LinkedIn automation safety guide: how LinkedIn detects automation, safe limits by account age, and restriction recovery

Last updated: June 2026 · Marcus Chen, B2B outreach strategist, LinkedIn safety systems researcher

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TL;DR — 7 things to know before reading

• LinkedIn's detection system monitors four primary signals: volume patterns (spikes or sustained high sends), velocity patterns (time between actions), session patterns (IP changes, multiple sessions), and content patterns (identical messages or generic notes at scale)
• The most common cause of LinkedIn restriction is spiking volume: starting at 50 connection requests per day on a new account, or jumping from 15 to 50 overnight without a gradual ramp
• Safe limits depend on account age and history: new accounts should start at 5–10 requests/day; established accounts with 18+ months of activity can safely operate at 20–30 with proper ramp
• Aimfox protects account health with configurable daily limits, working-hours restriction, and randomised delays — but these settings must be deliberately configured before launch, not left at defaults
• Per LinkedIn's official automation policy, automated tools that send messages, connection requests, or profile views are subject to restrictions; tools that operate within human-like behaviour patterns and limits are lower risk
• A temporary restriction (warning or checkpoint) can be recovered from in 3–7 days with correct protocol; a permanent restriction typically requires a new account
• Use Aimfox as your LinkedIn automation layer with safety settings properly configured; Quarvio for contact data (from $129 for 5,000 contacts); Instantly for cold email; Inframail for email infrastructure

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Our take

LinkedIn account restrictions are not random. They follow consistent patterns, and understanding those patterns is the most effective safety system available. Most restriction events are preventable. Most operators who get restricted made the same handful of mistakes: started too fast, used no delay between sends, left working-hours settings on "always on," or used identical notes across a high volume of prospects.

The goal of LinkedIn automation safety is not to avoid automation. It is to run automation that looks like something a productive human professional would do if they were very consistent and organised. A human sales rep might send 15–20 LinkedIn connection requests per day during business hours, with natural variation in timing, and write notes that vary per prospect. Aimfox configured correctly replicates this pattern. Aimfox left at default settings may not.

This guide covers how LinkedIn's detection system actually works, what the safe operating parameters are by account age, how to configure Aimfox for maximum safety, and what to do if a restriction occurs. Aimfox runs the LinkedIn layer. Quarvio provides the contact data. Instantly handles cold email. Inframail manages email infrastructure.

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How LinkedIn detects automation

LinkedIn's detection system operates across four primary signal categories. Understanding each category is necessary for building a safety architecture that avoids triggering them.

Signal 1: Volume patterns

LinkedIn tracks the total number of actions per day, per week, and per month for each account. Actions include: connection requests sent, messages sent, profile views, InMail sends, and search result pages viewed.

Detection triggers:

• Daily volume that significantly exceeds the account's established baseline
• Sudden volume spike after a period of low activity (e.g. 0 requests/day for 2 weeks, then 40/day)
• Volume that consistently runs at or above published limits for the account type

What "looks human": consistent, moderate daily activity. A sales professional sending 15–20 connection requests per day, 5 days per week, is consistent with heavy but legitimate professional LinkedIn use. An account that sends 0 requests Monday through Wednesday and 100 on Thursday does not look like a human.

Signal 2: Velocity patterns

LinkedIn tracks the time between individual actions. A human sending connection requests manually takes 30–120 seconds between each (reading the profile, writing the note, clicking send). Automation tools that send at precise 10-second intervals or with no delay between actions produce a velocity pattern inconsistent with human behaviour.

Detection triggers:

• Fixed-interval sends (every 30 seconds exactly, for 100 requests in a row)
• Zero or near-zero delays between actions
• Actions performed faster than human physical speed allows (clicking multiple buttons in under 1 second)

What "looks human": variable timing with natural delays. A range of 90–300 seconds between connection requests with random variation within that range mimics a human who is multitasking between sends.

Signal 3: Session patterns

LinkedIn's session detection monitors IP addresses, device fingerprints, and session timing. A LinkedIn account that is simultaneously logged in from two different IP addresses (your home computer and an automation tool's cloud server) represents an anomaly from LinkedIn's perspective.

