LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 810 million members worldwide. As a platform built around making connections, LinkedIn allows members to send invitations to connect with other members. However, LinkedIn does place certain restrictions around how many invitations a member can send in a given period of time.
Why does LinkedIn have invitation restrictions?
LinkedIn’s invitation restrictions are in place to protect the quality of the platform and prevent spamming or harassment. Here are some of the specific reasons LinkedIn limits the number of connection invitations:
- To prevent users from indiscriminately sending invitations en masse.
- To maintain the integrity of connections by encouraging thoughtful, relevant invitations.
- To ensure members have control over who they connect with on the platform.
- To limit the ability of bots or fake accounts to send large volumes of invitations.
- To protect members from harassment, bullying, or spam.
The invitation limits help uphold LinkedIn’s goal of facilitating professional networking in a respectful, relevant way. They aim to make sure connections are made thoughtfully rather than randomly or in a way that could be perceived as aggressive.
What are LinkedIn’s invitation limits?
LinkedIn has the following invitation limits in place as of October 2022:
| Invitation Type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Invitations to members you don’t know | 30 per day |
| Invitations to members who share a group with you | 100 per day |
| Invitations to members who share a school or current company with you | 200 per day |
The limits vary based on the existing connection between you and the member you are inviting. Higher limits apply when you share a group, school, or company in common, as those are seen as more relevant connections.
Invitations to members you don’t know
If you would like to connect with someone you have no existing connection with on LinkedIn, you are limited to inviting 30 such members per day. This could include inviting connections based on their industry, location, job title, shared interests, or another attribute.
Invitations to members who share a group with you
If you and another member both belong to the same LinkedIn group, you can send up to 100 connection invitations to such members per day. Belonging to a common group indicates some shared professional interests.
Invitations to members who share a school or company with you
You may send up to 200 connection invitations per day to LinkedIn members who currently work at the same company as you or attended the same school. These are considered highly relevant connections.
What happens if you exceed the limits?
If you exceed the daily invitation limits outlined above, LinkedIn will restrict your ability to send further invitations. Here is what may happen:
- You will see an onscreen message informing you that you have exceeded your daily invitation limit.
- You will be unable to send additional invitations for the remainder of the current calendar day.
- Your daily invitation counter will reset at 12am midnight in your time zone.
- If you consistently exceed limits over multiple days, your account may be restricted further. This could include being unable to send invitations for a period of time.
The exact restrictions placed on accounts exceeding invitation limits are determined by LinkedIn’s automated systems and algorithms. The restrictions aim to protect the quality of the platform while minimizing disruption to your account.
Tips to avoid exceeding LinkedIn invitation limits
Here are some tips to make sure you stay within LinkedIn’s connection invitation limits:
- Send invitations thoughtfully – Only connect with members you have a genuine professional interest in, not just to build up your connections.
- Leverage commonalities – You have higher limits when inviting those who share groups, schools, or employers with you.
- Spread out invitations – Don’t blast invitations. Pace yourself over multiple days or weeks.
- Personalize invitations – Customized messages have higher acceptance rates anyway.
- Use advanced search filters – Find the members you want to target without sending mass invites.
- Monitor your daily limits – Check your invitation counter so you know how many you have left.
Staying within the limits is in your own interest, as mass invitations are unlikely to be accepted. Personalized, thoughtful connection building is best for your professional network.
Can limits be increased or lifted?
LinkedIn’s invitation limits are automated based on algorithms. Individual members cannot request higher limits. However, there are some circumstances in which your limits may increase over time:
- Having an established network and history of accepted invitations can lead to gradually higher limits.
- Premium account holders may have slightly higher limits than free members.
- Higher engagement on the platform, such as sharing posts and commenting, can increase limits.
- As your network grows, you will have more options to invite those in your 2nd and 3rd degree networks.
There is no way to instantly or permanently lift your personal invitation limits. LinkedIn considers this carefully to maintain trust and prevent harassment issues.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s invitation limits aim to strike a balance between allowing members to grow their networks while protecting the quality of interactions. The best approach is to send thoughtful, targeted invitations on a periodic basis without overdoing it. By understanding the different limits and pacing yourself, you can steadily build connections without triggering restrictions.