LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” feature shows a list of profiles that other viewers of a particular profile have also recently looked at. This feature provides useful context on who else is interested in a certain profile and enables discovery of related profiles. However, it does not necessarily mean that everyone listed in “People Also Viewed” actively looked at or engaged with that profile. There are a few key things to understand about how LinkedIn generates this list.
What Does “People Also Viewed” Mean?
The “People Also Viewed” module shows a sample of other members who have viewed the profile you are looking at. LinkedIn says it is based on viewers’ recent activity and common connections or industries.
Importantly, this does not necessarily mean that each person in the list actively clicked on and viewed the profile. LinkedIn uses view data and their recommendation algorithms to generate this sample list of related profiles.
So while some people in “People Also Viewed” did likely view that profile, others may just have similar viewer demographics or connections. It is designed to help you discover similar or relevant people based on holistic view activity patterns.
Why You May See Unexpected Profiles
Since the list is generated algorithmically based on aggregated viewer data, it may contain some unexpected or less relevant profiles. Here are some reasons you may see a profile show up:
– The profile has similar connections, industries, employers, education, location, skills, age range or other attributes as the original profile’s viewers, so LinkedIn’s algorithms associate them together. But this does not guarantee they actually looked at the exact profile.
– High-profile or celebrity accounts tend to get more passive views from curious people browsing LinkedIn. This can skew the algorithms to show their profiles in “People Also Viewed” for various other profiles.
– Bots or fake accounts may trigger passive views that get counted by LinkedIn’s systems. While LinkedIn works to reduce these, some can still influence the algorithms.
– The list is sampled from a large pool of viewer data. So there is a random element, and you may see a profile or two that viewed the page far in the past or has little relevance.
Overall the list aims to provide useful signal on related profiles of interest, but individual profiles should not be interpreted as having definitively viewed that exact profile.
When Do Profiles Appear in “People Also Viewed”?
For a profile to appear in the “People Also Viewed” module, that viewer needs to have been active on LinkedIn recently. Here are some key points on when viewed profiles show up:
Recency of Viewing
LinkedIn specifically states the list is based on viewers’ “recent activity.” So the profiles shown likely viewed the original profile within the last few weeks or months. You are less likely to see profiles that simply viewed it years in the past.
Frequency of Viewing
Frequent viewers of a profile are more likely to be sampled in the “People Also Viewed” module. If someone views a profile multiple times, LinkedIn’s algorithms give them greater weight.
Engagement Beyond Viewing
Interacting with a profile beyond just viewing also makes LinkedIn more likely to showcase them as a “Person Also Viewed.” Things like liking, commenting on or sharing posts published by that account all signal stronger interest.
Recency of Your Own Viewing Activity
The list is also personalized based on your own recent viewing behavior. If you spent time looking at certain profiles, you are more likely to see those profiles again in this section when viewing other people.
Tips for Interpreting “People Also Viewed”
Here are some tips on interpreting LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” module:
– View it as a sample of other interested profiles, not an exhaustive list of everyone who viewed the exact profile.
– The profiles shown likely have common interests, goals or business relevance to the original profile. But not necessarily direct connections.
– Don’t assume viewing from specific individuals unless you have other signals. Use it more for discovery.
– Frequency and recency matter. Those who viewed more often or recently are most likely to appear.
– Profiles do need to have been active on LinkedIn within a recent window to show up. Not all historical views appear.
– An occasional less relevant profile may appear due to random sampling or bots. Don’t read into it too much.
– Use it as a starting point to find similar profiles to potentially connect with if they make sense. Don’t assume they want to connect.
– Weighting the list by shared connections, employers, locations or interests can help surface more relevant people.
Using “People Also Viewed” to Your Benefit
While the “People Also Viewed” module has its limitations, you can leverage it in your LinkedIn strategy:
Discover New Connections
The list provides a helpful starting point to find contacts working at key employers or with shared connections. Message them referencing the shared connection or interest for a natural opening.