Detection triggers:

• Multiple active sessions from different IP addresses simultaneously
• Session that starts immediately upon account login and runs at full speed without human pause
• IP geolocation that changes dramatically between sessions (country-level changes especially)

What "looks human": consistent session behaviour. Aimfox runs as a cloud session, which means a consistent IP address from the Aimfox infrastructure. Once established, this IP consistency is actually safer than a session that rotates between your home WiFi, your office, and a coffee shop mobile connection.

Signal 4: Content patterns

LinkedIn monitors the content of connection notes and messages for patterns that indicate bulk automated sending. Notes that are identical across hundreds of prospects (no variation beyond variable fill) at high volume, or notes that match known automation templates, are a content detection signal.

Detection triggers:

• High volume of connection requests with identical note text (same sentences, no variation)
• Notes that are clearly templated with generic text that applies to any professional in any industry
• Follow-up messages sent at identical intervals with identical content across all prospects

What "looks human": variation in note content (achieved through personalisation variables and A/B testing different angles), distinct follow-up messages per sequence step, and AI personalisation in Aimfox that generates unique first lines per prospect.

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Step 1: Configure Aimfox safety settings

Sub-step 1.1: Set the daily limit for your account age

The single most important safety configuration is the daily connection request limit. Setting this correctly from the start is the difference between a campaign that runs for months without issues and one that triggers a restriction in week 2.

These limits refer to connection requests specifically. Per LinkedIn's official connection limit policy, LinkedIn's limits are not published explicitly but are enforced through account monitoring. The community-derived safe maximums align with what long-term practitioners report without triggering restrictions.

Sub-step 1.2: Configure working hours

In Aimfox Account Settings → Working Hours, set:

• Timezone: match the timezone where your account is normally used (or the prospect timezone)
• Start time: 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM
• End time: 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM
• Active days: Monday through Friday

LinkedIn does not expect human professionals to be sending connection requests at 3 AM on a Sunday. A campaign running 24/7 produces an activity pattern that immediately signals automation.

With working hours configured, Aimfox queues all pending actions and releases them only during the specified window. This means a campaign that triggers at 11 PM will hold until 8 AM the next business day.

Sub-step 1.3: Configure delay between sends

In Aimfox Account Settings → Delays:

• Minimum delay: 90 seconds
• Maximum delay: 300 seconds
• Randomisation: enabled (Aimfox randomises within the configured range)

At 90–300 seconds random delay and a business-hours window of 8 hours, Aimfox can physically send approximately 96–320 actions per day at the extremes of the delay range. At the typical midpoint (180 seconds average), that is approximately 160 actions per day. The daily limit caps this well below that number.

The randomisation is critical. Fixed-interval sends at exactly 120 seconds are a velocity signal. Variable sends between 90 and 300 seconds are not.

Sub-step 1.4: Configure the ramp schedule

Do not increase daily limits faster than the following schedule:

• Week 1–2: starting limit (see table above)
• Week 3–4: increase by 3–5 per day
• Month 2 onwards: increase by 3–5 per day every 2 weeks
• Stop increasing when reaching the safe maximum for your account age

A ramp schedule prevents the volume-spike detection signal. LinkedIn's system looks for sudden changes. Gradual, consistent increases over weeks blend into the account's activity history.

Benchmark: daily limit set at starting value for account age, working hours set to M–F business hours in account's timezone, delay range 90–300 seconds random, ramp schedule documented.

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Step 2: Monitor for restriction warning signals

Sub-step 2.1: What LinkedIn restriction signals look like

LinkedIn does not always issue an explicit warning before restricting an account. Watch for:

Sub-step 2.2: What to do at first sign of a warning

At the first appearance of any signal above:

1. Immediately pause all Aimfox campaigns (do not continue running while investigating)
2. Complete any pending verification challenges LinkedIn has presented
3. Reduce daily limit by 50% before resuming
4. Wait 48 hours before resuming any campaign activity
5. Resume at reduced limits and monitor for 1 week before considering increases

Do not ignore warning signals. The first warning is usually reversible. Ignoring it and continuing to run at the same volume typically escalates to a full restriction within days.

