It is possible to have more than one LinkedIn account associated with a single email address. However, LinkedIn’s terms of service allow only one account per person. Having multiple accounts for the same individual goes against LinkedIn’s rules.
Why Would You Want Multiple LinkedIn Accounts?
There are a few reasons why someone might want more than one LinkedIn account:
Separate Professional and Personal Brands
Some people like to keep their professional and personal brands separate. For example, someone might have one LinkedIn account for their career persona and another for connecting with friends and family.
Anonymous Job Searching
If you are actively searching for a new job, you may not want potential employers seeing your current connections and activity. A second “anonymous” account allows you to network and apply for jobs without notifying your current employer.
Testing Features or Site Changes
LinkedIn rolls out new features and changes periodically. Maintaining a secondary account can allow you to preview and test these updates before they reach your primary profile.
Spamming or Spreading Propaganda
Unfortunately, some individuals create multiple accounts for shady purposes like spamming or spreading disinformation. LinkedIn specifically prohibits using their platform in these ways.
Steps to Create a Second LinkedIn Account
If you decide you want to have two LinkedIn accounts, here is how to set it up:
Use a Different Email Address
To create a second account, you’ll need access to an email address that is not already associated with your primary LinkedIn profile. You can create a new free email account through providers like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo.
Do Not Use Your Real Name
LinkedIn requires members to use real identities, not aliases. However, if you wish to maintain anonymity or separate personal and professional personas, you may want to consider using a variation of your name, such as a middle name or maiden name.
Avoid Connecting with the Same People
Refrain from connecting with the same contacts across both accounts. If connections spot you under two different names, they may report the duplicate accounts to LinkedIn.
Use a Different Photo
Make sure to set a different profile photo for your second account. Using the same image makes it easier for LinkedIn to detect duplicate accounts.
Don’t Use the Same Location
List different locations and job titles on each profile. Identical employment histories also make accounts easier to link together.
Best Practices for Managing Multiple Accounts
If you decide to operate two LinkedIn profiles, keep these tips in mind:
Don’t Log In Simultaneously
Only access one account at a time, especially from the same device or internet browser. Simultaneous logins can trigger LinkedIn security mechanisms.
Periodically Switch Primary Accounts
Designate one account as your main profile at any given time and only check the other occasionally. Constant activity across both makes patterns easier to spot.
Keep Purpose of Each Account Clear
To avoid mistakes, remember which persona and purpose you assigned to each profile. Don’t blend professional and personal connections.
Don’t Link Out to Both Accounts
On other platforms like Twitter or Facebook, never link or cross-reference to both LinkedIn profiles. This clearly signals they belong to the same person.
LinkedIn Rules About Multiple Accounts
While not impossible, maintaining two LinkedIn accounts goes against the platform’s User Agreement. Here are the relevant LinkedIn rules about multiple accounts:
One Account Per Individual
LinkedIn’s User Agreement states you agree to create only one account for yourself. Accounts registered under aliases or alternate names violate this rule.
No Misleading or False Information
You cannot provide misleading or false details about identity or professional credentials in either account profile.
No Abusive Activity
Accounts cannot participate in spamming, scraping data, or spreading disinformation. These malicious activities often involve multiple fake accounts.
LinkedIn Can Terminate Accounts
If LinkedIn determines you hold two accounts for the same person, they can terminate either or both profiles without notice, along with restricting future access to the platform.
Risks of Having Multiple LinkedIn Accounts
Besides violating LinkedIn’s policies, maintaining two accounts comes with a few risks:
Decreased Trustworthiness
Associations like employers may find dual accounts less credible and make them question your transparency.
Limitations on Functionality
You won’t be able to fully leverage networking tools if connections are split across accounts.
Forgetfulness and Mix-ups
It’s easy to mix up which account you’re logged into, making it likelier to inadvertently cross-post information.
Being Flagged as Spam or Disinformation
If you’re flagged for spam-like activity, both accounts could get shut down. This also damages your reputation.
LinkedIn Alternatives for Multiple Accounts
If you want to keep separate professional and personal online identities, platforms like Twitter may offer more flexibility than LinkedIn:
Twitter Lists
Twitter Lists allow you to segment followers into categories like “Coworkers”, “Friends”, etc. You can tweet and interact selectively with each list.
Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups operate similar to Twitter Lists – you can join professional and personal groups and target content accordingly.
Instagram Close Friends
Instagram Close Friends lets you share Stories visible only to designated contacts, keeping some content private.
These tools all let you cultivate separate audiences while technically maintaining just one account.
Conclusion
Maintaining two LinkedIn accounts simultaneously goes against their platform rules. While possible in practice, doing so comes with risks of account termination, limited functionality, and reputational damage if caught. For most professionals, your best bet is keeping a single meticulously-managed LinkedIn presence. However, if you need to segment audiences, alternative social media tools like Twitter Lists or Instagram Close Friends may suit your needs better than two LinkedIn profiles. Be thoughtful in considering your motivations and needs before attempting to operate two accounts on any platform.