Yes, you can upload a list of names to LinkedIn to add connections in bulk. LinkedIn allows you to upload a .csv file with contact details of up to 40,000 people to connect with them on the platform. This can be a quick and easy way to expand your network if you have a list of contacts available to upload.
Benefits of Uploading a List of Names
Here are some of the key benefits of uploading a list to connect with people on LinkedIn:
- Saves time – Manually sending connection requests to a large list of people can be extremely time consuming. Uploading a list allows you to connect with many more people much faster.
- Reach more contacts – Uploading your email or phone contacts allows you to quickly expand your LinkedIn network. You can connect with colleagues, classmates, clients etc. in one go.
- Keep your network up-to-date – Upload updated contact lists periodically to ensure your LinkedIn connections stay current as people change jobs and contact details.
- Boost your presence – A larger network on LinkedIn can help boost your personal brand and presence in your industry.
- Find new opportunities – Expanding your reach can open doors to new career or business opportunities.
How to Upload a List to LinkedIn
Uploading a contact list to LinkedIn to connect with multiple members is easy to do by following these steps:
- Open the My Network page on LinkedIn and click “Add Connections” at the top.
- On the next page click the option for “Upload”.
- You will be prompted to upload a .csv file. The file should include columns for First Name, Last Name, and Email Address for each contact.
- LinkedIn will match the contacts in your file to existing members. You can message the new connections directly from the pending invitations page.
You can also upload files through the LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Recruiter platforms. There are some additional fields like Company and Title that can be included in files uploaded this way.
LinkedIn Upload Limits
When uploading a list, be aware of the following limits enforced by LinkedIn:
- File size: The .csv file must be under 10 MB in size.
- Total contacts: You can upload details for up to 40,000 people in a single file.
- Daily invitations: LinkedIn restricts the number of invitations that can be sent daily to avoid spam. Typically you can connect with around 300 new people per day.
Trying to exceed these limits may cause errors or prevent your contacts from being uploaded correctly.
Best Practices for Uploading
To get the best results when uploading your list to LinkedIn, it helps to follow some best practices:
Choose the Right Contacts
Only upload contacts that you know and would actually want to connect with on LinkedIn. Avoid spamming strangers with unwanted connection requests. Stick to uploading lists of professional contacts, colleagues, clients etc. that make sense for your network.
Personalize Invitations
LinkedIn allows you to customize the invitation message sent to each contact. Take advantage of this to add a personal note when possible to increase the likelihood of acceptance. Generic messages may be ignored.
Check Data Format
Be sure your .csv file is properly formatted and does not contain any errors. Test a few rows before uploading the full list. Reach out to any contacts if data like names or email addresses appears incorrect in their invitation.
Follow Up
After uploading, follow up with important contacts that have not yet responded to your invitation. Periodically check your pending invitations page to see outstanding requests.
Engage with New Connections
Look for ways to actively engage with your new connections by liking and commenting on their posts, endorsing their skills, and messaging them individually. This helps build the relationship beyond just accepting an invitation.
Uploading via Third-Party Tools
In addition to LinkedIn’s built-in upload features, there are various third-party tools and apps that offer expanded options for uploading and connecting with LinkedIn contacts in bulk. Some popular options include:
- Dux-Soup – Browser plugin for LinkedIn automation and lead generation.
- Buzzstream -Marketing relationship software with LinkedIn integration.
- ReachForce – AI assistant for sales prospecting and enrichment.
- Seamless.ai – Prospecting tool for finding employee contacts.
- Lusha – Chrome extension for finding professional contact details.
These tools can provide added functionality around extracting contact details, sending customized messages, scheduling invitations, monitoring responses, and automating follow-ups at scale. However, be sure to check their usage terms to ensure compliance with LinkedIn policies.
LinkedIn Premium Features
Users with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions have access to several expanded features for managing connections, including:
- Larger upload list size – Up to 200,000 contacts per file.
- Increased daily invitations – Up to 500 connection requests per day.
- See full profiles of members outside your network – Easier to identify contacts.
- InMail messages – Directly message non-connections.
- Advanced search filters – Easily find contacts by industry, job function etc.
So upgrading to Premium can provide more flexibility and scope when uploading lists to connect with the maximum number of relevant contacts.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips in case you run into any issues while trying to upload a contact list to LinkedIn:
File Not Uploading
- Check the file type – LinkedIn only allows .csv files.
- Try reducing the file size if it exceeds 10MB.
- Look for errors in the data formatting or values.
- Use a simpler CSV with fewer columns if needed.
Upload Stuck at 0%
- There may be a temporary glitch. Try again after some time.
- Disable any ad blockers/extensions that may interfere with uploading.
- Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
- Try uploading smaller sized files if large ones stall.
Not Receiving Invitation Responses
- Politely follow up with your contacts individually.
- Check for typos or incorrect data in the uploaded details.
- Modify the standard invitation message to be more personalized.
- Verify contacts’ email addresses are valid before uploading.
If issues persist, you can also try contacting LinkedIn customer support for assistance.
FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about uploading contacts to LinkedIn:
What file formats does LinkedIn support for contact lists?
LinkedIn only supports uploading contacts using .csv files.
What details should I include in the .csv file?
You need to include columns for First Name, Last Name, and Email Address at minimum. You can also add fields like Company, Title, Location etc.
How many contacts can I upload at one time?
With a free LinkedIn account you can upload up to 40,000 contacts per file. LinkedIn Premium allows up to 200,000 contacts.
Does the order of columns in the CSV file matter?
No, LinkedIn will map the columns to the right fields regardless of order.
Can I reuse the same file to add more contacts later?
Yes, you can upload the same CSV file again to send invites to new contacts. LinkedIn will ignore existing connections.
What’s the best way to obtain a list of email addresses for uploading?
Most CRM and email tools allow exporting contacts. You can also export connections from other social networks or combine multiple address books.
Is there a chance LinkedIn rejects some of the contacts I upload?
LinkedIn may restrict invitations if the contacts don’t appear to be professional connections or fall outside your network. Overall, the acceptance rate is usually very high.
Can I re-upload a file if many of my connection invites are rejected?
If you encounter a high rejection rate, it’s better to add those contacts manually rather than re-uploading the same file. LinkedIn may flag your account for spam-like activity if you repeatedly upload contacts who don’t accept invites.
Conclusion
Uploading a list is an easy way to quickly expand your professional network on LinkedIn and connect with colleagues, clients, partners and more. Focus on quality over quantity and include contacts that are relevant to your industry and career goals. Pay attention to data formatting, personalize your outreach and engage meaningfully with new connections. Handle uploading thoughtfully keeping LinkedIn’s policies in mind, and your contact list can become a valuable asset in building your brand and business relationships.