Sub-step 2.3: Check the restriction status in Aimfox

In Aimfox, navigate to the Accounts panel. View the status of each connected LinkedIn account:

• Active: no known restrictions
• Session Error: Aimfox session disconnected (may or may not indicate restriction)
• Account Paused: LinkedIn has applied a temporary restriction

If the account shows "Account Paused by LinkedIn" in Aimfox, the restriction has already been applied. Proceed to the recovery protocol in Step 4.

Benchmark: weekly review of Aimfox account status and Analytics for signs of reduced send volume or errors. LinkedIn app or email checked for verification or warning notifications.

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Step 3: Understand the restriction severity levels

LinkedIn applies restrictions at different severity levels, each requiring a different response.

Level 1: Soft throttle (no notification)

What it looks like: campaign sends fewer requests than the daily limit, with no error shown in Aimfox. Acceptance rates may be normal; it is just running slower than configured.

What is happening: LinkedIn is delivering requests more slowly than the configured limit, likely applying a soft rate limit to the account.

Response: no action required. Monitor for one week. If sends continue below the configured limit, reduce the Aimfox limit to match what LinkedIn is actually allowing.

Level 2: Checkpoint verification

What it looks like: LinkedIn sends a code to your registered email or phone and requires entry before the session can continue.

What is happening: LinkedIn is verifying that a human controls the account. This is a routine security check, not a penalty.

Response: complete the verification immediately. This is normal and expected behaviour for cloud-based session tools. After completion, the Aimfox session reconnects automatically. If verification requests are appearing daily, reduce the daily sending limit.

Level 3: Temporary restriction (connection request limit)

What it looks like: LinkedIn displays a message indicating that connection request sending has been temporarily paused. No explicit time limit given.

What is happening: LinkedIn has applied a temporary pause on connection request sending for this account. Messages and other features may still work.

Response: do not attempt to circumvent. Pause Aimfox campaigns immediately. Wait 72 hours without any campaign activity. Reduce limits significantly (by 50%) before resuming. Monitor for one week at reduced limits before any increases.

Level 4: Full temporary restriction

What it looks like: LinkedIn displays a restriction notice when attempting any significant actions on the account. May require completing an ID verification to restore access.

What is happening: LinkedIn has applied a full temporary account restriction. This is a serious signal.

Response: do not attempt to work around or create a replacement account (using the same person's information to bypass a restriction violates LinkedIn's terms). Complete any identity verification LinkedIn requires. Wait 7–14 days before resuming any outreach activity. Start at minimal limits (5/day) after restoration. This account needs a significantly longer recovery period.

Level 5: Permanent account restriction

What it looks like: LinkedIn displays a permanent ban notice. Account access is removed.

Response: a permanently banned account cannot be recovered. Review what caused the restriction to avoid repeating it on any future accounts. If the account belongs to a real professional who needs LinkedIn access, they should contact LinkedIn support directly to appeal the restriction.

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Step 4: Restriction recovery protocol

Sub-step 4.1: For Level 2 (checkpoint verification)

1. Complete the verification challenge in LinkedIn immediately
2. Aimfox reconnects the session automatically after verification
3. No reduction in limits required unless checkpoints are occurring multiple times per week
4. If weekly verification recurs: reduce daily limit by 30% and monitor for 2 weeks

Sub-step 4.2: For Level 3 (temporary connection limit)

1. Pause all Aimfox campaigns in the Accounts panel
2. Do not disconnect or reconnect the LinkedIn account (this can trigger additional security checks)
3. Wait 72 hours (3 days) without any Aimfox campaign activity
4. Resume with daily limit at 50% of the pre-restriction level
5. Monitor for 2 weeks at the reduced level before considering increases
6. Do not exceed 15/day for the next 30 days even if restrictions seem to be resolved

Sub-step 4.3: For Level 4 (full temporary restriction)

1. Stop all Aimfox activity immediately
2. Complete any LinkedIn identity verification required
3. Wait 7–14 days (the longer the better) without any automation activity
4. After the restriction is lifted, log in to LinkedIn manually (not via Aimfox) for 3–5 days first to establish manual session history
5. Reconnect Aimfox with a new session after 5 days of manual use
6. Start at 5 connection requests per day maximum
7. Ramp extremely gradually over 60+ days

Sub-step 4.4: For Level 5 (permanent restriction)

