Many people use LinkedIn to network, build their professional brand, find jobs, share content, and more. One question that often comes up is whether LinkedIn likes users posting external links in their posts and on their profile.
Why Would LinkedIn Dislike External Links?
There are a few potential reasons why LinkedIn may dislike too many external links:
- External links can drive traffic off the LinkedIn platform. LinkedIn wants to keep users engaged on their site, not send them elsewhere.
- Too many external links may come across as spammy or promotional. LinkedIn wants the platform to be used for genuine professional engagement.
- Security concerns. External links could potentially send users to unsafe or shady sites.
- Control over user experience. LinkedIn wants to control the user experience and external links means less control.
So in general, LinkedIn may view external links as threatening their business model and platform objectives in certain circumstances.
Does LinkedIn Completely Ban External Links?
No, LinkedIn does not outright ban all external links. Some external links are perfectly acceptable on LinkedIn. Here are some guidelines on when external links are allowed:
- Your profile’s Contact Info section – You can link to your website, blog, portfolio etc here.
- Company Pages – Company profiles can link out to the company site.
- Posts – You can include relevant external links in your posts, as long as they are not overly promotional.
- Ads – LinkedIn’s advertising products allow external links for advertisers.
- Sponsored Content – This paid content can include external links.
So in the right context, external links are permitted. LinkedIn’s algorithms look at the overall balance and relevance of external links vs on-platform content.
Best Practices for External Links on LinkedIn
When including external links on LinkedIn, follow these best practices:
- Add value – The links should add value to your connections, not just promote yourself or your company. Offer useful resources.
- Limit promotions – Don’t share too many links promoting your own content, products or services. Follow LinkedIn’s rules on self-promotion.
- Stay on topic – Only share links relevant to your industry and focus. Random links look spammy.
- Contribute original content – Balance links with plenty of original posts and discussions on LinkedIn itself.
- Monitor engagement – If your engagement drops when you share links, reduce the frequency.
LinkedIn Algorithm Penalizes Too Many Links
LinkedIn does use its algorithm to limit accounts that have too many external links. Here are some potential penalties:
- Lower visibility for your posts and profile in search results and feeds.
- Limits on your ability to send messages and connect with new people.
- Fewer notifications when you post content.
- Restricted publishing abilities (e.g. only 1 post a day).
- In severe cases, possible account limitation or suspension.
The exact thresholds and criteria LinkedIn uses are not public. But you want to avoid sudden spikes in links or having an unbalanced mix of external vs on-platform content.
Tips to Avoid LinkedIn Link Penalties
Here are some tips to avoid issues with too many external links:
- Gradually build up links over time – don’t flood your profile all at once.
- Balance external content with your own posts, comments, and discussions.
- Monitor your engagement rate. If it drops, reduce external linking.
- Diversify the destinations you link to – don’t just link to your own site.
- Contribute value with each link – informative resources, not just promotions.
- Ask for feedback if connections mention too many links.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn does limit and penalize accounts that have excessive external links. However, you are allowed to include relevant and valuable external links in moderation, following best practices. Focus on building relationships, contributing value, and maintaining a healthy balance between external links and on-platform engagement. This will allow you to get the benefits of sharing links while avoiding issues with LinkedIn’s algorithms.
