LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 850 million members worldwide. As a LinkedIn user, you have the ability to connect with other members by sending them connection requests that allow you to view their full profiles if accepted. However, LinkedIn also allows you to follow other members without connecting. This means you can see their posts and activity updates in your feed without them needing to accept a connection request.
There are a few key differences between following someone and connecting on LinkedIn that explain why you may be able to follow but not connect with certain members:
Following vs Connecting
When you follow someone on LinkedIn:
- You can see their public posts and activity updates in your feed
- You do not need them to accept a connection request
- You cannot message them directly unless you also connect
- You have limited profile access – you can only view their public profile information
When you connect with someone on LinkedIn:
- You can see their public posts and activity updates in your feed
- They need to accept your connection request before you are connected
- You can message them directly after connecting
- You have full access to their profile after connecting
So in summary, following gives you limited access to view someone’s public profile and posts without needing them to approve a connection. Connecting requires approval from them but gives you messaging abilities and full profile access if accepted.
Why You May Be Able to Follow But Not Connect
There are a few common reasons why you may be able to follow someone but not connect on LinkedIn:
They have limited their connections
Some members limit whom they connect with on LinkedIn. For example, they may only accept connection requests from people they know and trust. In this case, you can still follow them to see their public posts, but will be unable to connect or message them directly.
They don’t recognize you
If someone doesn’t recognize you or understand why you want to connect, they may ignore your connection request. But you can still follow them to stay updated on their activity without needing them to approve connecting.
You don’t share any connections
Members are more likely to accept connection requests if you have shared connections. If you have no connections in common, they may be less inclined to connect but allow you to follow them.
You have hit their connection limit
LinkedIn limits the number of connections members can have (up to 30,000). If someone has hit their connection limit, you won’t be able to connect but can still follow them.
Their account is protected
Some members protect their account privacy settings, making it harder to connect. But their public posts and activity remain visible to followers.
They want to limit how many people can contact them
Following allows members to share posts and updates broadly while limiting who can directly contact them. So they may allow follows but decline direct connection requests.
When is it Appropriate to Follow vs Connect?
As a general rule, you should connect with people you know personally or professionally on LinkedIn. Sending connection requests to strangers is often seen as spammy. Following can be appropriate in some circumstances, such as:
- Following industry leaders or experts to see their public posts
- Following companies or organizations you are interested in
- Following influencers, thought leaders or public figures to get their updates
- Following co-workers or professional contacts who limit whom they connect with
However, following someone should not be used as a workaround if your connection requests are repeatedly ignored. If someone declines your request, avoid repeatedly following and unfollowing them or contacting them outside of LinkedIn as this can come across as harassing.
Tips for Successfully Connecting on LinkedIn
If you are having trouble getting your connection requests accepted, here are some tips:
- Personalize your request with a note reminding them who you are or why you want to connect.
- Only send requests to people you know or have interacted with professionally.
- Focus on building genuine connections, not just expanding your network.
- Make use of shared connections by asking them to introduce you first.
- Provide value by engaging thoughtfully with their content.
- Consider following them first to establish familiarity before requesting to connect.
Limits to Following Users
While following allows you to see someone’s public profile information without connecting, there are some limits:
- You won’t see updates from them in your feed until you follow them.
- You can only see their limited public profile, not their full profile.
- You can’t message them or access their contact info unless you connect.
- They can block you from following them at any time.
- Their updates may not show for you if they limit visibility using audience settings.
So while following gives you basic access to someone’s public profile, connecting is needed for full profile access, direct messaging abilities, and seeing more of their updates.
Conclusion
The ability to follow someone without connecting on LinkedIn provides a way to passively observe their public activity without approval. However, messaging capabilities and full profile access still require a confirmed connection. When used appropriately, following can help build familiarity before requesting to connect. But it should not be used to work around ignored connection requests or harass other members. Focus on building genuine relationships and providing value to increase the chances of your connections being accepted.