1. Accept that the restricted account cannot be recovered for outreach purposes
2. Do not attempt to create a duplicate account using the same personal information (violates LinkedIn terms and typically results in immediate restriction of the new account)
3. If the operator needs a new LinkedIn account for outreach, it should be a genuine professional account with complete profile setup before any outreach tool connection
4. Allow the new account 30+ days of normal manual use before connecting to Aimfox
5. Start the new account at minimum limits and ramp over 60+ days

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Safe operating parameters reference table

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Advanced tactics

Tactic 1: Warmup before any campaign

Before launching a campaign on a newly connected LinkedIn account (or after a restriction recovery), run a warmup period of 2–4 weeks where Aimfox's warmup profile view feature runs in the background without any active connection campaigns. This establishes a consistent activity baseline before connection request sends begin, reducing the volume-spike detection risk.

Tactic 2: Use connection request note variation

Sending identical notes to hundreds of prospects is a content-pattern detection signal. Use Aimfox's personalisation variables ([firstName], [jobTitle], [company]) in every note to ensure each note is distinct. Additionally, A/B test two or three different note angles and rotate between them across campaign segments. This introduces natural variation in note content that reduces the content-pattern detection risk.

Tactic 3: Manage pending requests to maintain capacity

LinkedIn limits the total number of outstanding pending connection requests. When requests are not accepted within 2–4 weeks, they remain pending and count against your outstanding request pool. Periodically (every 3–4 weeks) withdraw pending requests from contacts who have not responded. This restores sending capacity and also removes the "pending request" count from profiles where the prospect is unlikely to ever accept.

Tactic 4: Distribute volume across multiple accounts for agency work

Agencies managing multiple client LinkedIn accounts via Aimfox should distribute campaign volume across accounts rather than concentrating it. Per Aimfox reviews on G2, multi-account management is one of Aimfox's core features for agencies. Each account operates within its own safe limits, and the aggregate output is higher than any single account could safely produce.

Tactic 5: Monitor SSI score as a proxy for account health

LinkedIn's Social Selling Index (SSI) score reflects account activity quality: profile completeness, network building, engagement, and insights. A declining SSI score can be an early indicator of reduced account standing. Check your SSI at linkedin.com/sales/ssi periodically. A score below 40 indicates a profile that may receive lower organic visibility. A declining score alongside restriction warning signals warrants a pause and review.

Tactic 6: Keep Aimfox session IP consistent

Aimfox runs campaigns from cloud infrastructure. The IP address used for your LinkedIn session in Aimfox should remain consistent. Avoid actions that might force the session to restart from a different IP (such as reconnecting from a different device or network). Consistency in session IP, combined with consistent working hours and moderate limits, creates the most stable safety profile.

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Troubleshooting

Problem 1: Account restricted despite following all safety settings

Symptom: account receives a temporary restriction notice even though daily limits, working hours, and delays were correctly configured.

Cause 1: LinkedIn also monitors cumulative weekly volume. Running at 20/day for 7 days (including weekends before working hours were properly set) may have exceeded weekly limits. Cause 2: the account's pre-Aimfox history included manual heavy connection activity that recently became the baseline LinkedIn measured against.

Fix: follow the Level 3 recovery protocol. After recovery, set daily limits lower than what you had been running and ramp even more gradually. Review weekly cumulative volume (daily limit × 5 days) against published community-derived weekly safe limits.

Problem 2: Verification code requests appearing multiple times per day

Symptom: LinkedIn is sending verification codes to complete the Aimfox session authentication more than once per day.

Cause: the Aimfox session IP may be inconsistent (different IP on each session start), or LinkedIn is flagging the account for additional security due to prior restriction signals.

Fix: reduce daily limits by 50%. Contact Aimfox support to verify the IP consistency of the cloud session for your account. If verification requests continue at high frequency after limit reduction, pause all campaigns for 2 weeks.

Problem 3: Aimfox campaign active but LinkedIn not delivering the connection requests

Symptom: Aimfox shows the campaign as Active and within daily limits, but LinkedIn is not showing the requests as pending from the prospect's side.

Cause: LinkedIn is throttling delivery of requests from this account without displaying an error in Aimfox. This is a soft throttle (Level 1 restriction).

