In the world of LinkedIn, where connections and followers can greatly impact your professional image and opportunities, the idea of buying followers can be tempting. LinkedIn, unlike other social networks, is designed specifically for professional networking and career development.
As such, the quality of your connections and followers can speak volumes about your professional stature. This piece will evaluate the pros and cons of buying LinkedIn followers to help you decide whether this strategy is a viable option for your professional growth.
The Pros of Buying LinkedIn Followers
1. Increased Visibility and Credibility
One of the most immediate benefits of having more followers on LinkedIn is the enhanced visibility and perceived credibility. A higher follower count can make your profile seem more reputable and influential, which can be particularly useful for business owners, freelancers, and consultants who rely on their professional persona to attract clients or leads.
2. Boosted Social Proof
Psychologically, social proof occurs when people mimic the actions of others in an attempt to reflect appropriate behavior. In the context of LinkedIn, having a large number of followers can act as social proof, potentially attracting more organic followers. This can lead to more engagement on your posted content and greater overall exposure in your industry.
3. Improved Perceptions of Authority
Profiles with significant followers can give the impression that the owner is a thought leader or an authority in their field. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re looking to expand your reach or influence in specific professional circles.
The Cons of Buying LinkedIn Followers
1. Lack of Engagement
Purchased followers are typically not real people interested in your career or business. They are often bot accounts or inactive profiles that will not engage with your content. This means your engagement rates will likely stay low, which can be a red flag to both LinkedIn’s algorithm and anyone scrutinizing your profile for genuine influence.
2. Risk to Reputation
The professional nature of LinkedIn makes the authenticity of your connections highly important. If it becomes apparent that you have bought followers, it can damage your reputation and undermine your credibility in your professional field. This can have long-term negative effects, especially if your network includes industry leaders and peers who value authenticity.
3. Potential Violation of LinkedIn’s Terms of Service
Buying followers can violate LinkedIn’s terms of service, which emphasize authentic personal connections. Breaching these terms can lead to penalties, including the possible suspension of your account, which would severely impact your professional networking capabilities.
4. No ROI in Terms of Engagement or Leads
Since purchased followers are not genuine, they are unlikely to convert into leads or participate in meaningful interactions that lead to actual career or business opportunities. This means your investment into buying followers is unlikely to offer any real return on investment (ROI) in terms of business growth or career advancement.
Final Words!
While the idea of quickly amplifying your LinkedIn follower count through purchases might seem appealing, the long-term disadvantages far outweigh the short-term gains. LinkedIn thrives on genuine connections and interactions, and there’s no substitute for naturally building a network that is engaged and relevant to your professional goals.
Instead of buying followers, focus on cultivating your LinkedIn presence organically. Enhance your profile, share insightful content, engage genuinely with others, and leverage LinkedIn’s various tools and features for networking and career growth. This approach not only ensures compliance with LinkedIn’s policies but also builds a professional image that’s respected and sustained by real achievements and interactions.
FAQs
How to Block Someone on LinkedIn?
To block someone on LinkedIn, find the person’s profile and block them. Click the ‘More’ button right below their profile header next to the ‘Message’ button. From the dropdown menu, select ‘Report/Block’. You will then see an option to block the person. Click on ‘Block’ and confirm your choice. Blocking someone will stop them from viewing your profile and any interaction between you and the blocked person.
How to Cancel LinkedIn Premium?
Canceling your LinkedIn Premium subscription is straightforward. First, click on your profile icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select ‘Access My Premium’. From there, choose ‘Manage Premium account’ on the right side, then click ‘Cancel subscription.’ You will need to follow the prompts to complete the cancellation process. Keep in mind that you can use the remaining time on your subscription even after you cancel, as the cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.
How to Get Your LinkedIn URL?
To find your LinkedIn URL, go to your LinkedIn by clicking on your profile or icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. In your browser’s address bar, find the URL of your profile page. Your LinkedIn profile URL can be found here. Under the ‘Edit public profile & URL’ section on the right-hand side of your profile page, you can find a more customizable version of this link. This allows you to adjust your URL to a more personalized version if available.
Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?
You should consider whether LinkedIn Premium is worth it based on your professional needs and goals. LinkedIn Premium offers features such as seeing who has viewed your profile, sending messages to people you’re not connected with, accessing courses on LinkedIn Learning, and receiving insights on job applications. These features can be particularly useful for job seekers, sales professionals, and those looking to expand their network significantly. However, if you do not actively use these features, the cost may not justify the benefits.
How to Delete a LinkedIn Account?
To delete your LinkedIn account, click on your profile icon at the apex of the LinkedIn homepage and select ‘Settings & Privacy’. Under the ‘Account’ tab, look for a section called ‘Account management’ and find the ‘Closing your LinkedIn account’ option.
Click on this, and LinkedIn will walk you through the steps to close your account, including asking for a reason why you’re leaving the platform. Note that once your profile is closed, you will lose all your connections, messages, and other data associated with it. It’s a good idea to download a copy of your data before you close your account if you think you might need it in the future.