LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows users to connect with other professionals, search for jobs, join industry groups, and more. To use LinkedIn effectively, it’s important to understand how to properly list your LinkedIn profile address. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how LinkedIn addresses should be written.
The Basic LinkedIn Address Format
A LinkedIn address always starts with “linkedin.com/in/” followed by the LinkedIn username. For example:
linkedin.com/in/john-doe
The LinkedIn username can include letters, numbers, dots (.), dashes (-), and underscores (_). It cannot contain any spaces or special characters other than dots, dashes, and underscores.
Choosing a LinkedIn Username
When signing up for a LinkedIn account, you can choose your desired username as long as it’s not already taken. Here are some tips for choosing a good LinkedIn username:
- Use your real name or a version of it, like “johndoe” or “john_doe”
- Use your first and last name together without spaces, like “johndoe”
- Include your middle initial or name if your first/last name combo is common, like “johndsmith”
- Add numbers after your name if it’s a very common name, like “johndoe25”
- Consider using your business name or brand if relevant, like “acmeinc”
Your username will appear in your profile URL, so pick something professional that properly represents you or your business.
Customizing Your LinkedIn Address
There are a couple ways to customize your LinkedIn address beyond just choosing a unique username:
Vanity URL
LinkedIn allows you to create a personalized vanity URL. For example, you could change your profile address from:
linkedin.com/in/john-doe
To:
linkedin.com/john-doe
To set up a vanity URL, go to your LinkedIn profile and click “Edit public profile & URL” in the “About” section. Then enter your desired vanity URL. You can choose something short and simple based on your name or business.
Company or Group Page URL
If you have a LinkedIn Company or Showcase Page, the URL will be:
linkedin.com/company/yourcompanyname
For LinkedIn Groups:
linkedin.com/groups/yourgroupname
These showcase your business or organization specifically versus your individual profile.
LinkedIn Address Examples
Here are some example LinkedIn profile addresses:
- linkedin.com/in/johndoe
- linkedin.com/in/john-smith
- linkedin.com/in/john_smith
- linkedin.com/in/johndoe25
- linkedin.com/in/johnksmith
- linkedin.com/john-doe (vanity URL)
- linkedin.com/company/acme-inc (company page)
And some examples of invalid LinkedIn addresses:
- linkedin.com/john doe (contains a space)
- linkedin.com/john*doe (contains an asterisk)
- linkedin/john.doe (missing “.com”)
- linkedin.com/groups/group name (contains a space)
Why Does Your LinkedIn Address Matter?
Your LinkedIn profile address may not seem like a big deal, but it actually matters for several reasons:
Professional Branding
Your LinkedIn URL will be what people use to access your profile and share it with others. It becomes part of your professional brand. So you want it to properly represent you or your business.
SEO Benefits
Using your real name in your LinkedIn address can help with search engine optimization (SEO). This makes it easier for people to find you when searching on Google, LinkedIn, etc.
Promoting Your Profile
A customized vanity URL makes your LinkedIn address shorter and simpler to share on your website, business cards, email signature, and anywhere else you want to drive people to your profile.
Credibility
A complete, professional looking LinkedIn profile with a proper customized URL establishes you as a credible professional contact.
How to Share Your LinkedIn Address
Once you have a LinkedIn address set up, you’ll want to share it so people can find and connect with you. Here are some ways to share your profile address:
Online Resumes & Portfolios
Include a link to your LinkedIn profile on your online resume or portfolio site. This allows potential employers and contacts to learn more about your background.
Email Signature
Add your LinkedIn URL to your email signature so anyone who receives an email from you can click straight to your profile.
Business Cards
Print your LinkedIn address on your business cards and encourage people to connect with you.
Website & Blog
Put your LinkedIn link on your professional website, company page, or blog to drive relevant traffic to your profile.
Social Media
Share your LinkedIn URL anywhere you have social media profiles like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Paste it directly into your bio or share posts that link to your profile.
Offline Conversations
When meeting people in person, mention your LinkedIn profile and that you’ll connect with them there. Share business cards with your LinkedIn address printed on them.
LinkedIn Address Best Practices
To ensure you have a professional, optimized LinkedIn address, here are some top tips to keep in mind:
- Use your real first and last name if possible
- Customize a vanity URL for branding purposes
- Make it easy to remember and share
- Keep it consistent across platforms by using the same username when feasible
- Only use standard letters, numbers, dashes, dots, and underscores
- Avoid using multiple versions of your name to prevent duplicate profiles
- Don’t put spaces, special characters or case sensitivity
- Set up correct capitalization with title case (not all lowercase)
- Claim a personalized URL before someone else does
- Double check for typos before finalizing your address
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn profile address is a key component of establishing your professional brand and identity. With a properly formatted URL using your real name and/or a customized vanity link, you can make your profile stand out while also boosting your SEO and credibility.
Avoid common mistakes like spaces, special characters, and case sensitivity when setting up your address. Share your LinkedIn URL anywhere online and offline that you want to drive connections and engagement.
With these tips in mind, you can create the perfect LinkedIn address to represent your professional brand on this important networking platform. Use it consistently and optimize it to advance your career or business goals.