In this article we will touch on nuances of running LinkedIn multiple accounts for business.
One day I was contacted by a recruiter who used her second account. When we chatted, she mentioned that she’d contact me using a different name. 2 accounts helped her reach multiple candidates going beyond LinkedIn outreach limits (for example, 100 invitations per week).
She hadn’t used any specific tools to create two separate accounts safely. It means she was always at risk of a LinkedIn ban.
Why have LinkedIn multiple accounts?
LinkedIn network is a perfect place to sell your B2B services or products, and search for perfect candidates, though LinkedIn connection requests and profile view quotas (even for premium accounts!) might hinder your attempts to scale. It is perfect for lead generation, professional career growth, job opportunities. For any of these you will need to scale the size of your network.
We are here to make your life easier in this regard. Read on to learn a new way how safely and legally use multiple LinkedIn accounts. You will be able to considerably minimize the risk of losing your account and save yourself from a lot of manual work.
Can I have two LinkedIn accounts?
The short answer is – yes, you can. However, LinkedIn’s official policy discourages this practice. They prefer each person to maintain a single, comprehensive profile.
If you have a legitimate reason, such as separating personal and professional connections, you can create a second LinkedIn account. Just ensure that you use a different email address and adhere to LinkedIn’s terms of service.
If you need to create and run more than 2 accounts, for example to generate leads – you will need special tools and methods. LinkedIn will ban your multiple accounts for terms violation. Read on to know more about how to do that properly and avoid blocks.
How to create multiple LinkedIn accounts?
For this you will need a unique email address and probably a phone number for each. It’s important to note that having multiple accounts is not encouraged by LinkedIn, but there still are ways to do this safely and properly to scale your business. Learn how to use multiple account browsers like GoLogin and create as many accounts as you need with regular e-mails.
Accounts protected from tracking by GoLogin will not meet any blocks, bans or suspensions.
Issues with Multiple LinkedIn Accounts
Before we explore safely running multiple LinkedIn accounts, let’s quickly consider LinkedIn’s take on this matter and the risks associated with careless use of multiple accounts.
According to the LinkedIn User Agreement, LinkedIn allows users to have only one account with a real name and other personal information.
In recent years LinkedIn has been tightening its rules about multiple account management. For example, their engineering team is implementing new approaches for detecting AI-generated profile photos.
Besides, they also prohibit using your clients’ and colleagues’ profiles (which is recommended by many other websites talking about multiple LinkedIn profiles).
The LinkedIn system tracks suspicious activity typical for bad actors ー those who create multiple profiles for spamming, phishing, fraud, etc. Then humans review the accounts further. To identify account associations, LinkedIn compares the accounts’ digital identities. A digital identity includes such characteristics as a device, operating system, cookies, and browser fingerprints.
If LinkedIn detects you use several accounts, all accounts are likely to be suspended. There is a risk of losing them permanently, including your main account. While account recovery is a long and rarely successful venture.
Can I Manage Multiple LinkedIn Accounts for Lead Generation?
The short answer is: yes, if it’s ethical.
Here’s what I mean. Managing multiple LinkedIn accounts for lead generation is a very complex task. It needs to be done in accordance with LinkedIn’s policies. These policies require each account to be a real individual, no automation tools or bots allowed.
To manage multiple LinkedIn accounts for lead generation:
- Create a network of profiles that reflect different aspects of your business
- Target various segments of your audience
- Regularly post and engage with content on multiple profiles to build a genuine presence
- Provide value –
- Respect the community: don’t just spam people with your requests.
For lead generation, you can use personalized outreach messages, join relevant groups, and participate in discussions. Don’t engage in unethical practices. Focus on providing value and networking like a real person. Remember that you can view LinkedIn profile as someone else using LinkedIn’s built-in features.
Important note: LinkedIn’s algorithms are designed to detect suspicious activity. We strongly recommend protecting your work via GoLogin: even if one of your profiles gets banned by accident, others will stay safe from restrictions.
Switching Different LinkedIn Accounts
Switching between different LinkedIn accounts seems relatively straightforward. Just click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select “Switch Accounts” in the dropdown menu. From there, you can log in with your other LinkedIn account credentials.
This feature simplifies managing multiple accounts for those who need to maintain separate professional and personal profiles. However, if you need two business profiles, LinkedIn is likely to link and ban both of them.
