If you’ve checked your LinkedIn score and wondered if it’s actually good, you’re not alone. The LinkedIn Social Selling Index (SSI) is often mentioned in sales, recruitment, and personal branding talks. Official study shows that social selling leaders—defined by higher SSI behaviors—create 45% more opportunities than peers with lower scores.
In most industries, a good LinkedIn SSI score is 70+ and 80+ is exceptional. However, good is a relative word, and your score will depend on your industry, the level of maturity in your network, and how you use LinkedIn.
In this guide, we break down the LinkedIn SSI and show you how to read the benchmarks so you're building real connections instead of chasing a score.
What Is LinkedIn SSI and How Does It Work?
LinkedIn Social Selling Index (SSI) is a 0 to 100 score. It reveals your effectiveness in networking and relationship-building on this social media platform. The score is also updated daily and compared with what others in your industry and network are doing. That is to say that similar actions will not score the same number of points for different individuals.
LinkedIn has developed SSI to demonstrate the best user behaviors. To check your score, you can visit linkedin.com/sales/ssi while logged into LinkedIn.
The 4 Pillars of LinkedIn SSI
Your total SSI is the sum of four equally weighted pillars, each worth up to 25 points:
- Establishing a Professional Brand
- Finding the Right People
- Engaging With Insights
- Building Relationships
LinkedIn does not disclose the exact algorithm or weights behind specific actions. This means SSI works best as a behavioral indicator. Used correctly, it helps you identify where your LinkedIn usage is strong or where it falls short.
What Is a Good LinkedIn SSI Score?
The Social Selling Index (SSI) is a relative measure, so achieving a "good" score means excelling compared to others in your industry and role, not just in general. Fortunately, there are established benchmark ranges based on industry data, official sources, and insightful studies on sales enablement and social selling that can guide you to success:
| SSI Score Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0–39 | Low or inactive usage |
| 40–59 | Basic LinkedIn usage |
| 60–69 | Above average |
| 70–79 | Strong score for high performers |
| 80–89 | Excellent (industry top 1%) |
| 90–100 | Exceptional (very rare) |
What matters most is this: “good” does not mean “maxed out.” A score of 68 can be far more effective than an 82 if it aligns with your actual goals. And if you use LinkedIn at least as effectively as others in your space, you’re already doing well.
What Is the Average LinkedIn SSI Score?
The average LinkedIn SSI score worldwide typically ranges from 40 to 50, indicating limited strategic use of the platform. A score of 60 or higher is above average, even if it seems low.
However, averages can be misleading as LinkedIn benchmarks users against peers in similar fields. Industries like SaaS and B2B services often have higher scores due to more active usage, whereas technical or offline sectors tend to score lower.
Roles also affect scores. Individual contributors often have lower SSI averages compared to sales leaders or consultants. Additionally, network size impacts comparisons—the quality of connections matters more than quantity.
Location patterns further influence scores, with professionals in regions where LinkedIn is vital typically achieving higher averages. Therefore, it’s more meaningful to compare your score within your industry and role, as shown in the SSI dashboard. Two users with the same points may have different standings in their respective contexts.
What Is a Good LinkedIn SSI Score for Sales Professionals?
In sales, a solid score usually starts around 65. However, "good" depends entirely on your specific role and how you sell.
Average benchmarks by role:
- SDRs and BDRs (65-75). Since you're prospecting daily, your score should reflect that high activity. Focus on Finding the Right People and Building Relationships.
- Account executives (70–80). Your goal is trust. Your score should be higher to reflect your Professional Brand and deeper credibility with prospects.
- Sales leaders (60–70). You aren't prospecting as much as your team, so your score might be slightly lower. Focus on Visibility and Thought Leadership rather than volume.
Sales context also matters. In transactional and SMB sales, SSI scores tend to increase rapidly due to the high volume of activities. For enterprises, where deal cycles are longer and outreach is more selective, any 60s or higher score in the mid to high range can be considered successful LinkedIn usage.
A higher score doesn’t always mean more sales. You’re better off with a 68 and a network full of the right people than an 82 built on random activity. Relevance beats volume every time.
What Is a Good LinkedIn SSI Score for Non-Sales Roles?
