LinkedIn is a professional social networking site that allows users to connect with other professionals, search for jobs, share content, and more. To help manage these different capabilities, LinkedIn uses a system of user roles and permissions.
Overview of LinkedIn User Roles
There are several main types of user roles on LinkedIn:
- Standard account holders – The most basic type of LinkedIn user. They can connect with others, search for jobs, join groups, etc.
- Company page admins – Manages a LinkedIn Company Page on behalf of a business. They can post content and engage with followers.
- Group owners and managers – Oversees a LinkedIn Group. They can add members, moderate discussions, and more.
- Sales Navigator users – Paid account type that unlocks sales-focused tools like advanced searching and lead recommendations.
- Recruiting and talent solutions users – Paid account types like Recruiter Lite, Recruiter, and Talent Solutions that provide recruiting-specific features.
- Content creators – Users who actively share written and multimedia content on LinkedIn through posts, articles, etc.
Key LinkedIn Permissions and Settings
The permissions and account settings available to a LinkedIn user depend on their user role. Here are some of the key permissions:
- Profile visibility: Controls who can view a user’s profile and network information.
- Ability to connect: Determines whether a user can send connection requests.
- Messaging: Allows users to send private messages to connections or other LinkedIn members.
- Posting content: Gives permission to share written posts, images, videos, and other content.
- Following companies: Lets users follow Company Pages to receive updates.
- Advertising: Allows sponsored content and ads to be managed from a LinkedIn account.
Standard Account Roles and Permissions
Here is an overview of key settings for a standard LinkedIn member account:
Permission | Standard Account Access |
---|---|
Profile visibility | Public to LinkedIn members by default |
Ability to connect | Can send connection requests |
Messaging | Can message 1st-degree connections |
Posting content | Can share articles, images, etc. |
Following companies | Can follow Company Pages |
Advertising | No access to advertising tools |
Company Page Admin Roles
LinkedIn Company Page admins can:
- Post content on behalf of the Company Page
- Monitor analytics and follower growth
- Respond to and manage incoming messages and comments
- Add job listings and product showcase pages
- Invite other admins and assign roles
- Claim and verify the Company Page
However, Company Page admins do not have elevated permissions for their personal LinkedIn accounts.
Group Owner and Manager Permissions
As a LinkedIn Group owner or manager, additional permissions include:
- Adding and removing group members
- Approving or denying member requests to join private groups
- Creating and managing posts, polls, and events in the group
- Editing group settings and information
- Promoting other members to manager or moderator status
- Removing posts or members who violate group rules
Sales Navigator Role Capabilities
With a Sales Navigator paid account, users gain access to features like:
- Seeing expanded LinkedIn profiles beyond just 1st-degree connections
- Advanced searching and filtering options for leads
- Insights about leads and accounts
- Saved lead lists and reminders
- Team linkage to collaborate and share leads
- Message tracking and templates
Recruiter Account Permissions
LinkedIn recruiting accounts unlock capabilities such as:
- Searching the full LinkedIn database beyond just connections
- Contacting anyone on LinkedIn with InMail messages
- Seeing profile anonymization options
- Managing job postings and candidate pipelines
- Using recruitment analytics and reporting
- Leveraging hiring and pipeline management tools
Content Creator Features
Standard accounts allow users to post content. Additional content creator features include:
- Adding rich media like images and video
- Using hashtags and LinkedIn tagging
- Publishing long-form posts as LinkedIn articles
- Promoting content to gain more visibility
- Analyzing content performance with analytics
- Collaborating with other creators and brands
Conclusion
LinkedIn uses a robust system of user roles and permissions to control capabilities across standard, premium, and admin accounts. Key settings impact abilities like profile visibility, messaging, posting, company management, and team collaboration for sales and recruiting. Understanding LinkedIn’s permission model allows organizations and users to leverage the appropriate features for their needs.