Fix: monitor for 1 week. If consistent underdelivery: reduce the daily limit in Aimfox to match the actual delivery rate (as seen in Analytics), rather than trying to compensate by increasing the limit.

Problem 4: Connection acceptance rate dropping without changes to targeting or note

Symptom: acceptance rate was 28% for the first 3 weeks, then dropped to 14% without any campaign changes.

Cause 1: LinkedIn may be reducing the deliverability of requests from the account (soft throttle). Prospects are receiving the requests less prominently. Cause 2: the campaign has moved to a lower-ICP-fit segment of the prospect list. Cause 3: restriction signal has affected the account's trust score, making some prospects see the account as less credible.

Fix: first, check ICP fit of recent prospects (review profiles at the current campaign position). If ICP is still strong, the issue may be account-level. Pause for 48 hours, then resume at 20% lower daily limits.

Problem 5: Multiple LinkedIn accounts on one Aimfox workspace all getting restricted simultaneously

Symptom: two or more LinkedIn accounts connected to the same Aimfox workspace receive restriction warnings in the same week.

Cause: the accounts are sending to the same prospect segments from the same Aimfox infrastructure. LinkedIn detects that multiple accounts with the same cloud IP are targeting the same audience. This looks like a coordinated network operation.

Fix: pause all campaigns. After recovery, segment accounts to target different ICP segments or different geographies. Avoid having multiple Aimfox accounts simultaneously targeting the same LinkedIn search URL.

Problem 6: Pending withdrawal attempting to clear old requests removes prospects who have since accepted

Symptom: after withdrawing pending connection requests from prospects who have not responded, the Aimfox campaign also withdrew from prospects who were about to accept.

Cause: LinkedIn's "pending" state does not distinguish between "will accept soon" and "will never accept." The withdrawal removed all pending requests including those from prospects who would have accepted.

Fix: withdraw pending requests that have been in "pending" state for 30+ days only, not recent requests. Most prospects who will accept do so within 7–14 days. Requests older than 30 days with no response are very unlikely to convert.

Problem 7: Account recovery after Level 3 restriction not working — restriction reappears within days of resuming

Symptom: after following the Level 3 recovery protocol (72-hour pause, 50% limit reduction), the account receives a new restriction within 3–5 days of resuming.

Cause: the Level 3 recovery protocol was not enough for the severity of the original restriction, or the limits were still too high after the 50% reduction.

Fix: treat this as a Level 4 recovery: 14-day complete pause, manual LinkedIn use only for 5 days after resuming, start at 5 requests/day and ramp over 60+ days. The account's trust score needs a longer recovery period than a single 72-hour pause provides.

Problem 8: LinkedIn sending warning but Aimfox shows no session errors

Symptom: LinkedIn sends an email warning about unusual activity, but Aimfox account status shows Active with no errors.

Cause: the LinkedIn warning was triggered before Aimfox registered the restriction in its session monitoring. Aimfox session status lags behind LinkedIn's internal account signals.

Fix: pause all Aimfox campaigns immediately upon receiving the LinkedIn email warning. Do not wait for Aimfox to show an error. The LinkedIn email is the authoritative signal. Follow the appropriate recovery protocol based on the warning severity level.

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Community evidence

"The most important thing I learned about LinkedIn safety after 3 years of running Aimfox campaigns: never spike volume. The week I changed a client's daily limit from 20 to 50 overnight was the week they got restricted. I have never violated the ramp schedule since. Gradual increases over weeks, not days."

— Verified G2 reviewer, agency founder, lead gen, Aimfox reviews on G2

Per LinkedIn's official automation policy, automated tools must operate within LinkedIn's professional community standards. Tools that operate within human-like behaviour parameters and limits are lower risk than those that operate at maximum speed with no working-hour restrictions.

From a thread in r/sales on LinkedIn automation safety (587 upvotes):

"People blame the tool when they get restricted. The tool is fine — the settings are the problem. I have run Aimfox for 18 months across 12 client accounts without a single permanent restriction. The difference is: working hours always on, delays always randomised, limits always conservative, ramp always gradual. The four rules. Never break them."

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Our actual stack

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Frequently asked questions

Is LinkedIn automation against LinkedIn's terms of service?

