LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional social network, currently boasts over 300 million members. While its active user base continues to grow, many people still have misconceptions about LinkedIn and how it works. Here are 8 things you probably misunderstand about LinkedIn:

1. I can only connect with people I personally know on LinkedIn.

While you can connect with people you know, you can also connect with those you barely know or don’t know at all. You can send them a connection request accompanied by a short message explaining why you want to connect.

2. I can only message people I’m connected with.

This is perhaps one of the most common LinkedIn myths. While you can directly message your connections, you can also message members of the same groups or use LinkedIn’s paid InMail feature to reach anyone.

3. Accepting connection requests from people I don’t know will lead to spam.

The number of people who use LinkedIn for spamming is relatively low. However, accepting invitations from people you don’t know does carry a slight risk. If someone’s posts bother you, you can easily remove them from your connections by visiting their profile.

4. LinkedIn is only for people who are currently job hunting.

It’s true that many HR professionals and headhunters use LinkedIn to find candidates, but that’s not its only purpose. Even if you’re not actively job hunting, LinkedIn can help you strengthen your personal brand and connect with the right employer at the right time.

5. I should only share updates about my company or myself on LinkedIn.

While that’s one option, it’s also a good idea to share industry news and developments that might interest your network. This can help you engage more effectively with your connections.

6. Updating my profile sends notifications to everyone I’m connected with.

If you prefer, you can allow updates to notify your connections of every change you make to your profile. However, you can also disable these notifications in your profile settings.

7. Special options unlock once I reach 500+ connections.

After your total number of connections exceeds 500, LinkedIn stops displaying the exact count and instead shows 500+. However, nothing else changes. LinkedIn provides the same features and opportunities regardless of whether you have 1 connection or 500.

8. The more connections I have, the better my career prospects will be.

Having hundreds or even thousands of connections won’t necessarily help you find a better job or grow your business faster. What matters is connecting with the right people, investing time in those relationships, and adding value. LinkedIn should be seen as a tool for professional success, not a magical solution.