LinkedIn Company Pages allow businesses and organizations to establish a presence on LinkedIn and engage with customers and prospects. Company Pages have settings that control who can post and comment on the page. As the administrator of a LinkedIn Company Page, you may need to block certain users from posting content on your page. There are a few methods available to block users on a LinkedIn Company Page.
Why Would You Want to Block Someone?
There are a few common reasons why a Company Page admin may want to block someone from posting or interacting on their page:
– The user is repeatedly posting spam or off-topic comments
– The user has harassed your employees or customers in comments or posts
– The user spreads misinformation or makes false claims about your business
– The user posts explicit or offensive content
– The user makes comments that damage your brand or reputation
– The user is a competitor trying to disparage you or steal customers
Blocking a user prevents them from posting content that is counterproductive to your Company Page goals. It helps maintain a constructive environment for your brand.
How to Block a User from Posting
There are three main ways to block a user from posting or interacting with your LinkedIn Company Page:
1. Block User from Admin Tools
The easiest way to block a user is to use the Admin Tools provided by LinkedIn:
– Navigate to your Company Page and click “Admin Tools” from the admin menu
– Select the “Comments and posts” section
– Here you will see a list of users who have interacted with your page recently
– Find the user you wish to block and click the “Block” button next to their name
– Confirm that you want to block the user
Once blocked, the user will be unable to post or comment on your Company Page.
2. Block User from Activity Page
You can also block users directly from your Company Page’s activity feed:
– Go to your Company Page and click “Activity”
– Find a post or comment from the user you want to block
– Click the 3 dots icon next to their name and select “Block”
– Confirm that you want to block the user
This will instantly block them from any further posts or comments.
3. Report Inappropriate Content
If a user has already posted inappropriate content on your page, you can report the content to LinkedIn:
– Go to the post or comment and click the 3 dots icon
– Select “Report as inappropriate”
– Choose the reason you are reporting the content
– LinkedIn will review the content and may remove it and block the user
Reporting content is especially useful for offensive, harassing, or spam comments. LinkedIn will take appropriate action against the user.
Can You Unblock a User?
Yes, Company Page admins have the ability to unblock users if they choose. To unblock someone you have blocked:
– Go to your Company Page admin tools and select “Comments and posts”
– Click the “Unblock” button next to the user’s name
– The user will now be able to interact with your page again
You may decide to unblock a user if you blocked them accidentally or feel they should get a second chance to constructively engage with your community. Use your best judgment on whether a blocked user has earned the privilege of interacting with your Company Page again.
What Happens When You Block a User?
When you block a user from your Company Page, here is what happens:
– They can no longer post content or comments on your page
– Any existing content or comments from that user will remain visible
– They will not be notified that you have blocked them
– They can still view and interact with your Company Page content as a regular visitor
– They can still message your Company Page or employees through LinkedIn messaging
Blocking only limits a user’s ability to post publicly on your page. It does not completely restrict them from viewing your page or contacting your company through other channels. Be sure to also report any harassing messages to LinkedIn.
Best Practices for Blocking Users
Here are some tips for effectively blocking users on your LinkedIn Company Page:
– Don’t block users who simply disagree with you or provide critical feedback. Address their concerns professionally.
– Review all content thoroughly before blocking. Ensure the user actually violated posting guidelines.
– Block users who repeatedly post off-topic or irrelevant comments.
– Promptly block any offensive, abusive, or harassing comments.
– Notify users via private message why they have been blocked.
– Set a time period for blocking and review if you want to unblock the user later.
– Document situations that led to blocking users in case you need evidence.
– Block competitor accounts used solely for posting negative content about your business.
– Use blocking judiciously. You want your page to encourage engagement.
Conclusion
Blocking users on your LinkedIn Company Page helps maintain a constructive community that aligns with your brand values. Make sure to block users thoughtfully and appropriately using the tools provided by LinkedIn. With the ability to block or report inappropriate content, you can keep your Company Page focused on engaging your target audience.
FAQ about Blocking Users
Here are some common questions and answers about blocking users on LinkedIn Company Pages:
What are LinkedIn’s posting policies for Company Pages?
LinkedIn has guidelines that prohibit content that is rude, offensive, unlawful, defamatory, abusive, harassing, or harmful. Company Pages should follow these guidelines when blocking users.
Can I block someone who has never interacted with my page?
No, on LinkedIn you can only block users who have already either commented on or posted content to your Company Page. You cannot preemptively block someone.
What should I do if a blocked user creates a new profile to post again?
If a blocked user creates a second account to get around your block, report them to LinkedIn by flagging their new profile or posts. LinkedIn can investigate and shut down accounts used to circumvent blocks.
Does blocking a user delete their existing posts/comments?
No, blocking a user only prevents future posting activity. It does not remove any previous contributions they made before getting blocked. Their old posts remain visible unless you delete them.
Can I block someone from seeing my Company Page entirely?
No, there is no way to fully block someone from viewing your public LinkedIn Company Page. Blocking only limits posting ability. All visitors can see your page content.
What happens if someone I’ve blocked tries to comment or post?
If a blocked user attempts to interact with your page, they will get an error message saying they don’t have permission. Their comment/post will be blocked from going live.
How do I know if someone is trying to circumvent a block?
Warning signs include a brand new profile with minimal connections posting negatively or frequently about your company. Check for similarities to determine if it’s an existing blocked user with a new account.
Can I request LinkedIn block a user from all Company Pages?
You can report a harassing user to LinkedIn. If they violate community policies across multiple pages, LinkedIn can potentially restrict their account from any commenting/posting.
Best Practices Summary
Here are some best practices to summarize how to effectively block users on LinkedIn:
– Use LinkedIn’s admin tools to block users from posting |
– Block users who post inappropriate or irrelevant content |
– Unblock users if warranted after a time period |
– Block competitors looking to disparage you |
– Notify users of blocks via private message |
– Set blocking policies and document when used |
– Report harassment and spam to LinkedIn |
– Block judiciously to encourage engagement |
Conclusion
Blocking users is an important tool for LinkedIn Company Page admins to maintain positive communities. By understanding the methods to block users and establishing fair blocking policies, you can promote constructive discussions and limit disruptive behaviors. Make sure to use blocking appropriately to keep your Company Page an engaging platform for your brand.