Having multiple LinkedIn accounts can be tempting for some users, but it does come with risks. LinkedIn’s terms of service allow for only one personal LinkedIn account per user. Having multiple accounts or misrepresenting your identity could result in your accounts being flagged, restricted, or banned by LinkedIn. Here are some best practices to avoid issues when using LinkedIn with more than one account:
Be transparent
If you have a legitimate need for a second account, be upfront about it. For example, you may have separate accounts for personal and business use. Make sure to use your real identity on both accounts and indicate in your profile descriptions the reason you have two accounts. Being transparent from the start can help avoid the perception that you are trying to mislead.
Avoid overlapping connections
Try to develop separate networks on each account. Having identical contacts and connections on multiple accounts can trigger LinkedIn’s system to suspect you are duplicating your network. Build distinct communities on each profile to avoid overlapping.
Use different contact info
When registering extra accounts, don’t use the same email address or phone number. Use an alternate email and number to verify the additional accounts. Reusing contact information across accounts is a red flag for LinkedIn.
Separate account activity
Be careful not to like, comment on, or interact with the same posts from different accounts. This type of overlapping engagement can cause both accounts to be flagged for suspicious activity. Be strategic in keeping your account usage separate.
Follow guidelines for multiple accounts
Carefully read LinkedIn’s rules around multiple accounts and follow their guidelines. For example, they specify that you should not use duplicate accounts to gain more contacts or build artificial connections. Abide by their policies to ensure your accounts remain in good standing.
Why LinkedIn restricts multiple accounts
LinkedIn limits users to one personal account to protect the integrity of their network and prevent abuse. Here are some reasons LinkedIn may suspect abuse if you have multiple accounts:
Artificially inflating connections
One of the main reasons LinkedIn restricts multiple accounts is to prevent users from artificially inflating their number of connections. This distorts the networking value of LinkedIn if users can simply connect with themselves via duplicate accounts.
Misrepresentation
Using alternate accounts to create a misleading identity or qualifications can undermine credibility. Presenting inflated or false personas diminishes the trustworthiness of interactions.
Spam and harassment
Abusive users could hypothetically use multiple accounts to bypass restrictions on spamming or harassing other members via multiple channels. This could overwhelm recipients and enable abusive behavior to continue despite restrictions placed on one account. Restricting accounts per user helps limit these types of actions.
Gaining unfair advantages
In some cases, additional accounts could give users unfair visibility, distribution, or advantages in rankings and search results. Duplicate accounts that like, comment on, and share a primary account’s content can artificially inflate engagement metrics. LinkedIn aims to maintain fair standards.
Data and metrics distortion
User metrics regarding number of connections, post reach, and engagement can become distorted and unreliable when individuals use multiple accounts to artificially boost their own activities and connections. This skews wider data and analytics for the platform as a whole.
Risk factors that raise flags
While having more than one account is not an automatic violation, certain behaviors and factors can raise flags with LinkedIn’s monitoring systems. Here are some risk factors to avoid:
Identical profiles
Copying substantial profile content across accounts is an obvious red flag. Duplicate work histories, education, contact info, and other profile details are clear signs the accounts are duplicative.
Matching connections
As mentioned above, building contacts with the exact same people or companies on different accounts can draw suspicion, especially if you connect with the same contacts using both accounts.
Cross-account engagement
Liking, commenting on, sharing, or otherwise engaging with the same content from different accounts should be avoided. Even if accounts represent different entities, cross-engagement looks extremely suspicious.
Bulk connection requests
If you send large volumes of connection requests simultaneously from different accounts, LinkedIn may suspect you are trying to inflate your networking artificially. Keep connection building to reasonable levels.
Duplicate login information
Using the same email address, phone number, or login credentials across multiple accounts is never a good idea. It is a clear sign to LinkedIn that one person is operating both accounts. Use unique verifying details when setting up any additional accounts.
Suspicious behavior
If an account exhibits bot-like activity, spamming behavior, harassment, misrepresentation, scraping, or any other Terms of Service violations, any linked accounts will also come under scrutiny and risk restrictions.
