One of the common questions that is still unclear for many users in the LinkedIn professional network is: What is the difference between follow and connect on LinkedIn?
The difference between "Follow" and "Connect" on LinkedIn lies in the level of relationship and interaction with other users. When you "Follow" someone, you will see their posts and updates in your feed, but they won't receive a notification, and they won't be added to your list of connections. It's similar to following someone on other social media platforms. On the other hand, when you "Connect" with someone, you are inviting them to join your network, and if they accept, you become first-degree connections. You'll see each other's posts, have direct messaging access, and be able to view each other's connections. Connecting signifies a stronger professional relationship and allows for more direct communication on LinkedIn.
If you’re also looking for the answer to this question, you’re in the best possible place.
That’s why we’re going to explain everything about following and connecting on LinkedIn.
So stay with us.
What Is the Difference Between Follow and Connect on LinkedIn?
One of the issues faced by many LinkedIn members is the type of reaching other users. There are two types of communication on LinkedIn, which are: following and connecting. So what is the difference between follow and connect on LinkedIn?
The difference between following and connecting on LinkedIn is that when you follow someone, you’ll see their posts in your feed, but you won’t be directly connected to them. Whereas when you connect with someone, you can send direct messages and establish a professional relationship with them.
Considering that the function of the LinkedIn network is different from other social media such as Twitter, Facebook, etc., and focuses on business issues, most people prefer to build or expand their network on this platform to stand out.
How to expand your LinkedIn network?
There are generally two ways to stay in touch with LinkedIn users you don’t know:
The first way is: Send an invitation to connect:
In the text of your invitation, you can introduce yourself, and explain why you’re interested in connecting with that user.
Of course, this way doesn’t guarantee the confirmation of your invitation to communicate, but it increases your chances of expanding your network on LinkedIn.
But getting tons of connection requests from people you don’t know can be overwhelming.
It’s important to note that when accepting new connections, ensure you can provide an exchange of value.
On the other hand, if you send connection requests to a large number of people without any explanation, LinkedIn may consider you spam and suspend your account LinkedIn. So be very careful.
The second way is: Follow the desired person.
- Connect vs Follow
The second way shows the difference between following and connecting on the LinkedIn network.
As is clear, in the second method, the acceptance or withdrawal of your invitation by the users you’ve followed is not stated.
This means that when you follow people on LinkedIn, you no longer need to be approved by them. So, you can see their shared content in your feed.
If you still don’t understand the difference between them, we’ll explain it more clearly:
Connection is the exact opposite of following and means two-way communication on LinkedIn.
If you connect to individuals, it’s as if you’ve followed them, and by accepting the request, they’ve followed you, and they become your first-degree connections.
Hence, you’ll both be able to see each other’s content in your feed.
But when you follow someone, the communication remains completely one-way.
This means that only you can see their content in your feed, and in this way, the people you’ve followed won’t be able to see your content unless they also follow you.
In addition, when you follow people, you’ll have restrictions such as not having access to their private information like their email addresses.
It’s important to know if the users you’ve followed have enabled the feature of not showing shares to followers in their Settings & Privacy page or have given the possibility to follow only their connections, in which case there is no way to see their updates.
Generally, LinkedIn influencers prefer people to follow them rather than to establish a connection with them. But this can’t be applied to other users.
Only most importantly, the limitation of sending invitations to connect on LinkedIn is that you can no longer connect with others.
Now this question may be in the mind of every reader: Should everyone choose the Connect button? We’ll explain below.
LinkedIn Follow or Connect Setting: Which Would You Prefer to Manage & Add to Your Profile?
Choosing a follow or connect button for your LinkedIn account depends entirely on your field of expertise and your job roles.
For example: if you’re a copywriter or a well-known person in your field of work and industry, we suggest that you choose the Follow option as the main profile button. Because by doing this, more people will follow you.
But if you intend to expand your relationships and get to know yourself better, or you like to see the posts of different people and show them your content, we recommend you choose Connect as the main button of your profile.
On the other hand, to create a one-way interaction and share your information with people who are interested in what you’re talking about, the Follow button can be a very good option.
