disclose
- Maintains illusion that you manage your own profile.
- Avoids impression that you can’t manage your own LinkedIn presence.
- Prevents connections from contacting your manager directly.
- Keeps the focus on your own accomplishments and brand rather than who manages your profile.
There are good points on both sides. Some choose to add a “Managed by [Name of Company]” disclaimer somewhere in their profile summary. Others decide not to mention it at all. Think about which approach best aligns with your personal preferences and goals.
Tools LinkedIn Profile Managers Use
To maximize their efficiency and results, LinkedIn profile management professionals use a variety of software tools and browser extensions. Here are some of the most popular tools:
SocialPilot
- Schedule and publish posts
- Manage open messaging
- Save content for reposting
- Send bulk connection requests
Socedo
- Automate message sequences
- Schedule unlimited posts
- Auto-send new connection requests
- Track profile and content analytics
Linked Helper
- One-click connection requests
- Auto-messaging
- Auto-posting
- Auto-likes and comments
All-In-One LinkedIn Toolkit
- View profile visitor analytics
- Filter profiles by company, position, and location
- Auto-connect based on filters
- Send quick template messages
These and other tools allow professional profile managers to maximize results and scale their efforts across hundreds or thousands of LinkedIn profiles.
Should You Hire Someone Internally vs. External Service?
When deciding how to get your LinkedIn profile managed, you can either:
- Hire an in-house resource on staff
- Use an external LinkedIn profile management service
Here is an overview of the pros and cons of each approach:
Internal Staff Member
Pros
- Can fully customize efforts around your employer brand and needs
- Often more affordable than external service
- Can integrate with internal systems and coordinate with other in-house marketing
Cons
- Requires paying a year-round salary and benefits
- Person may not have as much LinkedIn expertise as an external specialist
- Usually can only manage a smaller number of profiles
External Profile Management Service
Pros
- Flexibility to only pay for services when needed
- Access to specialists dedicated 100% to profile management
- Scales easily to manage thousands of profiles
- May offer wider range of LinkedIn-specific tools
Cons
- Less ability to customize branding and messaging
- Higher cost for one-off projects (but can be more cost effective for larger volume)
- Less coordination with internal teams
Weigh these factors against your specific needs to choose the right profile management resource for your requirements.
Rules of LinkedIn Etiquette for Profile Managers
To maintain a strong reputation on LinkedIn, profile managers should follow certain rules of etiquette, including:
- Being transparent in your outreach
- Personalizing connection requests
- Not overly automating interactions
- Providing value in posts and conversations
- Respecting privacy settings and preferences
- Representing your clients professionally
- Listening and responding to feedback
- Not being overly promotional or salesy
Following these guidelines helps build goodwill for your clients’ personal brands rather than coming across as spammy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth paying for LinkedIn profile optimization?
Paying for professional LinkedIn profile optimization can deliver an excellent return on investment through increased profile views, connections, engagement, and new opportunities. For those serious about career advancement, it is often worth the cost.
What are LinkedIn profile best practices?
Best practices for optimizing a LinkedIn profile include having a professional photo, customized URL, complete work history, skills section, detailed summary conveying your value, published articles, and recommendations. Keep the profile updated regularly.
How much should you pay for LinkedIn management services?
Typical prices for LinkedIn management range from around $200-$500 for initial optimization, $500-$1000/month for ongoing management, and $1000-$2000+ for premium packages including content creation.
Can I cancel LinkedIn profile management at any time?
For external profile management services, you can typically cancel or pause services at any time, with proper notice as specified in your contract. You retain full ownership of your profile.
What results can I expect from LinkedIn profile management?
Typical results from professional management include a 2-10X increase in profile views, 20-50% more connections, 30%+ increase in engagement on content, and ranking #1 for your name search over time.
Conclusion
Having someone manage and optimize your LinkedIn profile offers tremendous benefits for advancing your career and reputation. With proper consent, it is perfectly acceptable on LinkedIn. Look for specialists with proven expertise who align with your preferences and goals. With the right profile manager, your improved LinkedIn presence can open up new professional opportunities.