Kaspr Blog - B2B | Prospecting | Sales | Recruitment

LinkedIn Limits: What You Need to Know for Prospecting

Written by Daisy Shevlin | Nov 26, 2024 5:21:40 PM

Ever hit a wall while sending LinkedIn connection requests? You’re not alone. 💯

LinkedIn is great for growing your network, but there’s a catch - you can’t just connect with everyone at once. The platform sets limits on almost everything: connections, messages, profile views, and more. These aren’t just random rules. They’re LinkedIn’s way of keeping spam in check and ensuring everyone has a good experience.

But here’s the thing—these limits can slow you down if you don’t know how to work with them. Whether you’re doing outreach, looking for candidates, or building your brand, bumping into these invisible walls is frustrating.

Ready to explore? ⤵️

What are LinkedIn’s limits?

Think of LinkedIn limits as traffic rules for networking. Like speed limits keep roads safe, LinkedIn connection limits keep the platform running smoothly. They stop spam, protect users, and ensure fair play.

Here’s a breakdown of LinkedIn’s main limits. 👇

👉 Check out our complete comparison of Sales Navigator vs LinkedIn Premium and see if Sales Navigator is worth the hype.

These limits affect how you network. If you’re in sales or recruiting, you must plan your outreach carefully. Hitting these limits can slow down your efforts to:

  • Build your network.
  • Reach potential clients.
  • Find job candidates.
  • Connect with industry peers.

But here’s the good news: knowing these limits helps you work smarter. Instead of random connecting, you’ll focus on quality connections. Instead of mass messaging, you’ll write better, more targeted messages.

LinkedIn isn’t trying to make things difficult. It’s trying to keep the platform professional and spam-free. Working within these limits often leads to better networking. And later down the line, revenue! 💰

Connection limits on LinkedIn

LinkedIn caps your total connections at 30,000 - a lot, but it’s not endless. Once you hit this limit, you’ll only see a “Follow” button on your profile instead of “Connect.” Think of it like having a guest list for a huge party - at some point, you need to be selective about who gets in.

Here’s the tricky part - LinkedIn lets you send about 100 connection requests per week. But it’s not just a simple number game. Send too many requests too fast or get too many “I don’t know this person” responses, and LinkedIn might flag your account.

Smart connection management

Want to make those 100 weekly requests count? Skip the default message and add a personal note. Connect with people you’ve met or worked with. And remember - quality beats quantity every time. Space out your weekly requests instead of sending them all at once.

Your LinkedIn network needs regular maintenance. Take time every few months to review your connections. Remove inactive ones and engage with those who matter most. Join relevant groups to find people in your industry and follow leaders who share valuable insights.

👉 You might like to read about value-based selling.

Messaging and InMail limits

Let’s talk about sending messages on LinkedIn. There are two ways to reach out: regular messages to your connections and InMail for people you haven’t connected with yet.

For regular messages to your connections, LinkedIn keeps it pretty straightforward. Free users can send about 100 messages weekly, while Premium users get 150. But here’s what most people don’t know - LinkedIn watches how people respond to your messages. You might see your limit drop if you get too many ignored messages.

InMail works differently. Think of these as your VIP passes to reach anyone on LinkedIn. Here’s how many you get each month:

  • Free accounts: Zero (yep, none at all).
  • Premium Business: 15 credits.
  • Sales Navigator: 50 credits.
  • Recruiter Lite: 100 credits.

The good news? If someone responds within 90 days, you get that credit back. Even better - when you message someone with an “Open Profile,” it doesn’t use up your credits.

💡 Pro tip: you can export your LinkedIn contacts and reach out via email instead. Kaspr makes this super easy - it helps you find verified email addresses for your LinkedIn connections. This way, you’re not limited by LinkedIn’s messaging caps.

You can sign up for Kaspr and test out the data for free.

Keep your messages short and personal. Nobody wants to read a wall of text from a stranger. Mention something specific from their profile or your shared industry. And please skip the sales pitch in your first message.

LinkedIn prospecting tools like Kaspr make your life easier by providing access to contact numbers. So maybe you work into your cadence that a message only comes once you’ve spoken on a call with that prospect.

When it comes to outreach, quality beats quantity every time, whether using regular messages, InMail, or email. One well-crafted message is worth more than ten generic ones. Focus on building genuine connections; those message limits will no longer feel so limiting.

Profile and account visibility limits

Your LinkedIn profile visibility matters more than you might think. It’s not just about who can see your profile - it’s about who finds you in searches and what they see when they land on your page.

LinkedIn gives you three main visibility options:

  1. Public - anyone on the internet can see your profile.
  2. Semi-private - only LinkedIn members can view your details.
  3. Private - just your connections can see your full profile.

The more private you make your profile, the harder opportunities to find you are. If you’re job hunting or building a business, going too private might hurt more than help. Plus, modern LinkedIn email finders can still discover your business email. So, instead of hiding, focus on presenting your best professional self.

When tracking profile visitors, free accounts show the last five viewers, while Premium unlocks the full list. Daily viewing limits vary, too—free users get 80 profile views, Premium members enjoy 150, and Sales Navigator tops out at 1,000.

Looking to boost your discoverability? 

Focus on the parts of your profile that show up in searches. A strong headline grabs attention. Your location helps local opportunities find you. Recent activity shows you’re actively engaged in your industry.

💡 Kaspr scrapes data from LinkedIn profiles.

Think of LinkedIn visibility like a storefront. Adjust your settings based on your goals, and you’ll turn profile views into meaningful connections.

Common issues and solutions related to LinkedIn limits

LinkedIn’s strict limits can suddenly halt your outreach efforts. These restrictions often strike at the worst possible moments - right when you’ve found the perfect lead or during crucial business development campaigns.

Common LinkedIn blocks you might face:

  • Running out of weekly connection requests mid-campaign.
  • Message blocks triggered by high-volume outreach days.
  • Unexpected profile view limits stopping your research.
  • Account restrictions from too many declined connections.
  • Campaign disruptions during time-sensitive outreach.
  • Networking momentum loss while waiting for limits to reset.

These limits can severely impact your networking strategy and lead-generation efforts, especially when managing multiple prospects or running time-sensitive campaigns.

How to increase LinkedIn limits with Kaspr

Kaspr finds direct dials and business emails for your prospects. When you hit LinkedIn’s limits, you can switch to cold calling and email outreach instead. No more waiting for weekly limits to reset - you keep your networking momentum going.

Think of Kaspr as your LinkedIn co-pilot. It warns you before you hit limits, suggests the best times to reach out, and gives you backup options when LinkedIn puts on the brakes. This way, you can focus on building relationships instead of counting connection requests.

👉 More LinkedIn Sales Navigator Extensions for Chrome to discover here. 

The last word on LinkedIn limits

Navigating LinkedIn’s limits isn’t just about avoiding restrictions but being a smarter networker. The rules around connection requests and profile views shape how you grow your professional network, but they don’t have to stunt your progress.

Instead of worrying about numbers, use these boundaries to your advantage. Focus on making real, valuable connections that help your career or business. It’s about creating a network that matters, right? 

Start by working within these limits. Send personalized invites, time your outreach just right, and ensure your profile stays visible to the people who matter.

Here’s how Thibaut Souyris uses Kaspr to get around the LinkedIn limits.