But if you’re looking for a full, effective, two-way engagement on LinkedIn, you need to make a connection.
If you want to establish a connection, it’s better to know that making this connection is limited. This means that each user is allowed to make 30,000 connections.
So, note that to get in touch with each user, don’t make a connection immediately, and another important point is that you can’t establish all these connections & followers in one day.
Regardless of whether you follow or connect with someone on LinkedIn, remember to always be respectful and professional in your interactions.
Networking is all about building relationships, so take the time to get to know people and make meaningful connections!
Why Do Some LinkedIn Profiles Say Follow Instead of Connect?
On LinkedIn, you may have noticed that some profiles use the “Follow” button instead of the “Connect” button.
This may sound a bit confusing and challenging, but don’t worry – it’s actually quite simple!
When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, you add them to your network of professional contacts.
You can see their posts and updates in your feed and they can see your posts as well.
But sometimes you may come across a profile that doesn’t have the “Connect” option. Instead, it has a button that says “Follow”.
When you click this button, you’ll see that person’s updates and posts in your feed, just like when you were connected.
So why do some profiles use “Follow” instead of “Connect”? Well, it really depends on one’s preference.
Some people may want to limit their connections network to people they know personally or have worked closely with.
However, in addition to that, there are other reasons why you can only follow someone on LinkedIn instead of connecting.
One is that you haven’t confirmed your primary email address or your emails are having delivery problems.
Another reason could be that you’re already connected with that person or have already sent them a connection request.
It’s interesting to note that if you have more than 500 connections, by default, the Connect button will be replaced by the Follow button.
Finally, if you’ve turned on the creator mode on LinkedIn, people viewing your profile will see a Follow button instead of a Connect button.
If You Follow Someone on LinkedIn Do They Know?
You must be very curious to find out if you follow someone, do they know or not? The short answer is yes, they’ll receive a notification letting them know that you’re now following their updates.
This notification is useful because it alerts them to potential new connections and allows them to check out your profile to learn more about you.
On top of that, it’s also a great way to show your support for someone’s work or business, and it can even lead to future collaborations or networking opportunities.
But what if you change your mind and don’t want to follow someone anymore? It’s no matter of concern!
Unfollowing is an easy process and no notifications will be sent to the person you’ve already followed.
To do this, simply navigate to their profile, click the “More” button, and select ” ×Following” from the drop-down menu. That’s it! You’re done.
It’s important to note that while following someone on LinkedIn lets you see their updates and activities, you won’t be notified every time you engage with their content, such as commenting or liking a post.
As a matter of fact, this helps maintain privacy and prevent spam notifications for both parties.
Meanwhile, if you decide to start following them again, remember that they’ll get a notification that you followed them.
How to Connect on LinkedIn with a Message?
If you want to connect with someone on LinkedIn you don’t know, you need to send them a personalized invitation message.
This helps create a more meaningful connection with the person you’re reaching out to.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to connect with someone on LinkedIn using a personalized message:
Step 1: Find the person you want to connect with and click on their username to view their LinkedIn profile.
Step 2: Once you’re on their profile, click on the “Connect” button located in the introduction section or the Connect option from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: In the pop-up window that opens, click on “Add a note”.
Step 4: Enter your personalized message in the text box.
Step 5: In this message, write to them why you’re interested in connecting with them. You can point to common interests or mutual connections.
Step 6: Click “Send” to send your connection request along with your message.
How to Change Connect Button to LinkedIn Follow Button?
The Connect button is the default option displayed on a user’s LinkedIn profile, while the Follow option is only found in a drop-down menu.
However, there is a way to reverse this order and make Follow the primary choice instead of Connect, which involves logging in to your LinkedIn account and following these simple steps:
Step 1: Navigate to your LinkedIn Settings page by clicking on “Me” in the top navigation bar and selecting “Settings & Privacy”.
Step 2: On the next page, on the left side of the rail, click “Visibility”, from the right side of the rail, scroll down to the “Visibility of your Linkedin activity” section, and then click “Followers”.
