Finding your LinkedIn profile URL is easy and useful for sharing your profile with others. Your profile URL is the web address that leads directly to your LinkedIn profile page. Knowing your profile URL allows you to include it on your resume, business cards, email signature, and anywhere else you want to publicize your LinkedIn presence. Here are the quick steps to find your LinkedIn profile URL:
On Desktop
1. Go to www.linkedin.com and log into your account.
2. Click on your profile photo in the top right corner.
3. In the dropdown menu, select “View profile”. This will take you to your public profile page.
4. Copy the URL from your browser’s address bar. This is your profile URL.
On Mobile
1. Open the LinkedIn app on your phone.
2. Tap on your profile photo at the top of your homepage.
3. Tap “View profile”. This will bring you to your public profile.
4. Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
5. Select “Share profile” and copy the given URL.
And that’s it! Once you have your profile URL, you can share it anywhere you want to showcase your LinkedIn presence.
Why is your LinkedIn profile URL important?
Having your LinkedIn profile URL is useful for a few key reasons:
Networking
Your profile URL allows you to quickly share your LinkedIn presence with new connections. You can include it on your business card or email signature so people can easily find and connect with you on LinkedIn.
Job applications
Adding your LinkedIn URL to your resume or job applications gives hiring managers a way to view your full online profile. This allows them to learn more about your background and qualifications.
Establishing your professional brand
Your LinkedIn profile URL helps establish your professional brand. You can include it on websites, social media bios, online profiles and more to drive people to your LinkedIn presence. This helps showcase your expertise and achievements.
Driving traffic
You can include your LinkedIn URL on marketing materials, guest posts, speaking engagements or anywhere else you want to promote your LinkedIn profile. This helps send targeted traffic to your profile.
So in summary, your profile URL is a simple but powerful way to direct people to your LinkedIn presence. This allows them to learn about your capabilities, connect with you and help advance your career or business goals.
How to customize your LinkedIn profile URL
By default, your LinkedIn profile URL will consist of random numbers and letters assigned by LinkedIn (e.g. www.linkedin.com/in/3874689247). But you can customize this URL to make it more memorable and professional. Here’s how:
Use your name
The easiest option is to set your URL as your first and last name, like:
www.linkedin.com/in/janesmith
To do this:
1. Go to your profile settings.
2. Select the “Edit public profile and URL” option.
3. Type your first and last name in the LinkedIn URL field.
4. Click “Save”.
LinkedIn will create a URL using your name if it is available.
Use your company or brand name
You can also set your URL to your company or personal brand name. For example:
www.linkedin.com/in/acmeconsulting
Or:
www.linkedin.com/in/johnssmithmarketing
To change your URL:
1. Follow the same steps above to edit your public profile and URL.
2. Type your desired company or brand name into the URL field.
3. Add a relevant keyword if needed for uniqueness. For example “acmeconsultingchicago” or “johnssmithmarketingtips”.
4. Click “Save”.
Keep experimenting with different company names or keywords until you find a URL that LinkedIn says is available.
Purchase a custom URL
If you want a specific URL that’s not based on your name or company, LinkedIn allows you to purchase a custom URL for a monthly fee. Here’s how it works:
1. Go to your public profile settings.
2. Click “Edit public profile & URL”.
3. Select “Get a customizable public profile URL”.
4. Choose your desired URL. Options include:
– Single keyword: linkedin.com/in/marketing
– Phrase: linkedin.com/in/socialmediaexpert
– Acronym: linkedin.com/in/abc
5. Click “Get this URL” and follow prompts to purchase.
Purchasing a custom URL costs $30 per month. This can improve your personal brand by securing a short, memorable URL that looks professional.
Tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile URL
Here are some tips to make sure your LinkedIn profile URL is optimized:
Make it simple and readable
Avoid complex URLs with lots of hyphens, numbers and symbols. Opt for simple words or name-based URLs that are easy to say and remember.
Include keywords relevant to you
Incorporate keywords like your job title, industry, location or areas of expertise. This helps people quickly understand what you do and helps with SEO.
Be consistent
Use the same customized URL across all your online profiles and platforms to strengthen your personal brand.
Check for typos
Review your URL to ensure there are no typos or spelling errors before sharing it professionally.
Use a URL shortener if needed
If you need to shorten your profile URL for print materials, use a service like Bitly. Just paste your URL in to generate a shorter redirect link.
Important do’s and don’ts
Here are some important do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when creating your LinkedIn profile URL:
Do:
– Make it mobile-friendly – Use a shorter, simple URL without special characters.
– Update it everywhere – Make sure your resume, website, business cards etc all share your new URL.
– Add your URL to your LinkedIn profile – Paste it in the contact info and “media” sections.
– Use it consistently – Keep the same customized URL over time.
Don’t:
– Leave it as the default URL – Customize it to be more professional.
– Use unprofessional keywords – Avoid potentially controversial terms.
– Have multiple URLs – Only use one profile URL to avoid confusion.
– Use a personal email as your URL – Create a unique, professional username.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about finding and customizing your LinkedIn profile URL:
Why can’t I change my LinkedIn URL?
If the URL you want is already taken, LinkedIn won’t allow you to change your URL to it. Try different variations with additional keywords until you find one that’s available.
Does changing my URL impact my profile views or SEO?
Changing your URL shouldn’t negatively impact your views or search visibility. As long as you update the URL everywhere, people will be directed to your new URL.
Can I change my URL back to the default?
Yes, you can revert to the original URL LinkedIn assigned by going to your profile settings and selecting “Edit public profile & URL”. Just delete the customized URL and save changes.
What happens if I don’t pay to renew a purchased URL?
Your customized paid URL will revert to the default LinkedIn URL if not renewed. You can renew at any time to retain your purchased URL.
Is a custom URL worth the price?
For most professionals, the monthly fee may not be worthwhile. A customized name-based URL is sufficient for free. But if branding is critical, a short unique URL could be worth paying for.
Conclusion
Finding and optimizing your LinkedIn profile URL is a simple but impactful step in managing your online presence. By following the guidance above, you can customize your URL, maximize your personal brand, and make it easy for people to connect with you on LinkedIn. Focus on consistency, readability and professionalism as you shape your profile URL.
