There is no specific limit to the number of LinkedIn accounts (IDs) an individual can have, but LinkedIn’s Terms of Service do provide some important guidelines on the matter. Here’s what you should know:
1. LinkedIn’s Policy on Multiple Accounts
- One Personal Account: LinkedIn recommends users have only one personal account. Creating multiple personal accounts for the same individual is against LinkedIn’s Terms of Service. If you have multiple accounts, you risk one or more being flagged or suspended.
- Business Accounts: You can also create a LinkedIn Company Page for your business. This is separate from your personal account, and it can have multiple admins if needed.
2. Reasons to Avoid Multiple Personal Accounts
- Violation of Terms: If LinkedIn detects that you have multiple personal accounts, it can lead to one or both accounts being restricted or deactivated.
- Confusion and Management: Managing more than one personal account can be difficult and time-consuming, especially when LinkedIn’s algorithm associates your connections, activity, and recommendations with a single account.
3. What You Can Do Legally
- Separate Accounts for Different Roles: In some cases, if you hold two very different professional roles (for example, working in different industries or having distinct personal and professional sides), you may create a second account. However, you must adhere to LinkedIn’s guidelines and make sure that:
- The second account is used for legitimate business purposes.
- Both accounts remain in compliance with LinkedIn’s policies.
But, as a rule of thumb, LinkedIn prefers users to consolidate their experiences into a single account to avoid confusion and misuse.
4. LinkedIn Groups and Pages
- LinkedIn Groups: You can join as many groups as you want with your personal account, but you cannot create multiple accounts just to join more groups.
- Company Pages: Businesses or organizations can create multiple LinkedIn Company Pages, each representing a different business or brand under the same organization. These pages can be managed by different admins.
5. If You Need Multiple Accounts
If you absolutely need separate accounts (for instance, one for personal networking and another for professional branding), you might want to:
- Contact LinkedIn Support: For clarification on your specific case to ensure you’re not violating their terms.
- Maintain Compliance: If you create a second account for legitimate reasons, ensure it’s completely separate in terms of contacts, content, and activity.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn doesn’t place a strict limit on how many accounts you can create, it’s important to adhere to LinkedIn’s Terms of Service and avoid creating multiple personal accounts, as this could result in account suspension. Always remember to keep your LinkedIn account activity transparent and within the guidelines to ensure your accounts remain in good standing.
