Is LinkedIn Private Mode Really Private? What You Need to Know
LinkedIn is a great resource for business professionals of all kinds. It can be used to network, market, and even build new contacts and relationships with ease.
However, if you want to remain anonymous while searching around LinkedIn, there’s a way for that too! You can use the Linkedin Private Mode. Depending on your LinkedIn account type (free or Premium), the features available in private mode may vary. You can easily manage these settings through the LinkedIn app by following a few simple steps.
But how does it work? And what results should you expect from it?
In this post, we’ll explain how to use the private mode on LinkedIn and cover what kind of results you can get when using this versatile option.
What is LinkedIn Private Mode?
Long story short: LinkedIn Private mode allows you to stay anonymous.
By default when a user browses LinkedIn, they can share their LinkedIn profile information with others. When you look at someone’s profile, LinkedIn keeps your information on file and shows it on the other person’s “who viewed your profile” page. By default, LinkedIn members can see who has visited their profiles unless the visitor is using private mode.
This may be useful if you’re hinting at your interest in someone on LinkedIn and want them to get in touch with you.
However, you don’t always want to be noticed. If you want to remain anonymous while searching around LinkedIn, you need to turn on the private mode. When in private mode, you will appear as an ‘Anonymous LinkedIn Member’ to others.
In private mode, individuals viewing profiles will not see the profile picture, name, or specific details of the user.
Definition of LinkedIn Private Mode
LinkedIn Private Mode is a feature that allows users to browse other LinkedIn profiles without revealing their own identity. When enabled, the viewer’s name and personal information are hidden from the viewed profile, and the viewed user will only know that someone has viewed their profile, but not who. This feature is particularly useful for conducting research, lead generation, and outreach activities without revealing one’s identity. By using LinkedIn private mode, you can explore LinkedIn profiles discreetly, ensuring your privacy while gathering the information you need.
How do I turn LinkedIn Private Mode on?
To enable your LinkedIn private mode, follow these steps:
- Go to the top of your LinkedIn homepage, click the Me symbol, and then select Settings & Privacy from the drop-down menu.
By enabling private mode, you can browse other LinkedIn members' profiles without revealing your identity.
- Select Visibility from the left menu.
- In the Visibility of your profile & network area, select the option Change next to Profile viewing options.
- Select the mode that you want to use. You have three choices:
- Public Profile: Your name and headline
- Semi-Private mode: Private profile characteristics (i.e. job title and industry)
- Private mode
How to turn off LinkedIn Private Mode
To turn off LinkedIn Private Mode, follow these steps:
- Go to the LinkedIn homepage and select Visibility from the left menu.
- In the Visibility of your profile & network area, select Change next to Profile viewing options.
- Choose the mode you want to use: Public, Semi-private, or Private.
- Select Public to turn off Private Mode.
Alternatively, you can also turn off Private Mode by selecting a new visibility option (public or semi-private) in the Visibility settings. This will ensure that your profile is visible to others when you view their profiles, allowing for more transparent interactions on LinkedIn.
Linkedin Private and Semi-Private Mode
When you view someone's profile in private mode, you'll be listed as “LinkedIn Member - This person is viewing profiles in private mode” in their Who's Viewed Your Profile section.
Using private mode allows you to visit a LinkedIn profile anonymously, which can be useful for conducting lead generation and outreach activities without revealing your identity.
No additional information about you will be provided to the individual whose profile you viewed.
When you use semi-private mode, some of your profile details such as job title, company, and institution will be displayed to the member you are viewing. (for example, Sr. Engineer at Google, Someone at Citigroup, or Student at Harvard University).
Differences between public and private modes on LinkedIn
The main difference between public and private modes on LinkedIn is the level of anonymity provided to the viewer. In public mode, the viewer’s name and personal information are visible to the viewed user, whereas in private mode, the viewer’s identity is hidden.
Here are the key differences between public and private modes:
- Public Mode:- Viewer’s name and personal information are visible to the viewed user.
- Viewed user can see who viewed their profile.
- Viewer can see who viewed their own profile.
- Private Mode:- Viewer’s name and personal information are hidden from the viewed user.
