If you lost your LinkedIn account permanently today, what would the impact be?
Now, think about what would happen if you recommended a tool for your team to use that led to their accounts being banned 😱
This is a very real scenario playing out every day.
The sheer number of tools available for people to enhance their time on LinkedIn is mind-blowing. The number of these approved by LinkedIn is minimal in comparison.
Also, think about what happens if you build your processes on tools that aren’t approved, only for LinkedIn’s team to shut them down? This is the challenge faced by many this week as a popular tool is shut down.
Are you putting your brand at risk?
This article is inspired by the recent episode of the Social Media for B2B Growth Podcast hosted by Michelle J Raymond, which discusses this topic in more detail.
LinkedIn “Dos and Don’ts”
I’ve seen the hype around lots of the new non-approved LinkedIn tools and software. They promise the world and come with cleverly worded disclaimers that things should mostly be OK because their systems are smarter than LinkedIn’s. 🤨
Here’s another reminder: LinkedIn doesn’t want automation, and they’re not vague about it. The LinkedIn User Agreement is black and white, and I highly recommend you read Section 8, “LinkedIn Do’s and Don’ts“.
There are many parts to this list, but importantly, take note of point 13 below.
Put simply –
- No fake accounts or impersonation
- No engagement pods to game the system
- No scraping details
- No automated connection requests, comments, or DMs, etc
Ignore this at your own risk!
I’ve seen people lose their accounts permanently. Years of building their network, content and reputation gone in an instant.
Tip – Are the tools you use approved by LinkedIn, or are you putting your account or your team’s in jeopardy?
The Problem With “More at Scale”
If your LinkedIn strategy is broken, AI and automation won’t fix it. It will just multiply the mistakes.
- If you don’t know your target audience, automation just spams more strangers.
- If your positioning isn’t clear, automation just spreads confusion faster.
- If your messaging doesn’t land, automation just broadcasts noise.
We have all been on the receiving end of fake comments that nobody believes, spammy DM’s that annoy people and automated false praise that feels empty.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of all of this.
The Safe Stack for B2B Marketers
Not all tools are bad. In fact, there are some incredible tools that save time, improve quality, and keep you on the right side of LinkedIn’s rules.
Here’s my go-to “safe stack”:
- Research Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity. Perfect for exploring ideas or generating angles you might not think of on your own.
- Repurposing Tools: Turn one piece of content into many. A podcast can become a newsletter, blog posts, short clips, or quote graphics.
- Community Building: Level up your commenting by keeping a track of your conversations (no automations). The Lime One – https://thelime.one/?red=b2bgro
- Accessibility Tools:Alt text and captions matter.
- Optimisation Tools: eg Grammarly for polishing your posts. AuthoredUp for post structure and readability. These make sure your words land as intended.
- Scheduling Tools and Client Management – https://f.mtr.cool/WSGMKZ
- Analytics Tools: Metricool has great analytics reporting that can now integrate with AI for insights. Try it for yourself here – https://f.mtr.cool/WSGMKZ Use code MICHELLE30 to test the Premium Plans free for 30 days.
Free up your time to focus on what AI can’t do: building trust, showing empathy, and creating genuine human connections.
Protect Your Brand With AI Social Media Policy
One of the smartest steps you can take is to create an AI Social Media Policy for your business.
Your policy should include:
- Which tools are approved and recommended
- Which ones are red-flagged as unsafe
- What type of data can and can’t be used as inputs
Help protect your people and your brand by educating them.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I get the appeal of tools that, in many cases, really do offer great solutions to many of LinkedIn’s shortcomings.
In short, if it automates LinkedIn processes or scrapes data, it’s a NO DEAL! Don’t believe the BS even if you see popular creators’ photos on the website (hint: they are normally in engagement pods too).
At the end of the day, for me, the risk does not outweigh the reward.
Would love to hear your thoughts. Drop them in the comments.
Want to work with me? Book a time here – https://calendly.com/michelle-j-raymond/book-an-intro-call-15mins
Cheers
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.