Again, if you run your accounts from GoLogin, this issue is non-existent. You don’t have to switch to anything: your multiple accounts are able to run simultaneously without any risks.
Сommon Tools to Help with LinkedIn Multiple Accounts
Let’s discuss the options you have for managing multiple LinkedIn accounts for professional (and ethical) use cases. I listed the ways from the least to the most safe and convenient. Here is an introductory scheme.
Logging in and out
Either you create several profiles or use someone else profiles, the most obvious way is to log in and out to different accounts.
You have to manually enter credentials each time and occasionally go through 2-factor authentication. If you switch accounts regularly it turns into a lot of hassle. We’re not discussing how LinkedIn can easily trace your use of multiple accounts. This way will not work if you need 5+ accounts.
Only if you need another account rarely might it be a viable option.
Employing a proxy or VPN
Proxy servers and VPNs act as a middleman between you and LinkedIn. Those tools route all your internet requests to a private server. Every time you log into either of your separated LinkedIn accounts, you will need to turn on an individual IP or change the browser’s proxy.
Both tools just hide your IP and location, leaving other digital fingerprints visible. Though it becomes harder, the system can still detect your multiple LinkedIn accounts.
Creating multiple Chrome profiles for each LinkedIn account
Each Chrome profile typically has its own set of cookies and cached data. When combined with a VPN or proxy, this method provides increased privacy compared to the previous approach. With this setup, you can assign a distinct proxy to each browser profile and avoid the need to change it every time you switch between accounts.
However, this method still does not protect your LinkedIn accounts completely. There may be some similar browser profile configurations along with a unique set of device details and other fingerprints.
Download GoLogin for free and manage multiple accounts without bans!
Third-party account provider (rental agencies)
There are multiple providers who are selling or renting LinkedIn profiles. They give you well-warmed multiple LinkedIn accounts that you can customize for your business. It saves your main profiles from bans and relieves you from engaging colleagues or creating several profiles and warming them up yourself. These agencies use automation tools and browsers to create hundreds of accounts. They later share them with clients through anti-detect software.
To prevent bans and save your time and energy, many vendors provide these profiles via a multi-accounting browser, which you can use yourself at a much lower cost. For example, MirrorProfiles charges $100 per profile per month, while with multi-accounting browser GoLogin, you can safely use up to 100 LinkedIn accounts per month for $49.
Scroll through the article to find step-by-step instructions on using a multi-accounting browser. It is really a no-brainer!
Having separate devices for each LinkedIn account
This option is the safest one we’ve discussed so far. Buying two smartphones, physically dividing your connections is a good idea – it’s the safest option. But can you imagine the idea of having 20 smartphones for multiple LinkedIn accounts or the hassle of darting from one laptop to another in your office?
The option also isn’t cost-effective compared to a multi-accounting browser (we will discuss this in a minute) if you need more than 5 LinkedIn accounts. Here is why:
6 devices x $50 (the minimum for a working smartphone) = $300 > $294 of a yearly GoLogin (multi-accounting browser) cheapest plan with up to 100 browser profiles.
Multi-accounting browser
A multi-accounting browser empowers users to have secure multiple digital identities that aren’t associated with each other. The IP address, device model, operating system, and other fingerprint parameters of your LinkedIn account can be different for each account. It means your multiple LinkedIn accounts will appear as if each was used by regular people.
Aside from that, multi-accounting browsers provide you with specific features for managing multiple accounts. For example, you can add tags and notes for each profile, set up proxies, create folders with accounts, and give access to a folder to your contractor or employee. And sure there is no need to log in and out every time.
Download GoLogin for free and manage multiple accounts without bans!
When you open a profile in a multi-accounting browser, it feels like a regular browser, such as Chrome or Firefox. You can customize Chrome extensions, bookmarks, and more for each profile.
Multi-accounting browsers are especially relevant for those who need multiple accounts for work. It saves you from unpredictable account loss and removes a lot of manual work from your routine.
Jump to the next section to learn how it might be easy to manage multiple profiles while remaining safe.
Add multiple LinkedIn accounts and users to GoLogin
1. Download Windows, Linux, or Mac desktop apps from GoLogin website and register an account.
Download GoLogin for free and manage multiple accounts without bans!
2. Once you are registered, go to your GoLogin app. Let’s go to the main page (Table of Profiles) to set up profiles for your multiple LinkedIn accounts.
Click the plus button to create as many profiles as you need. They will not need any adjustment, except assigning a proxy to each one.
