For all users, LinkedIn has set some rules and regulations that they must follow. This is to ensure professional conduct and behavior and for the user’s safety. As a general rule, all behaviors that are not allowed in an actual working environment are also inappropriate on LinkedIn.
Those who use LinkedIn for lead generation must avoid wrong practices and other violations as this can result in account restrictions.
A LinkedIn account restriction is highly inconvenient, especially if you use the platform for business purposes. The limits can considerably decrease your selling efforts. So, it is recommended to stay on the right track with appropriate behavior when using LinkedIn.
When an account gets restricted or flagged on LinkedIn, it is called as ‘LinkedIn jail.’ It is a serious situation and has a negative impact on your account and activities.
Luckily you can remove these restrictions, but prevention is the best strategy.
In this read, we will explore various things and topics, including how you can get out of LinkedIn jail. Things that we will cover here are:
- The reasons that cause restrictions on your LinkedIn account.
- What happens when your LinkedIn account gets restricted.
- How to recover your LinkedIn account
- How to avoid account restrictions.
- The tools that are safe to use on LinkedIn.
Let’s start.
Top reasons why your LinkedIn account was restricted:
Let’s look at the common reasons that can result in restrictions on your LinkedIn account. Many of these restrictions occur due to the violation of rules and regulations and to keep the platform reputable and hassle-free.
Some of the reasons for blocked or restricted LinkedIn accounts are as follow:
- Having too many clicks or views from your LinkedIn account.
- Sending too many invitations and connection requests in a short time.
- Not sufficient or too low acceptance rate against sent connection requests.
- People flag your invitations often with the reason ‘I don’t know this person.’
- Using low-quality or unknown automation tools.
- Illegal or spammy activities on your account.
- A hacked account.
Some of these are not in your control, but most of them are caused due to the user’s unacceptable behavior, resulting in a restricted and banned account. If this happens, it can affect your business and other activities.
When it comes to the tools, we recommend you to use cloud-based solutions as they are a much safer option than the others.
What happens when your LinkedIn account gets blocked or restricted?
So what to do when you intentionally or unintentionally cross the line, and LinkedIn blocks your account? Here are some valid questions regarding a restricted LinkedIn account that you need to know:
Do you get any notifications?
Yes, the first thing that you will receive is a notification stating that LinkedIn has restricted your account temporarily. Although it looks concerning initially, but it’s not your nightmare yet.
Usually, there is a valid reason for the restriction, such as when the authorities view any inappropriate activity on your account, or you have visited numerous pages in a short time on the platform.
Furthermore, the officials will define the restriction’s term and when you can access your account freely.
In most cases, authorities send you a prior warning before taking any action. However, if you continue to break the defined rules, they will take action against you.
Besides, in some cases and when you continue with suspicious activity even after a warning or restriction, LinkedIn will ban your account permanently.
Can I appeal against the restrictions?
It mainly depends on the restriction’s type, but generally, you have the right to appeal against it. In some cases, you will view the information about the appeal on the main page when you log in. You can follow those instructions to appeal and reinstate your LinkedIn.
Moreover, if you didn’t get the appeal option on your page, you can contact the LinkedIn Support Team or tweet at LinkedIn Help. However, there is no guarantee that they will respond to you, but it’s worth a try.
What exactly happens?
If officials notice any inappropriate activity on your LinkedIn account, they can block you from the platform or remove specific content. When your account is blocked, you cannot access it as you should, or sometimes they will restrict you from using some features like InMail until a particular time or date.
In severe cases or violations, LinkedIn can restrict your account permanently. This usually happens with repeated offenders.
How to recover your LinkedIn account?
You don’t have many options here, but there are a few things that you can do to recover your suspended account. If this is your first violation, things will be much easier to get your account’s functionality back in a short time. However, things can be difficult and time-consuming if you are a repeat offender.
Below are some important points to remember:
Always use trusted and certified tools:
To put it simple, LinkedIn doesn’t like disreputable tools. Many times using unknown or infamous tools causes restrictions on your account, particularly browser-based and shared tools. To avoid blockage, you should only use secure and safe tools.
Contact LinkedIn
If your account is still not unblocked, it’s worth talking to LinkedIn representatives. This is a simple process, and LinkedIn support members can rightly guide you.
You can fill out LinkedIn’s contact form and state your problem to obtain their assistance. Visit this URL for more info: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/gri
By using the link, you can send your questions directly to the official LinkedIn customer support team.
Furthermore, we will advise you to remain polite and honest when talking to the representative because you want to get your account’s access back. Similarly, keep the conversation to the point, and focus on what you need to get out of LinkedIn’s jail.
Besides, don’t forget to ask what and when you did wrong and how to avoid it. Seek expert advice but without mentioning the tools you were using.