Consequences of being flagged
If LinkedIn detects what they perceive as multiple account abuse or misuse, a range of actions could ensue:
Account restrictions
Initial restrictions may be placed on abilities to interact with other accounts, such as blocking messaging, invitations, and other engagement capabilities. This limits potential spam and harassment issues.
Network restrictions
Your ability to connect with new contacts may be temporarily or permanently disabled if LinkedIn feels your network does not represent genuine professional relationships.
Removal of artificial engagement
Any likes, shares, comments, or other engagement done through what LinkedIn deems artificial means may be deleted or removed from your account’s metrics and visibility.
Account suspension
Serious or repeated violations can lead to temporary account suspension requiring you to prove your identity to reinstate the account.
Permanent account termination
In cases of severe, intentional, and ongoing abuse, LinkedIn may permanently terminate accounts and ban the user from the platform entirely. This is rarely done unless serious misuse has occurred.
Appealing account restrictions
If LinkedIn takes action on your account such as suspensions or restrictions based on suspicions of multiple account misuse, here are some tips for appealing:
Be honest
Provide LinkedIn with transparent explanations for why you have multiple accounts and your intended use. Demonstrate you are not trying to inflate vanity metrics.
Emphasize separate networks
Show how each account has distinct, non-overlapping networks and connections relevant to different audiences.
Highlight legitimate uses
Explain any business or practical needs for your additional accounts that justify their necessity and appropriate use.
Report unauthorized access
If you believe any account was compromised or used without your consent, report unauthorized access to demonstrate the activity was not yours.
Remove any rule violations
Demonstrate you have removed any content, disconnected any artificial connections, or stopped any prohibited behavior that goes against LinkedIn’s policies.
Request human review
Ask LinkedIn support to escalate your appeal for human review if responses appear automated or unreasonable. Delicate restrictions politely but firmly.
Best practices for multiple accounts
Here are some recommended best practices if operating multiple LinkedIn accounts:
Be transparent in profiles
Clearly note in each profile why you have multiple accounts and how each one has distinct purposes and audiences.
Build separate networks
Make sure each account has its own distinct group of connections relevant to that profile’s focus. Avoid connecting the same people to multiple accounts.
Use different contact info
Never verify multiple accounts with the same email address or phone number. Use unique identifiers for each account.
Avoid overlapping engagement
Do not interact with the same content or profiles from different accounts. Keep account activity separate.
Follow LinkedIn’s rules
Carefully abide by all LinkedIn policies for multiple accounts, Terms of Service, and Community Guidelines.
Limit automation
Avoid automating connections or engagement across accounts. Cross-account activity should always be manual and organic.
Appeal fairly
If restricted, politely make your case to LinkedIn support and provide transparency about your reasoning and intended usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can businesses have multiple LinkedIn pages?
Yes. While individual users are restricted to one personal account, businesses can register multiple official company pages for brands, locations, subsidiaries, etc. These must represent legitimate business entities.
Can I use two accounts if my name changed?
In this case, you should contact LinkedIn support to have your primary account name changed to reflect your new name, rather than creating a whole new second account. Maintaining one account is preferable.
What if I want accounts for personal and business use?
LinkedIn recommends keeping these uses within one primary account. You can indicate in your profile description if the account is used for both personal and business relationships. Keeping one account avoids problematic overlaps.
Could my IP address trigger suspicions if family shares it?
Potentially. If multiple accounts are accessed from the same IP address it can appear suspicious, unless those accounts transparently disclose they represent people in the same household.
What if I purchased a company with an existing LinkedIn account?
Contact LinkedIn to merge or close the existing company account and have it consolidated into your official company page. You generally want one unified company presence vs. multiple accounts.
Conclusion
Maintaining multiple LinkedIn accounts carries risks of restriction or banning if not used carefully and transparently. Abide by LinkedIn’s policies, build separate connections and engagement on each account, use unique contact information, and avoid crossing over activity across accounts. With cautious use focused on adding value for each audience, having more than one account can be worthwhile, but users should be very mindful to avoid triggers that can lead to problems.
