LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by over 700 million professionals worldwide. On LinkedIn, there are two main ways to connect with other members – following them or sending them a connection request. While following and connecting seem similar, there are some key differences between the two actions on LinkedIn.
Following on LinkedIn
Following someone on LinkedIn simply means subscribing to their profile updates and content. When you follow someone, you will see their profile updates, articles they write, and other content they post in your LinkedIn feed. However, following does not establish a direct connection between you and the person you are following. You are simply a silent observer of their content.
Here are some key things to note about following on LinkedIn:
- Following is one-way – When you follow someone, they do not have to follow you back. Your connection is not reciprocated unless they also decide to follow you.
- No notification – When you follow someone, they do not receive a notification informing them of your new follow. It happens silently in the background.
- Limited profile access – By following someone, you only get limited access to their profile and content. You cannot view the full profile or see their connections.
- No messaging – There is no way to directly message someone you just follow. You can only like or comment on their posts.
In summary, following on LinkedIn is like subscribing to someone’s updates without making a formal connection. It does not allow full profile access or one-on-one communication.
Connecting on LinkedIn
Connecting with someone on LinkedIn establishes a two-way, mutually agreed upon link between you and the other person. It is the equivalent of becoming LinkedIn contacts or connections.
Here is what happens when you connect with someone on LinkedIn:
- Reciprocated connection – For a connection to be established, the other person must accept your connection request. Connecting is always two-way and reciprocal.
- Notifications – When you connect with someone, they receive a notification informing them of your request. Likewise, when they accept, you receive a notification the connection is established.
- Full profile access – By connecting, you can view each other’s full profiles including work experience, education, connections, etc.
- Messaging – Connections on LinkedIn can message each other through LinkedIn’s messaging system. This allows for one-on-one communication.
In essence, a LinkedIn connection indicates an established professional relationship between you and the other member. It provides deeper access and direct communication capabilities compared to simply following someone.
Key Differences
Here is a summary of the key differences between following someone and connecting on LinkedIn:
Basis for Comparison | Following | Connecting |
---|---|---|
Notification to other person | No | Yes |
Requires reciprocation | No | Yes |
Access to full profile | No | Yes |
Messaging allowed | No | Yes |
Indicates professional relationship | No | Yes |
In summary:
- Following is a one-way connection to observe someone’s public content.
- Connecting establishes a mutual, two-way professional relationship that allows communication and full profile access.
When to Follow versus Connect
As a general rule, you should follow someone when:
- You want to keep up with their public posts and articles.
- You are not ready to establish a formal professional connection.
- You don’t require the ability to directly message them.
- You want to remain a silent observer for the time being.
You should send a connection request when:
- You know the person well professionally and want to link your profiles.
- You want to be able to directly message them on LinkedIn.
- You want to fully access their profile and connections list.
- You are ready to establish an open professional relationship.
Following Strangers
A common LinkedIn etiquette question is – should you follow someone you don’t know? There are mixed opinions on this.
Some experts recommend being selective about who you follow and only follow those you have an existing professional relationship with. Mass following people you don’t know well may be seen as strange behavior.
However, following industry thought leaders, influencers, or experts you admire can be a good way to get exposed to high quality content. As long as you maintain professionalism, following people outside your immediate network is generally acceptable on LinkedIn.
Connection Requests to Strangers
When it comes to connecting, it is advisable to only connect with people you know and trust. LinkedIn frowns upon sending random connection requests as it dilutes the value of connections.
Before sending a connection request, consider if you have a valid professional reason for connecting with the person. If there is no existing relationship or intention to build one, a connection request may be perceived negatively and rejected.
Limits on Follows and Connections
LinkedIn places limits on how many people you can follow and connect with to prevent spammy behavior and protect the value of connections. Here are the current limits:
- Follow limit – 30,000 per account
- Connection limit – 30,000 per account
However, paid Job Seeker, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter accounts have higher connection limits ranging from 60,000 to 150,000 connections.
LinkedIn may restrict your ability to follow or connect if you exceed these limits too quickly, so it is best to grow these numbers steadily over time.
Finding Followers and Connections
LinkedIn provides tools to see who is following you and manage your connections:
- Followers tab – View a list of your followers and their profiles.
- Your Connections page – See your first-degree connections and groups.
- Search filter – Search for 2nd and 3rd degree connections.
You can also visit someone else’s profile to see if you are currently following them or connected to them.
Changing Your Settings
In your LinkedIn account settings, you can control certain aspects of follows and connections such as:
- Approving or automatically accepting connection requests
- Allowing others to follow you without approval
- Selecting who can see your connections and follow lists
Adjust these settings as per your preferences for managing follows and connections on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
While following and connecting may appear similar on the surface, they represent very different types of relationships on LinkedIn.
Following is a one-way, read-only connection to observe someone’s public content. Connecting establishes a mutual, professional relationship that allows full access and direct communication.
As a best practice, be selective about who you connect with and limit follows and connections to those that are relevant to your professional networking goals.