How do I claim an unclaimed LinkedIn page?

Having an unclaimed LinkedIn page can be problematic for individuals and businesses alike. An unclaimed profile means someone has created a LinkedIn page using your name, but has not yet claimed it as their own. This can lead to inaccurate information and confusion, especially if you are trying to establish an online presence. The good news is that claiming an unclaimed page is a straightforward process if you follow the right steps.

What is an unclaimed LinkedIn page?

An unclaimed LinkedIn page is a profile that has been created on the platform, but has not yet been claimed by the person it is representing. This usually happens when someone sets up a profile using someone else’s name, but never confirms their identity with LinkedIn.

Some common reasons an unclaimed profile may exist include:

• Someone created it as a placeholder for you
• A recruiter made a speculative profile to reach out to you
• An imposter is using your identity
• A well-meaning connection made one hoping you’d join

Regardless of why it was created, an unclaimed profile is essentially just a shell without any content or connections. You will need to claim it to add accurate details and take control of your presence on LinkedIn.

Why you should claim your unclaimed page

Here are some key reasons why you should claim your unclaimed LinkedIn profile:

• Control your brand and reputation – An unclaimed profile could have incorrect details or even questionable content. Claiming it lets you take ownership of your profile and showcase accurate information.
• Make connections – An unclaimed account likely has no connections. Claiming it allows you to start networking with peers and prospects.
• Get found for opportunities – Recruiters often search LinkedIn for talent. An unclaimed profile means you could be missing out on potential job or partnership opportunities.
• Prevent impersonation – Claiming the profile prevents others from taking it over and impersonating you, either maliciously or accidentally.
• Share your expertise – You can publish blog posts and articles when you claim your profile, helping establish yourself as an industry thought leader.

Essentially, claiming your page helps you control your brand while connecting with the right people and opportunities. Leaving it unclaimed means potentially missed connections and no ability to shape how others see you on the platform.

How to find unclaimed LinkedIn pages

There are a few ways to search for unclaimed LinkedIn profiles representing you or your brand:

• Do a LinkedIn search – Use the search bar to look for your name and any variations or misspellings. Unclaimed accounts will not have a photo or many connections.
• Try Google – Searching your name on Google can reveal LinkedIn profiles in the results. Click through to any that look unclaimed.
• Check your emails – Sometimes LinkedIn will email you if someone creates an unclaimed profile with details similar to yours.
• Use LinkedIn’s profile claiming tool – LinkedIn’s profile claiming page allows you to enter your name and location to uncover unclaimed profiles.

Spending a few minutes searching through these methods can help surface any unclaimed profiles so you can take steps to claim them as your own.

How to claim your unclaimed LinkedIn page

If you find an unclaimed LinkedIn profile that represents you, here is the process to claim it:

1. Request claiming link – On the unclaimed profile, click the “Claim Profile” button and enter the email address associated with your main LinkedIn account when prompted.
2. Verify email – Check the email address you entered and click the account claiming confirmation link sent by LinkedIn.
3. Sign in and confirm – Log into the LinkedIn account you want to claim the profile with. Double check name and details, then click Confirm.
4. Fill out your profile – Now that you’ve claimed the profile, add a profile photo, work history, education, skills and any other details to complete your profile.
5. Start connecting – Search for contacts, groups and companies to begin growing your new network on LinkedIn.

The entire process usually only takes a few minutes start to finish. LinkedIn will merge any shared connections and activity from the unclaimed profile over to your main account once claimed. You can then manage the profile like any other LinkedIn page you own.

Tips for claiming your profile

Here are some additional tips to make the process go smoothly:

• Use a persistent email address that you check regularly so you receive the claim confirmation.
• If you have multiple unclaimed profiles, start by claiming the one with the most connections first.
• Add any alternative versions of your name as keywords to enhance your searchability.
• Use your profile photo from Facebook, Twitter or Google to maintain a consistent image.
• Check back regularly as new unclaimed profiles may pop up over time.

What happens to the old unclaimed profile?

After you claim a profile, the unclaimed profile will be merged into your main account. This means:

• The profile photo, background photo and all information will be removed from the old profile.
• Any shared connections will be transferred to your main profile.
• Group or company followers will also carry over to your account.
• The old profile will have a note indicating it was claimed and is no longer active.

Essentially, any value from the unclaimed profile will get merged and reflected on your properly claimed account. The old profile becomes inactive but will retain a note explaining the change to any visitors.

Maintaining control of your LinkedIn presence

Once you have claimed your profile, here are some tips for maintaining control of your LinkedIn presence:

• Check each section like work history, education, etc. to make sure details are accurate.
• Turn on Google alerts for your name to monitor any newly created profiles.
• Connect your LinkedIn to Twitter and Facebook to establish your identity across networks.
• Use a persistent headshot photo so your image is consistent.
• Publish long-form posts to establish your authority and expertise.

Staying proactive allows you to shape the narrative and control how prospective customers, partners and employers view you on LinkedIn.

What to do if someone else has claimed your profile

In some cases, someone else may claim a profile clearly meant to represent you. Here are the steps to report a profile that was claimed improperly:

1. From the profile page, click the “More” menu and select “Report/Block”.
2. Choose “Impersonation” as the reason for reporting.
3. Enter details on why this is an impersonating profile.
4. Include links to your properly claimed social profiles like Twitter and Facebook.
5. Click Submit to send the impersonation report for LinkedIn’s review.

LinkedIn will investigate and typically reach out within 24 hours to gather more information. Providing as much documented evidence as possible helps demonstrate you are the real individual behind the profile in question.

Conclusion

Having unclaimed LinkedIn profiles can undermine your professional reputation and cause missed connections. Fortunately, the platform makes it relatively straightforward to claim pages representing you or your business. With just a few steps, you can take control of your brand presence on LinkedIn.

Consistency and vigilance are key after the initial claim process. Maintain an accurate profile, publish thought leadership content, and monitor for any unauthorized pages. With the right approach, an unclaimed profile can become a valuable asset for networking opportunities and driving career growth.