Furthermore, there is also a chance that you won’t get any reply from them. Usually, this happens with repeated offenders and on your restriction type. However, in most cases, they will respond to you and help you in recovering your account.
What to do once you get out of LinkedIn jail?
So, now you are out of jail with your account, what should you do next? Obviously, you shouldn’t use all those practices or tools that got your account banned earlier. However, there are a few options to bear in mind when restarting your prospecting or outreach process:
Take a slow start
Don’t try to push; instead, ‘warm-up’ your account after recovering it. It would be best if you treat it as a new account. There are many ways to do so:
Only send a few connection requests without using any tools. This way, you can build up your connections and also your account’s credibility.
Try to connect only with your mutual connections at the start. This will help to increase your acceptance rate. If you want to connect with anyone outside your network, use LinkedIn’s InMail credit to contact them.
When sending messages and connection requests, adopt personalize approach for each request/message. This will differentiate you and your message from the crowd and looks more appealing to the recipient.
Clear all pending connection requests, as they might go against you.
Spend some time optimizing your profile, add personalization elements like a unique headline and descriptions.
Tools Matter
Most LinkedIn tools that people use for lead generation and other purposes are browser-based. However, the tools are user-friendly, but they are not friendly for LinkedIn. Often LinkedIn can spot doubtful activity when you use such tools.
In this regard, we will suggest you opt for a cloud-based solution as they are safer than the others, and LinkedIn also likes them.
Work with professionals
If you are confused about where to take a start or find the process too daunting. You can seek help from LinkedIn specialists, and they will help you find the right automation tools as per your business needs.
Prevent your business with these tips:
To ensure that your LinkedIn account remains unobstructed, you need to follow some dos and don’ts to keep your account safe even after the consequences and initial restriction.
Dos and Don’ts
Your reputation should be your top-most priority: Suspicious activities, too many rejections, and a low level of commitment can result in a potential restriction. Your reputation is the most valuable asset on LinkedIn.
Never spam: If you use LinkedIn for lead generation, adopt a targeted approach. In simple words, send messages or requests to those people that you think will convert into beneficial connections.
Use safe tools only. As mentioned above, never use spurious tools and avoid quick-fix browser tools.
Don’t repeat the mistakes: If you have received a warning due to any activity, don’t repeat that mistakes. Always follow LinkedIn’s official guidelines and change your process.
Ensure that your account details are safe: A compromised or hacked LinkedIn account can result in a permanent ban from the platform. So, use a strong password, change it regularly and stay updated about your internet security.
Use LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator. Occasionally, LinkedIn sends a warning if you have not had much through any activity. So, if you want to enhance your usage and sales, use a premium account with a sales navigator.
Best practices to follow on LinkedIn:
Below are the community guidelines that you must follow when using LinkedIn. Some are defined rules, while some are expert’s suggestions to keep the platform clean, reputable, and productive. Some of the LinkedIn best practices are:
Polish your profile: You should represent yourself as a professional with beneficial offerings for your potential connections. Using a professional and appropriate profile picture with an engaging headline represents you and your brand as a professional.
Always focus on quality: High-quality and valuable content, whether in the form of posts or connection requests, differs you from others in many ways. Spammy messages can adversely affect you and your brand.
Grow your network organically: The rule is simple here; the more you have satisfied connections, the more will be your profile’s value. So, maintain your focus on growing the number of only relevant users in your network.
Some Red flags to look out for:
Below are the things that can cause restrictions on LinkedIn in no time. So look out for these red flags:
Too many page visits: If you are visiting many profiles or pages in a short time, you will be flagged instantly by the concerns.
Spammy or illegal activities: This includes the content you post or the request you send. Illegal or spammy activates are not tolerated on LinkedIn.
A hacked LinkedIn account: If someone else uses your LinkedIn account without your knowledge, LinkedIn will not allow it.
Too many negative responses: If many people report your profile or click the ‘I don’t know this person on your connection request, it will affect your reputation and cause account restriction.
What to do if you get permanently blocked on LinkedIn?
If you have received multiple warnings or restrictions for the same issue, there’s a chance that you will face a permanent ban on your account. This is extremely inconvenient because you cannot set up a new account to deal with the restriction.
The only thing that you can do in this case is seek help from LinkedIn support to resolve the issue. Again, you should behave politely and honestly about the situation. And if you get back your account, follow the rules closely and properly.
In the End:
Currently, LinkedIn is an important network for business owners and professionals who want to develop their careers and generate sales.
LinkedIn, like other social media networks, cares for its users and protects them from spam. Thus there are defined rules and regulations that users have to follow.
As long as you are within limits and stick to the things mentioned above, your LinkedIn account will not be jailed.
But, as you have heard, prevention is always better than the cure. So, use the best LinkedIn practices and keep using your account smoothly.
