When you create a LinkedIn profile, the platform automatically generates a URL for your page. This URL is a combination of LinkedIn’s domain and a string of numbers and letters. For example, it might look something like this: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-doe-94835762/.
While this default URL works fine, it can be unwieldy and doesn’t necessarily reflect your personal brand. Fortunately, LinkedIn allows you to customise this URL to make it more professional and memorable.
Why customise your LinkedIn URL?
Here are a few reasons why you should consider customizing your LinkedIn URL:
Professionalism: A custom URL looks cleaner and more polished. For example, https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe is much more professional than the default option with random numbers.
Branding: Your LinkedIn URL is part of your personal brand. Customizing it to include your full name (or a variation of it) makes your profile easier to find and more recognizable.
Memorability: A simplified URL is easier for people to remember, making it more likely they’ll visit your profile. This is particularly useful when adding your LinkedIn URL to business cards, resumes, or email signatures.
SEO benefits: A custom URL can improve your LinkedIn profile’s search engine optimization (SEO). When someone Googles your name, having a URL that closely matches your name increases the chances that your LinkedIn profile will appear higher in the search results.
Consistency: If you’re active on multiple social platforms, using a consistent handle across all your profiles can reinforce your brand. For instance, if your Twitter handle is @johndoe, having a LinkedIn URL like linkedin.com/in/johndoe maintains uniformity.
How to customise your LinkedIn URL
Customising your LinkedIn URL is simple and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to do it:
Log in to your LinkedIn account: Open LinkedIn and log in to your account.
Go to your profile: Click on your profile picture or name in the top right corner to navigate to your profile page.
Edit your public profile and URL: On your profile page, look for the option that says “Edit public profile & URL” on the right-hand side. Click on this link.
Customise your URL: On the top-right corner of the new page, you’ll see a box labeled “Edit your custom URL.” Click the pencil icon next to your current URL.
Enter your desired URL: In the text box, type your preferred URL. LinkedIn allows you to use 3-100 characters, which can include letters and numbers. It’s best to use your full name or a professional variation of it.
Save your changes: Once you’ve entered your new URL, click “Save.” If the URL you want is already taken, LinkedIn will prompt you to choose a different one.
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Tips for choosing the perfect URL
Use your full name: If possible, use your first and last name without any special characters. For example, linkedin.com/in/johndoe.
Avoid nicknames: Unless you are widely known by a nickname, it’s better to stick with your real name to keep it professional.
Consider your industry: If your name is common, you might want to add your profession or industry to your URL, such as linkedin.com/in/johndoemarketing or linkedin.com/in/johndoeconsultant.
Keep it simple: The shorter and simpler your URL, the better. Avoid unnecessary numbers or symbols.
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