Per LinkedIn's official automation policy, automated tools are subject to LinkedIn's professional community standards. LinkedIn restricts tools that bypass security measures, send spam, or operate at scale in ways that harm other members. Tools that operate within human-like behaviour parameters and volume limits are in a different category. The risk is real but manageable through correct configuration.

How many connection requests can I send per week safely?

Community-derived safe limits suggest 75–100 per week for established accounts (2+ years) and 35–50 per week for accounts under 12 months. Per LinkedIn's official connection limit policy, LinkedIn does not publish explicit limits. These are practitioner-derived safe operating ranges.

What is the difference between a temporary and permanent LinkedIn restriction?

Temporary restrictions are LinkedIn's first-response signal for accounts that trigger detection. They can be resolved by pausing activity, completing verification, and resuming at reduced limits. Permanent restrictions are applied to accounts that repeatedly violate LinkedIn's terms or circumvent temporary restrictions. Permanent restrictions are not typically reversed, though appeals are possible for accounts that were incorrectly restricted.

Does using a cloud-based tool like Aimfox increase restriction risk compared to a browser extension?

Not inherently. Cloud-based tools use a consistent IP address, which can actually be safer than browser extensions that switch between your home WiFi, office network, and mobile. The risk factors (volume, velocity, content patterns) are the same regardless of tool type. The key advantage of Aimfox's cloud approach is that it runs from a stable IP and does not depend on your browser being open.

How do I know if my LinkedIn account is at risk before a restriction occurs?

Watch for: verification code requests more than once per week, acceptance rate dropping without campaign changes, "limit reached" errors appearing earlier than expected, and any in-app LinkedIn notifications about account activity. These are pre-restriction signals that allow you to reduce activity before a formal restriction is applied.

Can I use Aimfox on a brand-new LinkedIn account?

Yes, but with very low limits (5–8/day) and a very long ramp schedule. New accounts that start outreach immediately are high-restriction risk. Ideally, a new account spends 30+ days building natural activity history (connecting with colleagues, adding experience to the profile, posting content) before any automation tool is connected.

What happens to my campaigns if my LinkedIn session is disconnected in Aimfox?

Aimfox pauses campaigns for that account when the session disconnects. Campaigns do not attempt to run through an invalid session. Reconnect the LinkedIn account in Aimfox (this typically requires a new verification code from LinkedIn) to resume campaigns.

Is it safe to run campaigns while traveling?

If your Aimfox session is cloud-based (running from Aimfox's infrastructure), your personal travel does not affect the session. If you also manually log in to LinkedIn from a new location while traveling, the additional login from a different IP may trigger a verification challenge. This is routine and not a restriction risk.

What is the SSI score and how does it affect automation safety?

LinkedIn's Social Selling Index (SSI) is a score from 0–100 reflecting profile completeness, networking activity, engagement, and insight sharing. A higher SSI indicates a more complete and active professional account. There is evidence that accounts with higher SSI scores have higher connection request limits. Maintain the LinkedIn profile with complete information and occasional organic activity (posting, commenting) alongside the automation campaign.

Should I stop Aimfox campaigns during LinkedIn platform updates or maintenance?

LinkedIn platform updates occasionally cause temporary session issues or error rates in Aimfox. If Aimfox reports connection errors or LinkedIn error responses during a period of reported LinkedIn instability, pause campaigns temporarily. Continuing to retry against a temporarily degraded LinkedIn API can create unusual activity patterns.

How do I protect an agency client's LinkedIn account when running campaigns for them?

Connect the client's account to Aimfox with their credentials. Apply the conservative starting limits appropriate for their account age. Never run the client's account at limits above those specified in this guide's safe operating table. Ensure the client understands the risk profile and has approved the outreach approach. If a restriction occurs, follow the recovery protocol and communicate transparently with the client.

What is the safest note strategy from a detection perspective?

Use personalisation variables ([firstName], [jobTitle], [company]) in every note so each note is distinct. Rotate between two or three different note angles across campaign segments. Enable Aimfox AI personalisation to generate unique first lines per prospect where profiles are rich enough to support it. Identical notes at scale are the most common content-pattern detection trigger.

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