How are you supposed to network with a restricted LinkedIn account?
A restricted account locks you out of your professional network, disrupts building and maintaining professional relationships, and limits job opportunities.
This guide explains what happens when an account is restricted, why LinkedIn restricts it, and how to prevent it.
What Happens if Your LinkedIn Account is Restricted?
If LinkedIn restricts your account, you can’t access it, or certain features will be unavailable to you while LinkedIn investigates your account activity.
Based on the restriction type, you could visit your profile and news feed, but LinkedIn might stop you from sending connection requests, direct messages, or InMails. Or you will completely lose access to your account.
LinkedIn Restrictions Duration
Temporary Restrictions
The restriction could last only a few hours, if it’s the first time LinkedIn investigates your account.
For example, if your account has been restricted temporarily due to sending too many connection requests, it may be re-enabled automatically eventually.
Repeated restrictions can result in the suspension of your account for a few days or even weeks.
Permanent Restrictions
If the algorithms detect any activity that violates LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policy or User Agreement, your account may be banned.
How to Tell LinkedIn Restricted Your Account
LinkedIn sends you notifications specifying why it restricted your account. If you’ve missed the notification, you can tell you have a restricted account if you can’t send connection requests or direct messages.
Can’t access your profile? This means LinkedIn banned your account due to repeated temporary restrictions.
5 Reasons Why Your LinkedIn Account May be Restricted
LinkedIn will restrict or even ban your account if you have a fake account, harass other members, or share sensitive content.
But there are other actions that seem inoffensive but may result in restrictions.
Here are 6 reasons why LinkedIn may have restricted your account:
1. Too Many Connection Requests
LinkedIn might temporarily restrict your account if you send too many daily connection requests.
But how many requests can you send?
You can usually send 20-25 connection requests per day, but the number depends on your account’s age, acceptance rate, and the number of current connections.
Even if you stay below the limit, LinkedIn may restrict your account if you send a lot of connection requests to people who mark them as “I don’t know this person.”
2. Low Acceptance Rates
Low acceptance rates may happen due to sending out too many connection requests. While having a good network on LinkedIn is important, you should not connect with everyone.
When your profile is new, you should focus on connecting with those in your niche. Avoid sending connection requests to random people because it is unnatural. Your acceptance rate may also be low if you are simply sending your sales pitch in your connection request.
3. Too Many Profile Views
LinkedIn might restrict your account if you visit too many pages. Having an unusual spike in how many profiles you visit indicates to LinkedIn you’re web scraping, which is against LinkedIn’s terms of service and community guidelines.
How many profiles can you safely view?
It depends on your account type. On a free LinkedIn account, the limit is 500 profiles per day. For paid plans, the limit is 1,000 profile daily views.
4. Using Certain Automation Tools
LinkedIn automation tools can be incredibly helpful in some cases, but not all tools are the same. Using the wrong automation tools can add to the problem.
If the tools you use are sending out too many irrelevant connection requests or spamming them with DMs, your LinkedIn account may get restricted. Double-check any tools you use and have a plan in place to use them wisely to avoid restrictions.
5. Sharing Inappropriate Content
You may end up getting your account restricted or even permanently banned if you post inappropriate content. Whenever you use LinkedIn, be courteous and civil, and post relevant content.
You may also end up getting restricted if you spam by sending the same message to multiple people. Whether you are doing this manually or through an automation tool, send personalized connection messages to avoid getting restricted.
How to Recover Your LinkedIn Account
If you are given a restriction or a permanent ban, there are a few things you can do.
1. Contact Customer Support
In most cases, account restrictions are temporary and quickly lifted. They also have a predetermined time limit.
In the case of a vague restriction, your best bet is to contact customer support. They can help you recover your account.
Contact LinkedIn’s customer support and describe the issue clearly by stating the problem, acknowledging the violation, and assuring them that it will not happen again.