3. Assign a proxy for each LinkedIn account. When you hover over the proxy column for one of the accounts and click Add or Paste proxy, there will be a list of free proxies you can use for testing. Note, that they might be pretty slow for long-term or heavy media usage.
What Proxies Should I Use for Multiple LinkedIn Accounts?
You can buy more reliable proxies one by one right in the GoLogin app. There are three proxy types.
- Residential proxy simulates a regular desktop computer. It’s the most popular option considering the balance between cost and safety.
- Mobile proxy type is far harder to detect and more expensive, as it gives a mobile IP which is taken as more natural by social media.
- Data center is cheaper than the previous 2 types, but less secure. These are used when your device already has a high trust level on social media platform.
If you need multiple proxies at once, you can mass-paste the proxies from a third-party provider. Use our list of trusted proxy providers to choose: there are promo codes and deals inside!
Download GoLogin for free and manage multiple accounts without bans!
4. Once you set up proxies, click Run to open a browser window. Sign in to one of your multiple LinkedIn accounts or create a new LinkedIn account with your email address.
Download GoLogin for free and manage multiple accounts without bans!
Conclusion
If you plan to use multiple LinkedIn accounts professionally and/or your accounts are crucial assets for your business, you should care a lot about your account privacy to avoid account suspensions.
A multi-accounting browser is a safe, cost-effective, and user-friendly option compared to alternatives. It’s definitely worth considering for your specific needs.
Frequently asked questions about multiple LinkedIn accounts
How can I open 2 different LinkedIn accounts from the same phone or laptop?
- Download a multi-accounting browser, e.g. GoLogin. As of 2023, it’s either this or running actual physical devices.
- In one click create a separate profile with a unique digital identity.
- Run both profiles.
- Sign in to your 2 LinkedIn accounts in each browser window.
Can two people use the same LinkedIn account at the same time?
Yes. If one of you is signed in via a multi-accounting browser and another person uses the account via their regular browser or app. The multi-accounting browser will be taken by LinkedIn as a regular trusted device.
If you need to cooperate on one business account on LinkedIn with your partner, that’s your only way.
Can you have two LinkedIn accounts?
Yes, LinkedIn actually allows for having a personal and business account. However, you cannot have two business accounts: that might lead to account suspension. If you’re interested in creating and growing a business, we recommend to use GoLogin for effective account protection.
How to merge Linkedin accounts?
Merging LinkedIn accounts, also known as combine LinkedIn accounts, is not officially supported by LinkedIn. Attempting to merge accounts may lead to data loss and issues with your connections and endorsements. Therefore, LinkedIn merge accounts might lead to a ban. Instead, carefully manage your profiles individually to ensure you maintain your professional reputation and connections.
How to manage 2 LinkedIn accounts on the phone?
- Download a multi-accounting browser, e.g. GoLogin for Android.
- Install both “GoLogin Anti Detect Browser” and “Orbita for GoLogin”.
- In one click create a separate profile with a unique digital identity.
- Run one profile at a time.
- Customize your work with multiple accounts in the GoLogin app.
Download GoLogin for free and manage multiple accounts without bans!
Read more on the topic:
How To Run Multiple Accounts On Amazon: Pro Marketer’s Tips
How To Run Multiple Accounts On Facebook: Step-by-Step Guide
Banned From Facebook For No Reason? Here’s How To Avoid It
Shadowbanned On TikTok? This New Tool Helps Avoid It
References:
- Von Rosen V. LinkedIn marketing: An hour a day. – John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
- Tifferet S., Vilnai-Yavetz I. Self-presentation in LinkedIn portraits: common features, gender, and occupational differences //Computers in Human Behavior. – 2018. – Т. 80. – С. 33-48.
- Albrecht W. D. et al. LinkedIn for accounting and business students //American Journal of Business Education (AJBE). – 2011. – Т. 4. – №. 10. – С. 39-42.
- Cooper B. et al. LinkedIn as a learning tool in business education //American Journal of Business Education (AJBE). – 2014. – Т. 7. – №. 4. – С. 299-306.
- LinkedIn O. About LinkedIn //LinkedIn Corporation. – 2022.
- McCorkle D. E., McCorkle Y. L. Using LinkedIn in the marketing classroom: Exploratory insights and recommendations for teaching social media/networking //Marketing education review. – 2012. – Т. 22. – №. 2. – С. 157-166.
