LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 800 million members. Having a professional LinkedIn profile is crucial for anyone looking to advance their career and network with others in their industry. An important part of your LinkedIn presence is your unique username, which identifies you on the platform.
LinkedIn Username Requirements
LinkedIn has specific rules and requirements when it comes to choosing a username for your profile:
- Must be between 5-30 characters long
- Can only contain alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9) and periods
- Cannot contain spaces, special characters (!@#$%^&*), or emojis
- Must be unique – no two LinkedIn members can have the same username
Following these guidelines allows LinkedIn to maintain consistent and professional usernames across the platform. Let’s look at some examples of properly formatted LinkedIn usernames:
Good LinkedIn Usernames |
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john.smith |
maryjane123 |
peter-johnson |
As you can see, these usernames stick to the 5-30 character limit, use a mix of letters and numbers, and do not contain any spaces or special characters. The periods help separate first, middle, and last names cleanly.
Customizing Your LinkedIn Username
Within LinkedIn’s username rules, you still have lots of flexibility to create a unique identifier that represents you. Here are some tips for customizing your username:
- Use your full name or initials
- Incorporate your job title or industry
- Add your graduation year or alumni status
- Use your geographic location or hometown
See how these tactics are put into action for sample usernames:
Customized LinkedIn Usernames |
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michael-smith-engineer |
john-finance-2020 |
mary-socialmedia-nyc |
peterjohnson-coach |
Personalizing your username makes it easier for others to identify and remember you on LinkedIn. It can highlight important facets of your professional identity and interests.
Tips for the Best LinkedIn Username
Follow these tips to ensure your LinkedIn username is professional and optimized:
- Keep it simple – shorter usernames are easier to remember
- Make it descriptive – highlight your name, industry, location
- Check availability – use LinkedIn’s tool to see if a username is taken
- Use a consistent format – first name, last name, and keywords
- Consider your goals – tailor to your target audience and field
- Avoid numbers-only – mix letters and numbers for a natural look
- Spell correctly – no abbreviations or shorthand
- Mind privacy – don’t reveal too much personal info
Additionally, here are some types of usernames you may want to avoid:
- Overly casual – keep it professional with proper capitalization and spelling
- Hard to pronounce – stick to common spelling to avoid confusion
- Offensive or inappropriate – keep it clean for the business environment
- Too generic – spice it up by making it unique to you
- Dated – don’t associate with a previous era or employer
Changing Your LinkedIn Username
LinkedIn allows you to change your username up to three times in a 90 day period. To change your username:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click the “Me” icon at the top of your profile
- Select “View profile”
- Click the pencil icon to edit your profile
- Click your current username and adjust to your new desired username
- Click “Save” to confirm the change
Your profile URL will automatically update to reflect the new username. However, any old URLs pointing to your previous username will still redirect to your profile. Changing your username too frequently is not advised, as it can confuse your network connections. But the occasional update to reflect your evolving career can be helpful.
Username Considerations
Here are some final things to keep in mind regarding your LinkedIn username:
- The username you choose will become part of your public profile URL that people can search and share
- Avoid changing your username too often, as it can break existing links and disrupt your branding
- Monitor name availability – a desired name may become available if another user changes theirs
- Use LinkedIn’s guidance tools to check username availability and format
- Check name availability on other platforms – consistency across social media can be beneficial
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn username is an important piece of your professional presence on the platform. Following LinkedIn’s guidelines while also personalizing your name can ensure it is both appropriate and optimized. Aim for a username that is memorable, descriptive, and aligned with your personal branding. Change it thoughtfully over time as your career evolves. With a carefully crafted username, you can put your best foot forward on the world’s top professional networking site.