A LinkedIn company follow allows you to see updates from companies that you don’t work for or haven’t done business with. Following companies can help you stay up-to-date on their products, services, news, job openings, and more. But can a LinkedIn company actually follow you back? The short answer is no. LinkedIn does not allow companies to follow individual users the way individuals can follow companies. However, there are some nuances to understand about how companies interact with followers on LinkedIn.
Companies can’t initiate follows
The main reason a LinkedIn company can’t follow you back is that companies don’t have the ability to actively follow other profiles on LinkedIn. Only individual users can choose to follow companies or other individuals. So while you can follow a company, the company can’t decide to follow you back or initiate a follow of its own volition.
Company profiles are set up differently than individual member profiles on LinkedIn. Companies don’t log in and actively post status updates or click to follow other profiles. Instead, employees with administrative access can post updates and interact with followers on behalf of the company. But companies don’t have visibility into who is following their page or the tools to follow people back.
Companies can engage with followers
While companies can’t follow you back, they can still engage with you as a follower. For example, when you follow a company, you may receive notifications when that company posts updates, launches new products, announces events, and more. Some companies also have dedicated personnel who manage their LinkedIn presence and will respond to comments, likes, and messages from followers.
So even though the company can’t click a button to follow you back, they can still see your activity as a follower and interact with you through status updates, posts, and messages. Think of it like a one-way follow, where you initiate the connection by following the company, and then the company publishes content for you and all of its other followers.
You may interact with company employees
In some cases, following a company on LinkedIn can lead to being followed back by individual employees who work for that company. For example, social media managers, recruiters, salespeople, and other staff may come across your profile and choose to follow you back independently.
While the company itself can’t follow you, building a connection with the company’s page can increase your visibility and expose you to more of its employees. Company followers may also be featured as “People Also Viewed” suggestions, leading company employees to find and follow you.
Ways companies engage with followers
Here are some of the main ways companies may interact with you as a follower, even if they can’t formally follow you back:
- Post status updates about company news, products, services, and jobs
- Share content like articles, videos, images, and presentations
- Promote company events and campaigns
- Respond to comments and messages
- Like and react to followers’ posts
- Repost or share followers’ content
- Send InMail messages to interact one-on-one
While companies can’t click a “Follow” button, they engage with followers by posting content, responding to interactions, and sharing your posts and content. This facilitates an ongoing two-way communication channel, even without a formal follow back.
You gain access as a follower
As a follower, you gain special access to a company’s updates and content. This includes:
- Seeing posts in your LinkedIn feed
- Receiving notifications when new content is posted
- Joining specialized LinkedIn Groups for that company
- Commenting on posts and interacting with the company
- Learning about new products, services, and offers
Followers have front-row access to company news and info. So even without the company following you back, you still get value from the one-way connection.
Following companies builds your network
Here are some additional benefits of following companies on LinkedIn:
- Discover new job opportunities and openings
- Stay updated on trends and news in your industry
- Gain exposure to new services, vendors, partners, and clients
- Interact with company thought leaders and executives
- Show industry interest and expertise on your profile
- Land speaking opportunities at company events
- Build relationships with company insiders and employees
While companies can’t follow back, building relationships with their brand and people expands your professional network.
Tips for engaging companies as a follower
To make the most of your one-way company follows, keep these tips in mind:
- Like and comment on company posts to stay engaged
- Share company content with your own followers
- Tag company employees in relevant discussions
- Message the company page or post on their feed
- Join their LinkedIn Group if they have one
- Turn on notifications so you never miss an update
- Follow company employees to expand your network
- Watch for chances to participate in contests or promotions
- Provide constructive feedback and ideas for the company
Proactively engaging with companies tends to elicit more responses and interactions in return.
LinkedIn limits on company follows
LinkedIn does limit how many companies a user can follow to prevent spammy follows. According to LinkedIn’s public help pages:
- Standard members can follow up to 300 companies
- Premium members can follow up to 500 companies
When you reach your account limit, you’ll need to unfollow some companies before adding new ones.
Company follow etiquette
Here are some etiquette tips to keep in mind when following companies on LinkedIn:
- Only follow companies you’re genuinely interested in
- Don’t bombard company posts with irrelevant content
- Be respectful and constructive with feedback and critiques
- Don’t over-message company reps or share spam
- Monitor your notifications from companies and mute if needed
- Feel free to unfollow if a company’s content isn’t relevant
Following business etiquette helps ensure useful, productive interactions.
Insight from company analytics
As a company, LinkedIn provides analytics on your followers and engagement. Here are some key follower metrics companies can track:
- Number of followers
- Follower growth over time
- Follower demographics like job role, industry, location
- Content engagement rates
- Most popular content types
- Interaction rates on posts
- Click-through rates on shared links
These analytics help companies understand follower interests and inform better content strategies. While companies can’t follow back, they gain useful data on one-way followers.
Alternative reciprocity options
While companies can’t follow you back on LinkedIn, they may find other ways to recognize valuable followers:
- Reposting or highlighting top content from followers
- Featuring loyal followers on their page or in company content
- Offering exclusive discounts or perks to highly engaged followers
- Giving shoutouts to top followers in posts or updates
- Sending customized InMail messages to show appreciation
Companies have alternative options for showing reciprocal appreciation, even if they can’t click the “Follow” button.
Summary
While LinkedIn companies can’t officially follow you back, they can still interact and build relationships with followers. As an individual user, you can gain valuable access to industry news, job postings, and exclusive content by following companies. And companies can engage followers through regular updates, responses, shares, and promotions. Focus on the quality of interactions over formal reciprocal follows. With the right approach, following companies can enrich your professional network and access – even without formal follow backs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay to have a company follow me back?
No, there is no paid product or feature that enables companies to follow individual LinkedIn users. Company follows are limited to the one-way model where individuals can follow but companies can’t initiate follows.
How do I unfollow a company on LinkedIn?
To unfollow a company, visit their LinkedIn page and click the “Following” button at the top. This will change to “Follow” and confirm you no longer follow that company. You can also manage the companies you follow from the “Following” tab on your profile.
What’s the benefit of following companies I don’t work for?
It allows you to stay updated on industry trends, news, products, and job openings. Following companies can strengthen your professional network even if you don’t currently work there.
Can I see who follows a particular company?
No, LinkedIn does not make follow lists public. Only company admins can see analytics on their followers, but not specific follower names or profiles.
Do all company employees see my activity when I follow their page?
No, your activity will only be seen by employees who actively monitor their company’s LinkedIn analytics and feeds. Most will not review followers at an individual level.
Conclusion
While reciprocal following isn’t an option for companies on LinkedIn, you can still derive value from following brands, gaining exposure and interacting with organizations relevant to your professional goals. Focus on the quality of your interactions rather than formal follows. With compelling content and constructive engagement, you can build relationships with companies and expand your reach – without relying on follow backs.