Having a customized LinkedIn URL that matches your personal brand is important for establishing your professional online presence. However, with over 740 million members on LinkedIn, many of the popular username options are likely already taken. So what should you do if the LinkedIn URL you want is not available?
Why is your LinkedIn URL important?
Your LinkedIn URL serves multiple purposes:
- It makes your profile easier to find and share
- It looks more professional than the default URL with random numbers and letters
- It helps build your personal brand and improve name recognition
- It establishes you as an authority in your industry when matched to your niche
With a customized URL that matches your name or brand, people can easily guess your LinkedIn address instead of having to look it up. This helps make you more findable in LinkedIn search and via other channels like your website, resume, or business card.
A LinkedIn URL that aligns with your niche also signals what you do. For example, www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaexpert shows your area of expertise at a glance.
How to check LinkedIn URL availability
To see if your desired username is available, go to your LinkedIn profile and click on the “Edit public profile & URL” button.
This will open your profile settings. Scroll down to the “Public profile” section and click on the edit icon next to your current custom URL or where it says “Your public profile URL”.
You can then type in the custom URL you want and see if it’s available. If the URL is taken, LinkedIn will let you know the username is unavailable.
What to try if your first choice isn’t available
If the LinkedIn URL you want is taken, don’t worry. You have several options to still get a great customized URL:
Add your middle name or middle initial
One easy option is to add your middle name or initial to gain more uniqueness. For example, if johnbloggs is taken, try johnmbloggs or johnbloggsjr.
Use your full name
Adding your first and last name may help if a shortened version is unavailable. So johnsmith could become johnchrissmith.
Add your location
Including your city, state, or country in the URL can also work if your name alone isn’t an option. For instance, sarahnyc or michaelsanfran.
Add your profession or niche
Specifying your industry or job title can create a unique and relevant URL. Like petermarketingspecialist or jenniferaccountant.
Misspell common words
Get creative by changing the spelling of some words to make them one-of-a-kind. For example, juliesmiith or andersonmarkeeting.
Use hyphens, numbers, or underscores
Adding punctuation like hyphens, numbers, or underscores can also differentiate your URL. Like john-smith2022 or emily_johnson.
Tips for choosing your LinkedIn URL
When brainstorming your ideal custom URL, keep these tips in mind:
- Choose something short, simple, and easy to remember
- Make it closely match your name or brand when possible
- Use keywords relevant to your profession or niche
- Avoid random numbers or letters if you can
- Be consistent with other social media usernames
Prioritize picking a URL that strengthens your personal brand and aligns with your target audience. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for the right people to find and remember your profile.
What to do if you can’t get the exact URL you want
In some cases, you may not be able to get the precise LinkedIn URL you desire even using the strategies above. If that happens, you have two options:
Compromise on a similar URL
Look for a close alternative that conveys the same professional brand. Even if it’s not exactly what you wanted originally, it’s better than the default URL.
Use a vanity URL service
Vanity URL companies can sometimes provide access to desired usernames that are already taken. However, this involves paying a monthly or annual fee to essentially rent the URL.
Should you buy someone’s URL?
If you find your ideal LinkedIn URL belongs to someone else, you may be tempted to try and buy it. However, purchasing an established URL from another user is often complicated. Here are some risks to consider:
- No guarantee the owner will want to sell
- Negotiating a fair price can be difficult
- Potential for scam risks if dealing with an unknown seller
- URL ownership could change hands again later
- Past content or reputation under the URL is out of your control
Unless you have a strong personal connection to that specific URL, it’s usually smarter to simply find an available alternative. Focus your effort on building your own brand rather than buying someone else’s.
What if you want to change your LinkedIn URL?
Already have a custom LinkedIn URL but want to change it? The process to modify your profile URL is straightforward:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile settings
- Click “Edit public profile & URL”
- Enter the new URL you want in the designated field
- If available, click “Save” to change your URL
However, there are a few caveats to be aware of when changing your URL:
- You can only change it once every 90 days
- Any content shared under your old URL will retain that address
- People who have bookmarked your old URL may need to update it
So if you do decide to change your profile URL, share the update across your other social media channels and personal contacts. This will help notify your network and minimize disruption.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn URL is an important piece of your professional online presence. A customized URL that closely matches your name or brand looks more polished and helps establish credibility.
With so many LinkedIn members however, finding an available URL that hasn’t been claimed already can take creativity and flexibility. Consider adding variations like your middle name, location, profession, or misspellings to find something unique.
While you may not always get your first-choice username, putting thought into your LinkedIn URL will pay off in increased discoverability and memorability. Just be sure to keep it consistent with your overall personal branding for maximum impact.
| Situation | Solution |
|---|---|
| Your first name choice is taken | Try adding your middle name or initial |
| Your full name isn’t available | Add your location or profession |
| You can’t find any version of your name | Get creative with misspellings or punctuation |
Key Takeaways
- Custom LinkedIn URLs improve your professional brand and memorability
- Check availability by editing your profile’s public URL section
- If taken, try adding middle name, location, job title, or creative spellings
- Focus on consistency with your overall personal brand
- You can change your URL once every 90 days if needed
A customized and strategic LinkedIn URL can bolster your authority and name recognition with your target audience. While it may take some effort to find something both available and aligned with your professional identity, the investment is well worth it.
Does your LinkedIn URL currently match your personal brand? Are there ways you could improve it? Let me know if you have any other questions!