For non-sales professionals, SSI works best as a visibility and activity benchmark, not a performance score. In most non-sales roles, a good LinkedIn SSI score starts at 55–60, with higher expectations depending on how central LinkedIn is to the role.
Founders and Consultants (60-75)
A strong score for this group is usually achieved through a complete profile, consistent engagement, and a credible network, which are more important than outreach volume.
Marketers and CMOs (60-80)
For marketers and CMOs, SSI primarily reflects how individuals interact with content and how visible they are, not the number of prospects they generate.
Recruiters (65-80)
Recruiters tend to score higher since their activities are aligned with the SSI pillars like searching, networking, and developing relationships.
Job seekers (55-70)
For job seekers, SSI measures how complete your profile is and how well you engage. While these factors help recruiters find you, they don’t guarantee you’ll get the job.
It’s important to remember that SSI tracks only your social activity. You can have a perfect Social Selling Index and still get rejected if the right keywords are missing.
This is where tools like CareerSwift fill the gap. For example, this platform has a built-in LinkedIn Score feature that analyzes your resume and profile against hiring standards and (much like the SSI) gives you tailored advice on how to improve your score.
In simple words:
- SSI measures your activity ("Am I visible?").
- CareerSwift measures your readiness ("Am I hireable?").
For the best results, use SSI to build relationships, but follow CareerSwift’s recommendations to ensure your profile converts views into interviews.
Content creators and thought leaders (70-85)
Content creators and thought leaders typically score higher because they post frequently and interact with others, particularly in niche groups.
Does LinkedIn SSI Really Matter?
SSI helps you understand how well you have utilised LinkedIn, not how successful you are. It demonstrates your adherence to LinkedIn guidelines: maintain a professional profile, build a productive network, interact, and connect.
What the SSI measures
Think of the SSI as a "best practices" checklist. It shows how well you’re following LinkedIn’s playbook. A high score generally means:
- Your profile is complete and professional.
- Your network is relevant to your field.
- You show up consistently and share helpful things.
It’s great at spotting gaps. For example, it might show that you have a great profile but never actually talk to anyone, or that you’re posting a lot but only to people who aren't in your industry.
What the SSI can’t promise
The score measures your input, not your results. A higher number is not a "golden ticket" for:
- Getting more views or leads.
- Finding a better job.
- Increasing your income.
In short: The SSI tracks what you do, not what you get. It’s about your habits.
SSI is most useful when you compare yourself with peers, verify whether you have the features, or monitor consistency over time. When the aim is simply to boost the score, but not to improve professional results, it becomes a vanity metric.
How LinkedIn Benchmarks Your SSI Score
LinkedIn does not calculate the SSI score based on a single standard but rather compares you to others in your profession. Performance varies across fields like SaaS sales, recruitment, and marketing, meaning an action that boosts your SSI in one area may not have the same effect in another.
Your SSI is also evaluated against your network, so if your connections become more active, you could see a drop in your score, even if your performance remains the same. This explains why two people with similar effort levels can have different SSI scores, as factors such as network relevance and industry norms affect how LinkedIn assesses each user's activity.
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your LinkedIn SSI Score?
Gaining more LinkedIn SSI score is not a one-day thing. SSI considers sustained action in comparison to other acts.
- This is a +5-point increase that can occur within 1–2 weeks after you complete a full profile or a simple engagement.
- An increase of +10 points typically requires 3–6 weeks of consistent activity in most of the SSI areas.
- A significant increase, such as +20 points, typically requires 2–3 months and continued efforts.
Quick jumps may occur after a profile modification or targeted activity, but the score typically stops increasing when it reaches the high 60s or 70s. The SSI process will be most rapid with a stable activity, in accordance with LinkedIn's rules, rather than an intensive but short one.
How to Improve Your LinkedIn SSI Score (Step-by-Step)
To improve your LinkedIn SSI score, focus on the pillar with the lowest score instead of trying to enhance all areas at once. LinkedIn measures this metric across four independent dimensions, allowing for more predictable outcomes through targeted actions.
Here's a practical step-by-step analysis for enhancing your SSI effectively.
Step #1: Build a Better Professional Brand
Think of your profile as your digital handshake. To improve this:
Fill in the blanks. A complete profile is the baseline. Make sure your headline clearly says what you do and your summary tells a brief story of how you help.
