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Personalizing Your LinkedIn Profile's URL
If you are using the default URL that LinkedIn assigned your profile when you create it, you don't look like a member of the "#In crowd" because the default URL is full of numbers.
The #In crowd members have URL's that look like this:
linkedin.com/in/their-name
Rather than a URL like this:
linkedin.com/pub/yourname/29/890/2b9/
You will look like a much more savvy LinkedIn user, and the URL will look better whenever and where every you post it.
Here's how to make this change:
It's easy to do
- Go to your LinkedIn home page (“Home” on the left end of the the menu bar near the top of the page when you are logged into LinkedIn).
- Click on the "Profile" choice, and
- Select “Edit Profile” on the drop-down menu.
- At the top of the Edit Profile page, you will find a box containing your photo, Professional Headline, and current job title. At the bottom of the box find a gray bar, like the one below, which shows your current LinkedIn profile URL and an "Edit" link.
- Click on the "Edit" link (by the arrow above), and a new page will open containing a great deal of information about your Profile. The right column of that page is (currently) entitled, "Customize Your Public Profile."
- Clicking on "Customize your public profile URL" will open this dialog box-
Type in your name or your personal marketing message in the box beside "www.linkedin.com/in/" and you're done!
You will be limited to 30 characters (letters or numbers). No spaces or hyphens or other punctuation will be allowed, and capitalization will be ignored.
Pick something that will be applicable and you'll be happy using for a long time. If your name is available - like "marysmith" - that's probably your best choice.
Using only your name is common if it's available. Add your middle initial or middle name if your "real" name is already being used by someone else. and you are not comfortable with anything else.
Or, if all versions of your name are taken, you might try your last name followed by your first name, like "smithmary."
- Bear in mind that this URL will become quasi-permanent as you use and distribute it, so try to pick something you won’t need to change in the near future.
- Click on the “Set Custom URL" button. You now have a new, much cooler URL for your LinkedIn profile.
- Copy your new URL from the your Edit Profile page (# 4, above) and add it to your Twitter Bio, business cards, email signature, and everywhere you want people to see your LinkedIn Profile.
Bottom Line
Anyone searching LinkedIn for you will find you more easily, and when you link to your LinkedIn Profile, you’ll look savvier. And, don't forget to add this line to your email "signature" section at the bottom of every email you send out.
© Copyright Susan P. Joyce, 2011- 2013. All rights reserved.