- Viewed user will only know that someone viewed their profile, but not who.
- Viewer cannot see who viewed their own profile.
By understanding these differences, you can choose the mode that best suits your needs on LinkedIn.
Key differences between semi-private and private modes
Semi-private mode is a middle ground between public and private modes. In semi-private mode, the viewer’s job title, company, and institution are visible to the viewed user, but their name and personal information are hidden.
Here are the key differences between semi-private and private modes:
- Semi-private Mode:- Viewer’s job title, company, and institution are visible to the viewed user.
- Viewed user can see some information about the viewer, but not their name or personal details.
- Viewer cannot see who viewed their own profile.
- Private Mode:- Viewer’s name and personal information are completely hidden from the viewed user.
- Viewed user will only know that someone viewed their profile, but not who.
- Viewer cannot see who viewed their own profile.
Choosing between semi-private and private modes depends on how much information you are comfortable sharing while browsing other LinkedIn profiles.
Can everyone use LinkedIn Private Mode?
Private mode is available to all LinkedIn users, regardless of whether they have LinkedIn Premium or not.
However, the account type you have has an impact on this setting:
Free account: If you turn on private mode, you won't be able to figure out who's looked at your profile either.
Premium LinkedIn account: You may browse in private mode and still see a list of people who have viewed your profile in the last 90 days.
Even if you have a Premium LinkedIn account, you can't see the names of private mode viewers of your own profile because of LinkedIn's user privacy policies.
How does Linkedin's private mode can be used?
Make sure your profile is fully completed
The private mode may be a fantastic option if you're just getting started or need to dust off your old Linkedin profile.
This will assist you in keeping your identity hidden while browsing and improving your profile.
If your online presence isn't fully optimized, you shouldn't be engaging with too many people.
They won't connect with you if they don't understand what you do or how you can assist them.
So, if you want to examine LinkedIn profiles that are similar to what you do, consider turning on LinkedIn private mode.
You can turn it back on once you're satisfied with how everything looks. You'll get a much better acceptance rate for your connection requests.
Job recruiters
If you're a job recruiter, you may find that using the private mode on Linkedin is extremely beneficial.
When you're putting together a list of strong candidates, use LinkedIn private mode for the first part of your research Then, when you're ready to contact them, switch it back to the public profile setting.
When your prospects get a notification that an HR recruiter has reviewed their profile, the surprise effect is lost, and they'll know what to anticipate.
Competitor research
Analyzing your competition on LinkedIn and their activities may provide important information for your own company.
Learn what your competitors are doing, identify industry trends, and stay one step ahead of the pack by analyzing your rivals and their actions.
If you decide to monitor your competitors on Linkedin, you may choose to keep it a secret. By utilizing LinkedIn's private mode, you can keep an eye on your competition without their knowledge.
Benefits and Downsides of Using LinkedIn Private Mode
Benefits of Using LinkedIn Private Mode
- Anonymity: LinkedIn Private Mode allows users to browse profiles without revealing their own identity, which can be useful for research, lead generation, and outreach activities.
- Increased security: By hiding one’s identity, users can reduce the risk of phishing attacks and other online threats.
- Improved networking: Private Mode can help users build relationships with others without revealing their own identity, which can be useful for introverts or those who prefer to keep a low profile.
- Competitor research: Private Mode can be used to research competitors without revealing one’s own identity, which can be useful for market research and analysis.
However, there are also some downsides to using LinkedIn Private Mode, which will be discussed in the next section.
Is it a Good or Bad Idea? Should You Use the Private Mode on Linkedin?
In a lot of cases, the Linkedin private mode may be quite beneficial. However, we believe that they should be utilized as a short-term plan.
In the long run, you may want to focus on being seen to expand your network, extend your reach, and build authority on Linkedin.
One of the most effective ways to build authority and social proof on Linkedin is through content and engagement. If your post has a high number of likes and comments, this can attract viewer attention.
The best way to automate and consistently having posts with higher engagement is by using a tool such as Linkboost.
With you can generate qualified engagement and 10x the usual outreach on Linkedin. This will help to highlight your posts, which brings an opportunity for connections and a higher acceptance rate.
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