Merging LinkedIn and Facebook Contacts: A Comprehensive Guide

Today, businesses and individuals often find themselves maintaining contacts across multiple platforms, such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Merging these contacts can streamline networking efforts and enhance professional interactions. This article provides a detailed guide on how to find and add Facebook contacts to LinkedIn, ensuring that your professional network on both platforms is seamlessly integrated.

Why Merge Facebook Contacts with LinkedIn?

While LinkedIn and Facebook have their own unique purposes, merging your contacts can enhance your professional networking. LinkedIn is primarily a B2B platform for professional connections, while Facebook is more of a B2C platform with a broader social network. By merging these contacts, you can expand your network, stay connected with both personal and professional relationships, and improve overall networking efficiency.

Method 1: Export and Import using Yahoo Mail

One effective method to merge your Facebook contacts with LinkedIn involves using Yahoo Mail. This method requires a bit more technical understanding but can be a useful workaround for users without direct integration options.

Step 1: Export Facebook Contacts

Log in to your Facebook account. Navigate to Settings > Privacy. Click on General and select Download your information. Choose Create File and wait for Facebook to prepare your data. Download your file and extract the email addresses of your Facebook friends.

Step 2: Log into Your Yahoo Mail Account

Create or log into your Yahoo Mail account. Go to the Contacts link on the left side of the screen. Look for the Popular Tools heading and click the sentence that says Import your Contacts from other accounts to Yahoo!. Select the Facebook logo and follow the prompts to give Facebook permission to share your contacts. Once the process is complete, you will receive a notification showing how many contacts were added to your Yahoo account.

Step 3: Export Your Yahoo Contacts

Make sure your Contacts tab is open and click the Tools menu. Select Export and click the Export Now button next to Microsoft Outlook. Wait for the file to be saved to your computer. On a Mac, it might be named yahoo_ab.csv and saved in the Downloads folder, while on a PC, you may need to specify a directory.

Step 4: Import Your Contacts into LinkedIn

Log in to your LinkedIn account and hover over the Contacts section. Click on Add Connections. Enter your Yahoo email address and click Continue. Follow the prompts to import your contacts and proceed to step 6 if you encounter any issues.

Step 5: Invite Your Connections on LinkedIn

Uncheck the Select all button to prevent inviting non-existent LinkedIn accounts. Select the people with both names and email addresses and click the Invite button. LinkedIn may prompt you to re-enter your password.

Conclusion

While LinkedIn does not have a direct feature to import Facebook contacts, using Yahoo Mail as an intermediary can streamline the process of merging your contacts. By following these steps, you can effectively enhance your professional network on LinkedIn while retaining valuable personal connections.

Remember to always respect privacy and professional boundaries when adding contacts. This method can be particularly useful for individuals looking to integrate their social and professional networks efficiently.