Quick Answer
Having more than one LinkedIn account is generally not recommended. LinkedIn’s terms of service allow only one personal LinkedIn account per user. However, in some cases it may be permissible to have two accounts – for example, if you have two separate professional careers that you want to keep distinct. The main risks are that LinkedIn may flag your accounts for violating their rules, and it can be difficult to manage multiple profiles. If you do have two accounts, ensure your profiles and activity are consistent and ethical.
Is It Allowed by LinkedIn?
LinkedIn’s User Agreement states that “You agree to: (1) try to choose a strong and secure password; (2) keep your password secure and confidential; (3) not transfer any part of your account, (e.g., connections) and (4) follow the law and our list of Dos and Don’ts.”
The “Dos and Don’ts” specify that “You will: (1) Create only one account (your own) and (2) Use LinkedIn in a professional manner.”
So LinkedIn’s official policy is that users should only have one personal LinkedIn account. Having multiple accounts would go against their terms of service.
Why Would Someone Have Two Accounts?
There are a few reasons why someone might consider having two LinkedIn accounts:
Keeping separate professional identities
Some people have careers in two very different fields – for example, an actor who is also a real estate agent. They may want to have one LinkedIn profile focused on acting connections and roles, and another for real estate clients and listings.
Anonymous job searching
If someone is discreetly looking for a new job, they may create a second “anonymous” account so their current employer and connections are not notified about their activity or applications.
Strict company social media rules
Some companies prohibit employees from having professional social media accounts or connecting with co-workers. So employees may create a personal LinkedIn account in addition to their restricted work account.
Experimenting with changes
People sometimes want to tweak their profile – for example changing their photo, headline or content – without impacting their main account. A second account can be used to experiment before making changes to their primary profile.
What Are the Risks of Having Two Accounts?
While there may be some scenarios where having multiple accounts seems beneficial, there are also considerable risks:
LinkedIn could flag or disable accounts
Since it violates their User Agreement, LinkedIn monitors for users with duplicate accounts. If discovered, they may flag or suspend one or both accounts.
Difficult to manage multiple profiles
It takes effort to keep two separate accounts updated, active and consistent. You could inadvertently mix up work-related and personal connections and content.
Some connections may be frustrated
LinkedIn members who connect to one profile but not your other may feel mislead or confused about why you have two accounts.
Violates trust and professional ethics
Maintaining multiple accounts can be seen as deceptive and unnecessary. Most purposes can be achieved through a single honest account.
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Best Practices If You Have Two Accounts
If you decide having two LinkedIn accounts is beneficial for your situation, here are some best practices:
Inform connections
Let your connections know you have two accounts for different professional purposes. Be transparent about why you have multiple profiles.
Customize settings
Adjust notifications, profile visibility and other settings so you can control what activity is shared between accounts. Turn off notifications for your secondary profile.
Use different contact info
Accounts should have different email addresses and phone numbers assigned. Avoid linking the same contact methods to both profiles.
Consistency is key
Keep aspects like location, industry, education and timeline aligned across both profiles. Don’t intentionally mislead connections with contradictory information.
Monitor time commitments
It takes extra effort to keep multiple accounts active and engaging. Make sure you have the time to maintain both profiles properly.
Check for Policy Changes
Regularly revisit LinkedIn’s User Agreement to see if policies on multiple accounts have been updated. Stay compliant with the latest rules.
Alternatives to Multiple Accounts
Instead of having two full LinkedIn accounts, consider these alternatives:
Customize profile visibility
Use LinkedIn settings to control which connections see your full profile versus a simplified version. This allows tailoring content for different audiences.
Create a Company Page
Business owners can create Company Pages separate from their personal account. This provides segmentation between personal and company presence.
LinkedIn Groups
Join Groups related to your different professional focuses. You can engage specifically with those industries without maintaining two full accounts.
Be Strategic About Connections
Be selective about which connections see certain work-related posts instead of compartmentalizing content across accounts.
The Bottom Line
Here is a summary of the key points about having multiple LinkedIn accounts:
– LinkedIn’s policy is one personal account per user. Multiple accounts risk being flagged or disabled.
– Valid reasons for a second account include separation of professional identities or anonymous job searching. But multiples can be hard to manage.
– Downsides include confusing connections, undermining trust, and increased time commitments.
– If pursuing two accounts, be transparent, use different contacts, be consistent, monitor time, and stay compliant.
– Alternatives like customized visibility, Company Pages, Groups, and selective sharing may be preferable to duplicates.
– In most cases, a single complete, ethical profile is sufficient and advised.
Conclusion
Having two LinkedIn accounts violates their official terms of service, can be challenging to maintain, and may be seen as deceptive by connections.
In general, it is recommended to have just one complete personal LinkedIn profile that showcases your professional qualifications. Make use of available settings and features to customize visibility and engagement for different audiences.
If you do opt for two accounts, ensure you have valid reasons, inform connections, keep a consistent identity, and regularly check LinkedIn’s policies. With focus and prudence, a second account may be workable – but a single robust profile is often the simplest and most effective approach.