Step 3: in the ” Who can follow you” pop-up window, go to the ” Make follow primary” section and change the ” No” button to ” Yes”.
By following these simple steps, you can now easily switch your LinkedIn profile button from Connect to Follow.
This change can be beneficial for those who want to increase their audience, as followers can expand their reach, although it’s essential to continue nurturing connections as well.
The difference between “Follow” and “Connect” on LinkedIn lies in the level of interaction and relationship established with other LinkedIn users. When you choose to “Follow” someone, it means you are interested in their content, updates, and posts, and you can see their updates on your LinkedIn feed without being directly connected to them. This is similar to how you would follow someone on other social media platforms. On the other hand, when you “Connect” with someone on LinkedIn, it means you are requesting to establish a mutual and more personalized professional relationship with that person. This connection allows you to view each other’s full profiles, send direct messages, and access their contact information if shared. By understanding the distinction between these two LinkedIn features, you can effectively manage your LinkedIn contacts and tailor your networking and marketing efforts to build meaningful connections on the platform.
Conclusion
LinkedIn is one of the largest professional networks in the world, whose main purpose is defined in the field of various members’ expertise and professional skills.
People usually use LinkedIn to find the right job position or talk about the workplace and the pros & cons they face in their career and industry.
On LinkedIn, you can allow others to connect with you or follow you. In fact, users will see the Follow or Connect option to click on your profile page. So, what is the difference between follow and connect on LinkedIn, and which one is better to add to your profile?
Surely, now you know the answer to them. We’re glad that in this article you got acquainted with the main differences between these two options and learned how to change the Connect button to Follow button on LinkedIn.
FAQs
Why can I only follow someone on LinkedIn instead of Connect?
There are several reasons, including:
- Primary email is not verified
- Previous connection to the person or previously sent a connection request
- If there are more than 500 connections, the Follow option replaces the Connect button
- Follow is chosen as the default option instead of Connect
- Connect is replaced by Follow in creator mode
How do I Connect with someone on LinkedIn instead of follow?
To connect, you can visit their profile and click the “Connect” button, or click the “More” button and select “Connect” from the drop-down menu. This will send them a connection request that they can accept or ignore.
What is the benefit of following on LinkedIn?
The benefit of following people on LinkedIn is that their updates, posts, and articles will appear in your feed, allowing you to stay up-to-date on their activities and professional insights without connecting to them.
Is it better to follow or Connect on LinkedIn?
Choosing between “Follow” and “Connect” on LinkedIn depends on your goals. Connecting with someone establishes a two-way professional relationship, granting both parties access to each other’s networks and updates. It’s ideal for those you know or have worked with. “Following” allows you to see updates and articles from someone without connecting directly, suitable for industry leaders or influencers from whom you’d like to gain insights without having a personal relationship.
Why do some people on LinkedIn have follow instead of Connect?
Some individuals, especially thought leaders or influencers on LinkedIn, might choose to display a “Follow” button prominently instead of the standard “Connect” button to manage the high volume of connection requests they receive. This allows them to share their content with a wider audience without having to connect with each follower personally. However, the option to connect is still available under the “More” dropdown menu on their profile.
Is follow and Connect the same on LinkedIn?
No, “Follow” and “Connect” serve different purposes on LinkedIn. When you connect with someone, it’s a two-way relationship, and both of you become part of each other’s professional network. You’ll see each other’s updates, posts, and shared articles. On the other hand, when you follow someone, you’ll see their posts and articles in your feed, but they won’t see yours unless they follow or connect with you.
Why can I follow someone on LinkedIn but not Connect?
If you see only the “Follow” option and not the “Connect” button, it might be because the individual has set their profile to prioritize followers due to being an influencer or receiving many connection requests. However, you can typically still send a connection request by clicking on the “More” button on their profile and selecting “Connect.”
When you remove a connection on LinkedIn, will they still follow you?
When you remove a connection on LinkedIn, the two-way professional relationship is severed, which means they won’t be a part of your network anymore. However, unless they actively chose to follow you before the removal, they won’t automatically become a follower after the disconnection. If they were following you before the disconnection, that follow relationship will remain intact.