If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That’s the golden rule I wish more LinkedIn users remembered.
Look, I get it. Things on LinkedIn take time. Time you may not have on your side if you’re desperate for sales for your B2B, or under pressure from your leadership team to meet your marketing KPIs.
This week’s podcast is a cautionary tale, a real-talk conversation with Scott Aaronabout the shady tactics flooding LinkedIn. Think engagement pods, fake followers, email scraping, and dodgy automation tools.
Whether you’re new to LinkedIn or have been here a while, this episode is your wake-up call. Here’s what you need to know to protect your brands, your business and your employees.
This article is inspired by the recent episode of the Social Media for B2B Growth Podcast hosted by Michelle J Raymond.
If you want to know all the details invest under 20 mins and listen or watch the episode.
Get Familiar with the LinkedIn User Agreement
Before you read any further in this article, take time to get familiar with the LinkedIn User Agreement. It is essential that you understand exactly how LinkedIn expects its members to behave while using the platform.
Especially pay attention to section 8 – “LinkedIn Dos and Don’ts”. It’s there that you will see very clearly how many of the tactics mentioned contradict this section. No matter how much others try to convince you, it’s a grey area, I can assure you it isn’t.
Getting busted for breaking these rules = a one-way ticket to LinkedIn jail at best. Losing your account permanently is the worst-case scenario. This is crucial to know, especially when you are responsible for getting employees active on the platform.
Engagement Pods = Cheating the Algorithm
Engagement pods have evolved over time and are much more sophisticated. At first glance, engagement pods can appear to be a community. They’re not.
They’re schemes, free or paid, where people like and comment on each other’s content, not because they’re interested, but to ‘beat the algorithm’. Some even pay up to $500/month to join. I call it cheating. Scott calls it “LinkedIn insanity.” Either way, it’s against LinkedIn’s terms and tanks your credibility.
Some of the red flags to spot a pod:
🚩Same 70+ people always commenting immediately as the post goes live
🚩Almost the exact number of likes on every post, no matter the topic. Usually in the hundreds.
🚩More poll comments than votes (👀 seriously?!)
🚩Comments from accounts in unrelated industries, usually from third-world countries (Google click farms to learn more.)
And no, it doesn’t drive business. Just busywork.
Buying LinkedIn Followers = Pure Craziness
Yes! People really do buy LinkedIn followers for their personal accounts and company pages. In fact, they can also buy newsletter subscribers. The worst part is that it is so easy and cheap these days to do this across all social platforms. 😔
What to look for:
- Huge following but zero engagement
- Sudden “overnight success” stories (LinkedIn is not designed for unicorns 🦄)
- Newsletter with 10K subscribers but no reactions
Real influence is built, not bought! No matter how tempting it might be, having fake followers will not help you grow your business.
Don’t Rent Accounts or Use Automation Tools
Yes, automation tools like these are tempting for those with limited time. But handing over your LinkedIn cookies? That’s like giving someone your car keys and being shocked when it crashes.
Even worse: some tools use your account to comment without your knowledge. Others scrape email data, putting you at risk of GDPR hot water.
Just don’t.
- LinkedIn will restrict your account if you’re caught
- You’ll lose access — permanently
- No, you won’t get it back
Read the user agreement. It’s not a suggestion!
Also, follow Daniel Hall to really learn exactly how scary it is when you hand over your account details.
Build Your Brand the Right Way on LinkedIn - It’s Worth It
Scott and I agree: LinkedIn is a long game. It’s a slow burn. But it’s worth it when you:
- Build real relationships
- Show up with helpful, human content
- Treat your reputation as your biggest asset
If someone’s promising shortcuts, run the other way. And if you’ve already made a mistake? It’s not too late to turn around.
“If you hang out with garbage, you smell like it.” Judy Raymond - my very smart mum.
Final Thoughts
Patience is a virtue when it comes to LinkedIn. I know it can feel tedious and like you’re not making progress quickly. That’s just because relationships take time to develop.
Before you reach for the quick fix of joining a pod or buying followers, invest in training. Learning from my G.R.O.W.T.H framework can save you many hours of heartache and costly mistakes. I’ve been there and done that!
Let’s make it happen – https://calendly.com/michelle-j-raymond/book-an-intro-call-15mins
Cheers
PS Want to hear my LinkedIn updates first? Subscribe to b2bgrowthco.com/newsletter
Michelle J Raymond is the Founder of B2B Growth Co and has made her mark as the world’s leading authority on LinkedIn Company Pages, offering comprehensive strategies and training to brands eager to harness LinkedIn for business growth through thought leadership, content marketing or social selling techniques.
With 20+ years’ experience in B2B sales, and almost a decade of social selling on LinkedIn, Michelle stands out for her significant LinkedIn contributions as the co-author of two globally acclaimed books: “Business Gold,” the first book exclusively dedicated to LinkedIn Company Pages, and “The LinkedIn Branding Book,” and her insightful podcast Social Media for B2B Growth. Follow her YouTube channel @MichelleJRaymond for helpful how to’s.