Join Related Groups
Look at which LinkedIn Groups the profiles are in to uncover communities relevant to connecting with them. You can then join those Groups to get on their radar.
View Recommended Content
Notice which posts or content those profiles have shared or engaged with. Their recommendations reveal useful content for your own profile and outreach.
Prioritize Leads
If you see key target company profiles frequently in “People Also Viewed” lists for your profile, make engaging them a priority.
Expand to Broader Audiences
Use the profiles as a bridge to reach their networks and followers who may also be interested in connecting.
Shift Personal Branding
If you notice very different types of profiles viewing yours, consider tweaking your branding and messaging to better resonate with your goals.
Limitations of LinkedIn “People Also Viewed”
While “People Also Viewed” provides useful signals, some key limitations exist:
– Profiles are recommended algorithmically based on correlative data, not definitive proof of viewing that profile.
– Bots, fake accounts and passive viewing of high profiles can skew results.
– Recency and frequency biases mean you miss historical viewers not recently active.
– Sample sizes are small and personalized, not comprehensive.
– Weights likely favor viewers who engaged beyond just viewing the profile.
– An occasional irrelevant or random profile may surface due to sampling quirks.
– The list evolves dynamically. You may see high variation in profiles shown day to day.
– Connections likely exist between viewers and original profile, but could be multiple degrees removed.
– Without a paid Recruiter seat, you can’t filter or sort profiles by shared connections, companies etc.
Should You Message People in “People Also Viewed”?
In general, proceed cautiously before messaging profiles listed in “People Also Viewed” out of the blue:
– Only message those you have clear relevance to, based on shared interests, employers, connections etc. Don’t make vague outreach.
– Reference the specific common interest, connection or company to make the purpose clear upfront.
– Unless you have reason to believe they recently viewed you, don’t make assumptions. Allow them to bring it up.
– Focus on profiles more likely to have actively viewed you frequently, such as shared 2nd degree connections.
– Consider commenting or liking their posts to organically engage first before direct messaging.
– Prioritize those who you share deeper connections with or who engaged with your profile where reciprocity makes sense.
– Make sure your messaging provides value and a clear purpose for connecting. Don’t spam or pitch randomly.
– Monitor their response and interest level, and don’t over-message those who don’t actively engage back.
Proceed strategically and stay targeted in who you message to be respectful of their time and attention. With the right approach, “People Also Viewed” can provide a boost to building your network.
FAQs
Does every profile in “People Also Viewed” definitely look at my profile?
No, some may not have actively looked at your exact profile. LinkedIn uses algorithms to recommend related profiles visitors of your profile may find relevant based on correlation data. But specific individuals may not have viewed you directly.
How often does the “People Also Viewed” list update?
It is dynamically generated in real-time based on recent viewer activity data. The profiles change frequently, though core relevant companies and connections tend to persist over time.
Can I tell if someone looked at my LinkedIn profile multiple times?
Not with a free account. Paid subscribers can see view frequency data to identify followers and fan who repeatedly look at their profile. On free accounts, you need to infer frequency from continued recurrence in “People Also Viewed.”
Does looking at someone’s profile notify them or show up as a view?
Simply viewing a LinkedIn does not trigger any notification to them or show up in their visitor data. Only paid Job Seeker and Recruiter accounts can see full viewer and visit data for their own profile.
Should I message people in “People Also Viewed” to connect?
Only message certain relevant profiles strategically. Make sure you have a specific purpose and value to offer them for connecting. Don’t make vague outreach or assume they want to connect just because they were recommended related to someone else. Monitor engagement levels.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” module provides useful but limited signal on who is looking at similar profiles to your own. While it can help discover relevant profiles and interests, individual profiles may not have directly viewed you. Approach connections strategically. The list is best used as a discovery starting point, not definitive proof of viewing intent. With the right expectations, “People Also Viewed” allows you to expand your network and personal brand effectively.
