Challenges: Managing large LinkedIn connections networks

This article is written in year 4 upon my own joining the LinkedIn social network. My network of connections has grown rapidly. I have not been able to study every bit of functionality of this great system yet. Some of what I have to present here is speculative, only confirmed through experimentation and correspondence with other successful and veteran members. Purpose: 1 – I discovered some not so easy to find functions and would like to share them. 2 – I seek advice in areas in which I’m lost. 3 – I am keen in seeing comments on what I have here. I am purposely and honestly writing “great system” because I yield a lot of value from it despite its flaws and frequent changes, unfortunately usually to the worse.

1 Members until 10,000 Connections threshold

Problem: When a member’s network grows at a speed greater than a certain number per interval, it looks like the system by default obstructs the rapid growth through repeat presentation of profiles under “People you may know” which turn out to be useless if followed with a click on “Connect”. It seems like Connections suggested by the system are either fake, i.e. non existent at all, completely inactive users or for other reasons with certainty not going to respond. It looks like this phenomenon is a setting in the LinkedIn back office which can manually be removed by a human system administrator. To the contrary, a human administrator may and does at any given point of time put a ban on the member for usually a limited period of time, usually some weeks or so.

Remedy: There is no other way for the rapidly growing member than to submit themselves to the rules and accept them. And prove their integrity through permanent honesty and creation of value.  For members who don’t own/manage a group or frequently publish any postings it is obviously hard to prove that. Only the contrary, the potential offense, is easily proven. The only means remaining is persistence and patience. Every member can contact the human system administration and ask for removal of obstructions. It is a case by case management process, and the odds are good to achieve improvement through communication with system admin. For somebody with high ambitions, it may be a good idea to consider the creation of a group and thus create some substantial value.

2 Members 10,000 – 20,000

Problem: In this section it looks like the system bans the growth through active invitation efforts completely by default. As if the system wants to test the persitence, patience and integrity with the maximum level of torment.

Remedy: Same as under 1 .

3 Members 20,000 – 30,000

Problem: In this section, the obstructions mostly disappear, making this phase of network growth fast and least unpleasant. However, the member cannot any longer easily download the list of Connections as .csv through “Export LinkedIn Connections” as they may have gotten used to doing frequently before. This may turn out to be felt as a major obstruction for a member who may want to manage their contacts offline or export to different systems for all sorts of applications.

Remedy: No remedy needed in the discipline of network growth. For data downloads/exports, there prevails an extremely useful and very hard to find functionality, called “Getting an archive of your data”, and all data otherwise received in “Export LinkedIn Connections” as .csv plus a large lot of useful bulk data more can be obtained, following: mouse-over profile image > “Privacy and Settings” > “Getting an Archive of your Data” > LogIn > Download. This feature is not commonly known even among experts and veterans.

4 Members over 30,000 threshold

Problem: The system obstructs accepting new invitations to connect.

Remedy: The remedies have largely been discussed elsewhere under many threads. I have no news on this. In short, the only means to make the requested connection is trying to turn the invitation direction around. However, since normally for an individualized invitation the email address is needed and the minority of members posts their email address in their profile and since finding it out is arduous work, the effort normally ceases at this point.

The chart underneath may simplify and summarize the typical experience during the phases of personal network growth:

 I seek knowledge and advice in these challenges:

• LinkedIn Connections to CRM features in browser scripts, like https://www.urdhva-tech.com/ ‘s lead grabber, with more functionality
• SuiteCRM https://www.suitecrm.com/ for contact management
• Correspondence automation in LinkedIn private messaging system
• Management of groups: Optimization of invitation to groups and export of data off the group's database