LinkedIn allows members to list services they offer under the “Services” section of their profile. These services are categorized into different groups to make it easier for users to find providers offering specific types of services.
Overview of Service Categories
There are over 30 pre-defined service categories on LinkedIn covering a wide range of professional services. Some of the main categories include:
- Business Consulting
- Financial Services
- Legal Services
- Engineering & Construction
- Design Services
- Writing & Translation
- Sales & Marketing
- Education & Training
- Health & Wellness
- Computer Software & IT Services
Within each broad category there are more specific sub-categories to choose from. For example, under “Business Consulting” members can select options like Operations, HR, Strategy, Finance, etc. This allows for a more targeted classification of services.
Benefits of Categorizing Services
Listing services under predefined categories provides several benefits both for providers and seekers of services on LinkedIn:
- Helps members quickly identify the types of services a provider offers based on the categories selected
- Enables targeted searches for providers offering specific services
- Gives visibility to providers for the services they want to promote
- Allows providers to showcase multiple service offerings under different categories
- Makes it easier for buyers of services to find potential providers
- Provides structure and standardization to how services are presented on profiles
Overall, the service categories help organize and classify the thousands of services offered by members on the platform.
Most Commonly Used Service Categories
While LinkedIn has categories covering a vast range of services, some tend to be more commonly utilized than others based on demand trends. Here are some of the most popular service categories:
| Service Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Business Consulting | Advising businesses on strategy, operations, management, HR, etc. |
| Information Technology | Providing IT and software development services |
| Design Services | Graphic design, web design, product design, etc. |
| Sales & Marketing | Sales enablement, lead generation, marketing, branding, etc. |
| Writing & Translation | Content development, copywriting, technical writing, translation services |
| Education & Training | Courses, coaching, corporate training programs |
These broad categories consistently attract high demand on LinkedIn as businesses and professionals seek support in these functional areas.
Selecting Appropriate Service Categories
When listing services on their LinkedIn profiles, members should carefully select categories that best reflect their offerings. Here are some tips for choosing suitable categories:
- Review the full list of pre-defined categories and sub-categories
- Pick 1-2 primary categories that most closely align with your core services
- Optionally select 2-3 secondary categories for other relevant services
- Avoid choosing too many unrelated categories that may dilute your focus
- Revisit your categories periodically and update based on changes in your service offerings
- Select categories based on services you actually provide vs. aspirational ones
- Leverage keywords and phrases in the category names for SEO benefits
Aligning services to the LinkedIn categories not only helps organizationally, but can also improve discoverability and search visibility for service providers on the platform if optimized effectively.
Differences from Job Titles and Skills
The services section serves a different purpose than job titles and skills on a LinkedIn profile. Here are some key differences:
- Job titles indicate your current and past roles and positions
- Skills showcase relevant hard and soft skills you possess
- Services specifically highlight what you actively offer and provide to clients
While there may be some overlap conceptually between skills and services, it is important to make the distinction when populating your profile.
Best Practices for Adding Services
To maximize the impact of your services on your LinkedIn profile, keep these best practices in mind:
- Clearly describe each service offered under the predefined categories
- Break out individual services vs. bundling too many together
- Use relevant keywords and phrases in your service descriptions
- Explain how your services solve client problems and deliver value
- Share specific examples, case studies, and client testimonials if possible
- Rotate featuring different services if you offer many
- Update your services regularly to reflect changes
- Monitor analytics to see which services attract the most profile views
Optimizing your services section provides visibility into the professional services you provide prospective clients and partners searching on LinkedIn.
Limitations of LinkedIn Service Categories
While the predefined categories are comprehensive, there are some limitations to the current system:
- No ability to create custom categories outside the standard list
- Maximum of 3 categories can be selected, limiting classification of some services
- Grouping of some disparate services together under broad categories
- Lack of additional tiers and layers for further sub-classification
- No mechanisms to track service category analytics and trends
- Not being able to re-order or prioritize categories
Introducing more granular, customizable and trackable categories could help LinkedIn improve its service taxonomy going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of categorizing services on LinkedIn?
Categorizing services provides better organization of offerings, improves discoverability for providers, enables targeted searches for buyers, and allows showcasing multiple service areas.
How many service categories can you select on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn currently allows members to select up to 3 service categories to list under the services section of their profile.
Should I include services I plan to offer in the future?
It is best to only include services you or your company currently provide to clients. Prospective service offerings not yet available should not be listed.
Can I create a new service category if my service does not fit the existing ones?
No, LinkedIn does not permit members to create new custom categories. You have to select from the predefined list of categories provided.
How often should I update my profile’s service categories?
It is advisable to review your listed service categories at least every few months and update them to accurately reflect changes in your offerings.
Conclusion
Categorizing professional services on LinkedIn provides value to both service providers and buyers seeking partners. Selecting the most appropriate categories based on your offerings and optimizing your service descriptions can help attract more profile views and engagement. While limited in some aspects, the predefined taxonomy makes it easier for members to quickly communicate and showcase their key areas of services to the LinkedIn community.