Navigating the Follow vs. Connect Conundrum: Why LinkedIn Limits Your Options

You’ve landed on a LinkedIn profile, eager to engage. But instead of the familiar “Connect” button, you’re presented with a seemingly less potent “Follow.” Why the restriction? In essence, you can only follow someone on LinkedIn primarily because they have either set their profile preferences to prioritize followers or because you’ve reached the platform’s connection limit of 30,000 connections. Let’s delve into the nuances of this LinkedIn functionality and decode the reasons behind it.

Understanding the Follow vs. Connect Distinction

Before we dissect the “why,” it’s critical to differentiate between following and connecting on LinkedIn. Think of it like this: connecting is akin to establishing a two-way street. You and the other person are now mutually linked, seeing each other’s updates directly in your respective feeds. Following, on the other hand, is more like tuning into a radio station. You receive updates from the person you’re following, but they aren’t necessarily receiving yours unless they choose to follow you back.

This distinction is crucial because LinkedIn leverages it to manage user experience and encourage specific engagement behaviors. Following is often the default option for individuals with a large and engaged audience, influencers, or those who prioritize broadcasting information over establishing direct connections.

Connection Limits and Their Impact

LinkedIn has a connection limit of 30,000 connections. This limit is in place to prevent spamming, misuse of the platform, and to encourage users to be more selective and strategic about their network. Once you reach this ceiling, you can no longer send connection requests to new individuals unless you revoke existing connections or the other person upgrades their LinkedIn Premium account. The Follow button then becomes the primary means of engaging with profiles for new connections.

Profile Settings: Choosing to Prioritize Followers

The individual whose profile you’re viewing may have explicitly chosen to prioritize followers over connections. This setting, usually found within the “Visibility” or “Privacy” sections of their profile settings, allows them to control who can connect and who can only follow. This setting is used for several reasons:

• Managing Information Flow: Influencers, thought leaders, and prominent figures often use the “Follow” option to manage the influx of connection requests. By prioritizing followers, they can share their insights with a broader audience without being overwhelmed by the potential administrative burden of managing a large network of direct connections.
• Maintaining Relevance: Some users prefer to keep their network focused and relevant. If a connection request doesn’t align with their specific professional goals or areas of expertise, they might decline it, preferring the user to follow instead. This maintains the integrity and usefulness of their network.
• Strategic Network Growth: While it may sound counterintuitive, prioritizing followers can be part of a strategic network growth strategy. By cultivating a large following, individuals can enhance their visibility, build their brand, and attract more meaningful connection requests in the future.

The Implied Follow: Following Without Connecting

Even if you haven’t explicitly clicked the “Follow” button, you might already be following someone you’re connected with. When you connect with another user, you automatically start following their updates. However, the “Follow” button becomes significant when you’re not connected and want to receive updates from that individual.

Why LinkedIn Makes These Choices

LinkedIn’s design choices aren’t arbitrary. They’re driven by a complex interplay of user experience, business strategy, and platform integrity. Here are a few key considerations:

• Combating Spam and Fake Profiles: Limiting connections and encouraging follows helps to mitigate the spread of spam and fake profiles. Spammers often seek to maximize their connections to broaden their reach. By making it easier to follow than connect, LinkedIn can subtly deter these malicious actors.
• Enhancing Content Discovery: A large following can amplify the reach of valuable content. By encouraging users to follow relevant thought leaders and companies, LinkedIn can improve the quality and relevance of the content in users’ feeds.
• Providing Different Engagement Options: Not everyone wants to be directly connected with everyone they interact with on LinkedIn. The “Follow” option provides a less intrusive way to stay informed about individuals and organizations without necessarily establishing a formal connection.
• Premium Features: LinkedIn encourages user engagement through both connecting and following. However, LinkedIn also incentivizes users to upgrade to a LinkedIn Premium account by offering higher connection request limits and direct messaging capabilities, in effect, offering connection privileges at a price.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the complexities of following versus connecting on LinkedIn:

1. How do I know if someone has chosen to prioritize followers over connections?

You’ll typically see a “Follow” button instead of a “Connect” button on their profile. There’s no explicit notification from LinkedIn; the button change is the only indicator.

2. Can I see who is following me on LinkedIn?

Yes. Go to your profile, scroll down to the “Analytics” section, and click on “Visitors.” From there, you can see a list of people who have viewed your profile, and it will often distinguish between those who are connections and those who are followers.

3. Can I convert a follower into a connection?

Not directly. You would need to send them a connection request. If they accept, they will become a connection. If they don’t, they will remain a follower (if they chose to follow you back).

4. How do I change my LinkedIn settings to prioritize followers?

Go to Settings & Privacy. Then, navigate to the “Visibility” section and look for “Who can see your connections.” If you choose “Only you,” LinkedIn might start showing the “Follow” button to people who are not in your network.

5. What is the difference between a “Follow” button and a “Connect” button on a company page?

A “Follow” button on a company page means you will receive updates from the company in your feed. A “Connect” button on a company page may not exist. You can connect with people who work at the company, though.

6. How do I unfollow someone on LinkedIn?

Go to their profile and click the “Following” button. A dropdown menu will appear, and you can select “Unfollow.”

7. Does following someone on LinkedIn notify them?

They receive a notification that you are following them.

8. If I am following someone, will they see my posts?

Potentially. They will only see your posts if they are following you back, or if your post is widely shared and appears in their feed through algorithmic visibility.

9. Does the number of followers I have impact my profile’s visibility?

Yes, absolutely. A large following can enhance your profile’s visibility in search results and across the LinkedIn network.

10. If I reach the 30,000 connection limit, can I pay to increase it?

No. LinkedIn does not offer a way to increase the connection limit by paying. You must manage your existing connections.

11. How do I manage my connections effectively to avoid hitting the 30,000 limit?

Regularly review your connections and remove those who are no longer relevant or with whom you have no engagement. Focus on maintaining a high-quality, active network.

12. What is the best strategy: connecting or following?

The best strategy depends on your goals. If you want to build a close-knit network for specific collaborations, prioritize connecting. If you want to build an audience and share your insights with a broader group, prioritize gaining followers. A blend of both is often the most effective approach.

In conclusion, the “Follow” versus “Connect” dynamic on LinkedIn is a carefully curated system designed to optimize user experience, combat misuse, and provide varied engagement options. Understanding these nuances allows you to navigate the platform more strategically and achieve your specific professional goals.