Transferring ownership of a LinkedIn page is a process that allows you to hand over control of a LinkedIn page from one user to another. This can be useful in many situations, such as when an employee who managed a company LinkedIn page leaves the organization and needs to transfer it to someone else. While LinkedIn doesn’t have a built-in tool to facilitate transfers, there are a few ways you can effectively transfer a LinkedIn page between users. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide an overview of transferring LinkedIn page ownership and walk through the step-by-step process.
Overview of Transferring LinkedIn Page Ownership
LinkedIn currently does not allow users to directly transfer ownership of a LinkedIn page to another user. However, it is possible to effectively transfer a page by having the current owner add the new owner as an additional administrator and then removing themselves from the page. This allows the new user to have full administrative access and control of the page. Here are some key things to know about transferring a LinkedIn page:
- Only current administrators can add new admins or remove other admins
- To transfer a page, the current owner needs to add the new owner as an admin before removing themselves
- All current followers, posts, and engagement will remain on the transferred page
- The vanity URL for the page will not change
- LinkedIn does not issue any kind of confirmation or notice about transferred pages
Overall, if done properly, transferring a LinkedIn page can be a smooth process that enables a seamless transition between page owners while maintaining the existing brand and audience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring Ownership
Follow these steps to transfer a LinkedIn page from one user to another:
1. Add the New Owner as an Administrator
The first step is to add the person who will take over the page as an additional administrator. Only current admins can add new admins. To add a new admin:
- Go to the LinkedIn page you want to transfer
- Click “Admin Tools” in the top right
- Select “Manage admins”
- Enter the name, LinkedIn profile URL, or email address of the new admin
- Click “Add” to send them an invite to become a page admin
The new owner will get a notification to accept the admin invitation for the page. Once they accept, they will have full admin access alongside the current admins.
2. Remove Original Owner as Admin
After adding the new owner as an admin, the next step is to remove the original owner so they no longer have access. To remove an admin:
- Go to the LinkedIn page and click “Admin Tools”
- Select “Manage admins”
- Find the name of the admin you want to remove and click “Remove”
- Confirm that you want to remove them as a page admin
Once removed, the original owner will no longer have any admin access to the page.
3. Transfer Any Login Details
If the original owner used specific login details like a separate email or password to manage this LinkedIn page, make sure to transfer those login credentials to the new owner as well. Providing these details will allow the new admin to log in and fully manage the page.
4. Update Descriptions if Needed
The new owner should update any descriptions or admin titles that refer to the old owner. For example, change “John Smith’s LinkedIn page” to “Jane Doe’s LinkedIn page.” This helps clarify the transition in ownership.
5. Notify Followers
While optional, posting an update or sending a message to notify followers about the transfer of ownership can help provide transparency. This ensures your audience knows who the new point of contact is.
Tips for Streamlining the Transfer Process
Here are some tips to help make transferring a LinkedIn page as seamless as possible:
- Add the new owner as an admin well in advance to allow time for training and transitional oversight from the current owner.
- Use LinkedIn Messages to directly communicate with the new owner about page logistics like login information, scheduled posts, and answering common follower questions.
- Create a shared Notes document or spreadsheet to keep track of important page details like login credentials, posting schedules, and analytics data.
- Take screenshots of the current page setup so the new owner has an exact visual reference.
- Export a .csv file of current page followers to share with the new owner.
Proper planning and communication will ensure the person taking over has all the information they need to manage the page.
What Happens When a Page is Transferred?
When you fully transfer a LinkedIn page to a new owner, here are some key things to note:
- All existing content and followers will remain on the page.
- Historical analytics data will still be accessible to the new owner.
- The page’s vanity URL will stay the same.
- Notifications will be sent to new admins but not to followers.
- Admin changes will not show up in page update feeds.
- New owner will have access via current login credentials or can change later.
In effect, transferring ownership results in a nearly identical page, just with someone new “behind the scenes” managing it. This helps maintain a consistent experience for your audience.
LinkedIn Page Transfer Requirements
LinkedIn does require that any transfer meet certain requirements for it to be permitted:
- Only current administrators can add or remove other admins.
- The new owner must have an existing personal LinkedIn account in good standing.
- After adding the new admin, the old one must fully remove themselves.
- Transfers should comply with LinkedIn’s terms of service.
As long as these requirements are met, you can safely conduct the ownership transfer. Failure to meet them could result in LinkedIn withdrawing administrative access.
Mistakes to Avoid When Transferring Pages
When going through the transfer process, there are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid:
- Not adding the new owner as an admin first – They need admin access before the original owner removes themselves.
- Removing the original owner too soon – Wait to remove them last to allow time for training and transition.
- Not communicating about login details – The new owner needs login access to manage the page on the back end.
- Trying to transfer to someone without a LinkedIn account – Admins must have existing LinkedIn profiles.
- Deleting the original owner’s LinkedIn account – This could result in the loss of page admin access entirely.
Being aware of these pitfalls can help avoid any hiccups that could disrupt the smooth transfer of a LinkedIn page to a new owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about transferring LinkedIn page ownership:
Can I transfer my LinkedIn page to someone in another country?
Yes, you can transfer a LinkedIn page to someone located in another country. LinkedIn pages are not restricted by location, so a new admin can be anywhere.
Does transferring a page impact my personal LinkedIn profile?
No, transferring a LinkedIn page you administer has no effect on your personal LinkedIn profile. Removing yourself as a page admin only impacts your access to that particular page – not your overall LinkedIn account.
Does the page URL change when transferring ownership?
No, transferring ownership does not alter the custom URL for that LinkedIn page. The vanity URL will remain the same.
Can I transfer a LinkedIn page to multiple new owners?
LinkedIn does not support splitting official ownership of a single page across multiple new admins. You can only fully transfer a page to one new owner account to maintain a single point of contact.
Is there a way to transfer all my LinkedIn pages at once?
Unfortunately, there is no bulk transfer option for LinkedIn pages. Since each page is separate, you must go through the admin transfer process individually for each one.
Conclusion
Transferring a LinkedIn page to a new owner is a straightforward process once you understand the steps. By adding the new owner as an admin, removing the old one, transferring logins, and notifying followers, you can seamlessly facilitate the change in control of a LinkedIn page and its audience. Following LinkedIn’s transfer requirements avoids any issues that could put the transition in jeopardy. With proper coordination, transferring a LinkedIn page can allow a smooth, uninterrupted experience for your followers.