Having a strong presence on LinkedIn is crucial for companies and professionals looking to build their brand and make valuable connections. An important decision is whether to link your company LinkedIn page to your personal profile. There are pros and cons to consider when deciding if this connection is right for your goals.
Benefits of Linking Company Page to Personal Profile
Here are some potential benefits of linking your company LinkedIn page to your personal profile:
- Increased visibility and authority – Having your personal profile linked to the company page shows you are a real person representing the brand. This can build trust and help your content reach more people.
- Shows your expertise – The connection highlights that you are knowledgeable about the company by serving in a leadership role.
- Expanded network reach – You can easily connect with more professionals by cross-promoting between your profiles. The company page followers get added to your network.
Drawbacks of Linking Company Page to Personal Profile
However, there are also a few drawbacks to consider:
- Blurred professional/personal boundaries – Linking the pages combines your personal brand with the company’s brand, which some prefer to keep separate.
- Time commitment – Actively managing both profiles can be time-consuming, especially if you want to keep the content tailored.
- Less control – The company may have input on the content you post if directly connected to the company page.
Steps to Link Company Page to Personal Profile
If you decide linking the pages aligns with your goals, here is how to connect them:
- Go to your personal LinkedIn profile.
- Click ‘Edit public profile & URL’ on the right rail.
- Under the ‘Contact Info’ section, click ‘Add profile in another language or link to company.’
- Search for and select your company page.
- Choose if you want to show the company page link on your profile.
- Select settings for sharing content between your profiles.
- Click ‘Save’ to connect the pages.
The company page link will now show on your personal profile. You can toggle it on or off at any time. Any changes made to sharing permissions will also apply right away.
Impact on Activity and Content
Once your personal profile and company page are linked, here are some key impacts on your activity and content:
- Profile views – People who visit your personal profile will also see the company page information.
- Content sharing – Posts can be cross-shared between profiles if enabled in settings.
- Following/connections – New followers of one profile may also follow the other.
- Notifications – Notifications will be combined from both profiles into one feed.
While linking provides more connectivity, you still have distinct analytics and insights for tracking each profile’s growth and engagement.
Who Should Link Company Page to Profile?
Here are some of the cases where linking your company page to personal profile makes the most sense:
- Founders/executives – Demonstrates your leadership role and expertise.
- Company spokespeople – Shows you officially represent the brand.
- Sales representatives – Provides credibility when connecting with prospects.
- Recruiters – Highlights your hiring role and company culture knowledge.
Employees in other roles may keep their profile separate to focus on building their personal brand in their industry.
Tips for Managing Linked Profiles
Balancing your LinkedIn company page and personal profile takes strategy. Here are some best practices:
- Customize settings – Adjust sharing and notifications to fit your needs.
- Clarify in bios – Explain your role to provide context.
- Segment audiences – Tailor your content to speak specifically to either network.
- Monitor notifications – Keep up with activity on both profiles.
- Assign admin access – Let others help manage company page content.
Should You Unlink the Profiles?
If having your profiles connected is no longer providing the benefits you want, you can easily unlink them. Here’s how:
- Go to your personal profile and click ‘Edit public profile & URL’.
- Under ‘Contact Info’, click ‘Remove’ next to the company page listing.
- Click ‘Save’ to confirm removing the link.
Once unlinked, the pages become separate again. You will no longer share content or see cross-profile notifications. However, any followers gained on each side will remain.
Key Takeaways
Linking your LinkedIn company page and personal profile can maximize your reach and visibility on the platform. But it requires balancing professional and personal branding. Here are some of the key takeaways:
- Pros include an expanded network and highlighting expertise, while cons include less content control.
- Founders, executives, spokespeople and sales reps often benefit most from linking.
- Customize settings and target content to each audience when managing.
- You can unlink at any time if it is no longer a fit.
Consider your specific business and career goals, audience, and content strategy when deciding if connecting your company presence to your personal LinkedIn profile is the right move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have two LinkedIn profiles?
LinkedIn allows you to have only one personal profile tied to your account. However, you can link that profile to multiple company pages you manage or represent.
Does LinkedIn automatically link company page?
No, LinkedIn does not automatically link your personal profile to any company pages. You have to manually connect the profiles through your profile edit settings.
Can you unlink a LinkedIn page?
Yes, you can easily unlink a LinkedIn company page from your personal profile. Just go to your profile, edit the Contact Info section, and click “Remove” next to the page you want to disconnect.
Does linking pages share followers?
When you link your personal profile and company page, the followers are not automatically shared. However, followers of one profile may choose to also follow your other connected profiles.
Can I post to LinkedIn as a company?
Yes, you can post content and interact on LinkedIn specifically as your company by setting up and managing a LinkedIn Company Page. This is different from your personal profile.
Conclusion
Linking your personal LinkedIn profile to your company’s LinkedIn page is a strategic decision. It offers potential benefits like demonstrating your leadership role, extending your reach, and sharing expertise. But it also requires balancing personal and professional branding. Evaluate your specific goals, audience, and ideal content mix when deciding if connecting the two profiles is the right move for you.