2. Disconnect Automation Tools
If your account has been restricted due to the use of an automation tool, it is best to disconnect all tools associated with your account. Disconnect them from your browser and your account, and do not connect them back for a month, even after the restriction has been lifted.
To see which tools and services are currently associated with your account, follow these steps:
- Click “Settings and Privacy” under the “Me” drop-down menu.
- Click “Data Privacy.”
- Click “Permitted Services” under the “Other applications” section.
- Click “Remove” to disconnect the automation tools you want.
3. Verify Your Identity
In some cases, your LinkedIn account may be restricted with a request for an ID. This can happen if LinkedIn suspects bot activity due to spam.
If you receive a request to verify your identity, take action right away. Provide the required information, and once you have your access back, take it easy with automation tools and send only personalized messages.
4. Follow the Recovery Instructions
If you have received a notification that your account is restricted and you believe it is a mistake, you may be able to recover your account.
Log into your account and follow the recovery instructions. Once you do that, LinkedIn will review your account. If there is a mistake, the restrictions will be lifted. It may take up to 5 days for LinkedIn to review your account.
5 Best Practices to Avoid Getting LinkedIn Account Restricted
It is important to use LinkedIn properly to avoid restrictions and maximize the potential of the platform. Here are some of the best ways to avoid restrictions and keep your account safe in the future.
1. Don’t Spam
Focus on creating meaningful relationships by connecting with industry peers, sharing valuable content, and engaging with your network.
Create quality over quantity, and don’t spam your network.
Spamming on LinkedIn includes:
- sending too many connection requests
- low acceptance rates
- posting promotional content or links to your website
- sending the same message to a lot of people
- low reply rates
2. Be Mindful of Daily Limits
You can interact with other users on LinkedIn in several ways, such as through Messages, InMails, connection requests, following, and profile visits. There are daily limits for each of these that you should follow.
While the limits vary widely depending on several factors, such as having a premium account, the size of your existing network, the age of your account, and more, it is best to play it safe. Ideally, if you have been on the network for a while, you should limit your daily connection requests to 50.
Additionally, you should also withdraw older pending connection requests. Having a lot of pending connection requests can be a red flag for LinkedIn. Find any connection requests that are over a month old and withdraw them.
Here’s how to do that:
- Click “My Network.”
- Click “Manage” in the “Invitations” section.
- Click “Sent.”
- Scroll through the pending connection requests.
- Click “Withdraw” to withdraw a connection request.
3. Engage With Your Network
LinkedIn could restrict your account if you only use it to send connection requests and promote your business or products.
To avoid it, engage with your network by sharing relevant content and interacting with other members’ posts through likes, shares, or comments.
You can connect with like-minded professionals and contribute to relevant discussions by joining industry groups.
4. Use the Right Automation Tools
A common reason why a lot of LinkedIn users get banned is because they use the wrong automation tools. Don’t sign up for the first tool you come across. Take the time to research and evaluate how safe they are.
There are two types of LinkedIn tools you can use- cloud-based and Chrome-based. Chrome-based tools are in the form of extensions and work from your browser. In many cases, they don’t have a dedicated IP address which could be a red flag for LinkedIn.
Cloud-based tools work online and have a dedicated IP, so they are safer. Your login information will be consistent each time you log in with a dedicated IP. Another major advantage of using a cloud-based tool is that it offers advanced features.
Taplio, for example, allows you to personalize your DMs, making them appear less spammy. This means there will be a lower risk for your account to get restricted.
5. Don’t Be Too Salesy
If you are genuine and connect with people in your industry organically, there are fewer chances of your LinkedIn account getting restricted. Always include a personalized, genuine message when you send a connection request.
Do not send a pitch in your connection request.
Send a well-crafted invitation message, including a reason why they should connect with you. Take the time to build a relationship with someone before sending them a sales pitch.
Wrapping It Up!
Having your LinkedIn account restricted may surprise you, especially if you don’t know the daily limits.
To avoid getting a temporary or permanent restriction, keep an active profile presence.
Engage with your network, post high-quality content, and personalize your outreach message.
