The gold LinkedIn icon is a feature that was introduced by LinkedIn in 2019 as a way to verify and highlight prominent profiles on their platform. It serves as a visual indicator that a LinkedIn profile belongs to an influential, noteworthy or expert professional in their industry.
Background of the Gold LinkedIn Icon
Prior to the gold icon’s launch, LinkedIn had a feature called LinkedIn Influencers which allowed well-known thought leaders to publish long-form posts on the platform. This included public figures, executives, authors, speakers and other professionals who had built a strong personal brand and following. The influencer program helped promote high-quality content on LinkedIn from credible experts.
In October 2019, LinkedIn expanded on this idea by launching the gold icon as a status symbol to identify the most distinguished profiles. The goal was to make it easier for users to identify credible voices on the platform at a glance. LinkedIn started granting the gold icon selectively to Influencers, then later expanded it more broadly to others who met their criteria.
Who Gets the Gold LinkedIn Icon
LinkedIn has kept their exact criteria for awarding the gold icon relatively vague. In general, it appears to be granted based on having an authenticated, complete profile along with evidence that the person is influential in their field. Some of the general factors LinkedIn seems to consider include:
- Having an extensive connections list of 500+ connections
- A history of frequent engagement and posting content on LinkedIn
- Proof of professional expertise such as recommendations, endorsements, following
- Verification of identity and credentials
- Recognition in the news, media appearances and published works
- Authenticity of profile details like education, employment, licenses, certifications
Essentially, LinkedIn is looking for indicators that a person has a sizable network and is recognized as a thought leader, executive or credible professional in their industry. The profile must demonstrate influence through a substantive presence on LinkedIn.
How to Get the LinkedIn Gold Icon
There is no formal application process for the gold icon on LinkedIn. LinkedIn does not allow users to request or pay for the icon. Instead, LinkedIn grants the icon selectively based on their internal criteria.
That said, there are some steps you can take if you wish to improve your chances of being awarded the gold icon status:
- Ensure your LinkedIn profile is complete, authentic and optimized with detailed work history, education, skills, accomplishments, recommendations etc.
- Try to get 500+ connections by actively networking and engaging on the platform.
- Post regular status updates, articles, content that provides value and demonstrates thought leadership.
- Stay active by commenting, sharing, liking other posts to boost engagement.
- Participate in LinkedIn Groups and build followers for your posts.
- Promote your LinkedIn profile and activity on other social channels.
- Consider advertising on LinkedIn or becoming an influencer.
- Look for speaking and publishing opportunities to boost credibility.
Essentially, invest time in building a substantive presence and demonstrating you are an industry leader worth following. While there’s no guarantee, this can improve your visibility and make you stand out to LinkedIn.
Benefits of Having the Gold LinkedIn Icon
Here are some of the key benefits that come with obtaining the gold LinkedIn icon:
- Increased visibility and credibility – The icon immediately establishes you as an expert and opinion leader when networking or engaging professionally on LinkedIn.
- Reputational reinforcement – The exclusive status can enhance your overall personal brand and validate your credentials.
- Thought leadership – You gain more authority to build your audience and publish your ideas to a captive professional network.
- New opportunities – You become more discoverable to people seeking thought leaders for partnerships, speaking roles, job recruiting, business deals etc.
- Relationship building – People may proactively want to connect and engage with an verified expert like yourself on LinkedIn.
- More attention – The icon can boost the reach of your posts, shares and activities across the platform. You seem more noteworthy.
In summary, the gold icon puts you on a pedestal as someone credible, influential and elite in the professional community on LinkedIn, which can open doors in many ways.
Downsides of the Gold Icon
While the gold icon has many upsides, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:
- It may attract unwanted attention, engagement or connection requests from people you don’t know.
- Jealousy or negativity from some who question why you have the status they don’t.
- Assumptions that you prioritize social media influence over actual skills or achievements.
- Over-reliance on maintaining elite social media status rather than tangible professional growth.
- Pressure to continue actively engaging and posting content once you have the icon.
- Risk of losing credibility if LinkedIn ever removes the icon status from you.
The gold icon can be a blessing or a curse depending on how it is managed. The benefits tend to outweigh the costs for most professionals who obtain it. But it’s not universally desirable or helpful in every circumstance.
Conclusion
The LinkedIn gold icon is a mark of social proof and credibility on the platform, awarded selectively to professionals and thought leaders who meet LinkedIn’s criteria. While not universally essential, it can provide a major visibility boost and open doors in one’s career. Investing time to build an influential presence and network on LinkedIn is typically the best path to getting the gold icon.
For those who earn the gold icon status, it can further amplify their personal brand and opportunities, but also requires maintaining high-quality engagement with one’s audience. Overall, the gold icon’s benefits appear to make it a coveted and potentially valuable social signal of professional clout and expertise.
Pros of Gold LinkedIn Icon | Cons of Gold LinkedIn Icon |
---|---|
Increased visibility and credibility | Unwanted attention from strangers |
Reinforces and validates professional reputation | Jealousy and negativity from some users |
Boosts thought leadership and audience building | Perception of prioritizing social media influence over skills |
Opens new opportunities | Over-reliance on maintaining status |
Attracts relationship-building | Pressure to keep engaging at high level |
Gains more attention for shares and content | Risk of losing credibility if removed |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many LinkedIn users have the gold icon?
LinkedIn has not publicly shared exactly how many users have the gold icon. However, it is believed to be a very small, exclusive subset of LinkedIn’s over 740 million members. Estimates suggest less than 1% of all users have the gold icon status.
Who are some LinkedIn gold icon users?
As of September 2022, some prominent examples of users with a gold LinkedIn icon include:
- Bill Gates
- Barack Obama
- Richard Branson
- Arianna Huffington
- Bernard Arnault
- Jack Welch
- Gary Vaynerchuk
- Suzy Welch
- Guy Kawasaki
Can companies or brands get the gold icon?
No, LinkedIn currently only awards the gold icon to individual user profiles. Company pages are not eligible at this time. Only personal profiles that represent real professionals can get the icon.
Is the gold icon available to LinkedIn users worldwide?
Yes, the gold icon is available globally to LinkedIn members in all countries and languages. It is not restricted only to English-speaking markets. Professionals worldwide can qualify for the gold icon on LinkedIn based on their local influence and reputation.
Can you lose your gold icon status?
Yes, it appears LinkedIn does occasionally revoke the gold icon from profiles. This seems to occur if LinkedIn feels the user no longer meets their criteria, such as profiles that become inactive, lose connections or have credibility issues. The icon can disappear as mysteriously as it is granted. Maintaining an active, professional presence on LinkedIn is key to retaining the gold icon.
Is there a way to customize or update the gold icon?
No, users do not have the ability to alter the standard gold icon image or color if they attain the status. LinkedIn maintains full control over the icon design and how it displays on verified profiles. Users cannot customize the icon in any way.
Does the gold icon boost search ranking?
LinkedIn has not confirmed this, but it is speculated that attaining the gold icon may lead to some degree of prioritization in LinkedIn’s search results and algorithms. Given its purpose is to highlight noteworthy profiles, it would make sense for LinkedIn to give a visibility boost to gold icon users in some capacity.
Can you pay to get the gold icon?
No, there is no way to pay LinkedIn or any other user in exchange for the gold icon. It is strictly granted based on merit, not money. Beware any offers from people claiming they can obtain, sell or transfer the gold icon status.
The gold LinkedIn icon remains an exclusive status and credible signal of professional influence. While not required for success, it certainly provides a major boost in visibility and authority to those who earn it through cultivating an impactful presence and network on the platform.