- Be consistent. Regularly share your own thoughts or helpful articles. It shows you’re active in your industry, not just a "ghost" account.
- Stay fresh. Update your skills and experience occasionally so your profile doesn’t look like a dusty resume.
Step #2: Find the Right People
This is about having the right connections.
- Be intentional. Use the search bar to find people who align with your goals.
- Quality over volume. Ten targeted requests to people in your field are worth more than a hundred random ones. You don't need a paid Sales Navigator account to do this well; just a bit of focus.
Step #3: Engage with Insights
LinkedIn rewards you for being a good conversationalist.
- Comments > likes. A simple "Like" is low-effort. Writing a thoughtful comment on someone’s post adds real value and boosts this score significantly.
- Consistency is key. It’s better to leave two smart comments a day than to go on a "liking spree" once a month.
Step #4: Build Real Relationships
This pillar measures how well you turn connections into conversations.
- Keep the chat going. When someone comments on your post, reply. When you connect with someone, send a personalized message that starts a dialogue.
- Public and private. Both public comments and private messages count here. Focus on long-term rapport rather than one-off "pitch" messages.
To improve your Social Selling Index, identify the weakest pillar and focus on it for at least 7 days, reviewing progress afterward. SSI improves through deliberate and consistent actions aligned with LinkedIn's professional standards.
Common LinkedIn SSI Myths (Debunked)
SSI has been misunderstood on LinkedIn, so individuals attempt to do the opposite. Listed below are the myths and what is really important.
“You should have Sales Navigator to enhance SSI.”
Sales Navigator will allow you to identify prospects, though it is not going to increase your SSI score. LinkedIn analyses all its users, and the primary SSI indicators, namely, good profile, useful connections, engagement, and relationship-building, apply to both free and paid accounts.
“You must post every day.”
You don’t have to post daily. SSI does not favor fake activity; rather, it favors the frequency of posting. Several insightful remarks or helpful exchanges each week will do more good than several low-value posts.
“SSI directly affects reach.”
No evidence is given that SSI modifies the length of your posts or the visibility of your profile. The score is not a ranking factor because a higher SSI may be correlated with greater user activity.
“Automation tools are safe.”
There is nothing like automation to increase the number of activities, although it usually leads to a loss of relationships and even penalties. Relevance and depth of interaction are more important to SSI than bulk actions.
“Higher SSI means more sales.”
SSI is a metric of LinkedIn usage, rather than outcomes. A score that is high means that you are a regular LinkedIn user, and it does not guarantee leads, conversions, and revenue.
Limitations of LinkedIn SSI You Should Know
While LinkedIn SSI can be a useful benchmark, it has clear limitations that are often overlooked. Understanding these prevents you from optimizing the wrong behaviors.
- SSI is not fully transparent. LinkedIn does not disclose the exact weight of each action or how different behaviors are scored. As a result, improvements are based on observed patterns rather than precise rules.
- SSI shows industry and role bias. Sales, recruitment, and content-heavy professionals often score higher on SSI because their work aligns with its pillars, but this doesn’t necessarily indicate greater overall effectiveness.
- Network size can create an advantage. Larger, more active networks often generate higher engagement signals, which can lift SSI even if relationship quality varies. Smaller but highly relevant networks may be undervalued by the metric.
- SSI is not a revenue or performance metric. It does not measure leads, hires, deals, or influence. Optimizing purely for SSI can distract from actions that actually drive business outcomes.
- There is a risk of behavior distortion. Pursuing a higher score may result in excessive posting and superficial engagement that boost SSI but don't yield real-world benefits.
Final Verdict — What SSI Score Should You Aim For?
A “good” LinkedIn SSI score depends entirely on your goal:
- For a general professional presence, aim for 60–70.
- Sales reps and recruiters should be in the 65–80 range.
- Job seekers aim for 55–70 to ensure visibility and credibility.
Nonetheless, an SSI score above your industry average is more important than a high absolute number. A focused 68 with meaningful connections is far more valuable than an inflated 82 built on shallow interactions.
Your SSI explains if you are active enough, but it doesn’t tell you if your professional assets are effective enough to get you hired.
Once you know your social score, see how your resume and profile stack up against hiring standards. Check your CareerSwift LinkedIn Score to ensure you are ready for your next job opportunity.
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