Having a custom LinkedIn URL makes your profile look more professional and is easier to share. By default, LinkedIn assigns a long, random string of numbers to your profile URL. A customized URL looks much better, such as www.linkedin.com/in/yourname. Here are some tips on how to get a customized LinkedIn URL.
What are the requirements for a custom LinkedIn URL?
LinkedIn has a few requirements in order to be eligible for a customized profile URL:
- Your LinkedIn profile must be set to the “public” viewing setting. Private profiles are not eligible.
- You must be a LinkedIn member. LinkedIn no longer offers custom URLs for non-members.
- Your account must be at least 30 days old.
- You must have had some activity in the past 90 days. This includes things like making connections, posting updates, joining groups, etc.
As long as your profile meets these requirements, you can apply for a custom URL on LinkedIn’s website.
How do I apply for a LinkedIn custom URL?
Applying for a customized LinkedIn URL is simple:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile page.
- Click on the “Edit public profile & URL” button located just below your profile photo.
- This will open a sidebar. Select the “Edit URL” option.
- Type your desired custom URL. You can enter your first and last names or a nickname. Keep it short and simple.
- Click the blue “Save” button.
That’s it! LinkedIn will let you know if the URL you requested is available. If so, your profile URL will update to the custom address.
Tips for choosing a LinkedIn custom URL
When selecting a customized URL, keep these tips in mind:
- Use your real name if possible. This looks more professional.
- Keep it short and simple. Avoid long names or phrases.
- Use hyphens (-) to separate words, like www.linkedin.com/in/john-smith.
- Avoid special characters. Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens.
- Check for spelling errors before saving.
- Double check availability. Common names go quickly.
- Consistenly use the same name across social profiles.
What if my preferred URL isn’t available?
With over 740 million members, chances are that your first choice for a custom LinkedIn URL may already be taken. If the URL you request isn’t available, try these tips:
- Add your middle initial or middle name.
- Use a maiden name or nickname.
- Add your graduation year or birth year.
- Append a city name or keyword. For example, www.linkedin.com/in/john-smith-boston.
- Add extra numbers or letters. Like www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmith1.
Getting creative with your name variations increases the odds you’ll find an available URL that still represents you well. You can also set up a vanity URL to claim alternative spellings of your name.
Can I change my LinkedIn URL later on?
Yes, you can change your customized LinkedIn URL at any time. Simply follow the steps to edit your profile URL again. Type in your new desired URL and LinkedIn will let you know if it’s available.
However, there are a few caveats to be aware of when changing your profile URL:
- You can only change your URL once every 90 days.
- Any existing links to your old profile URL will no longer work. This can impact your LinkedIn SEO and anyone who has bookmarked your page.
- The old URL may get snatched up by another member and lead to a “profile not found” page. So don’t change your URL on a whim!
In most cases, you’ll want to keep your LinkedIn URL consistent. But the option to change it does exist if needed.
Should I get a premium LinkedIn URL?
In addition to free customized URLs, LinkedIn also offers premium URLs for paid Job Seeker and Sales Navigator subscribers. These let you use your own domain name for your profile, like www.linkedin.com/in/yourdomain. Premium URLs start at $39.99 per month.
Here are the key benefits of upgrading to a premium LinkedIn URL:
- Use your personal website or blog domain.
- Easier to remember and share.
- Looks more professional and influential.
- Get higher SEO value from an established domain.
- Can redirect your domain back to your site.
However, a customized URL with your name is sufficient for most LinkedIn members. Only consider a premium URL if you want increased branding and credibility from an existing domain.
Do custom LinkedIn URLs affect SEO?
Yes, having a customized LinkedIn URL can positively impact your LinkedIn SEO (search engine optimization). Here’s why:
- Descriptive URLs with keywords (like your name) are favored by search engines.
- Vanity URLs improve click-through rates.
- Easy to remember URLs get more direct traffic.
- Custom URLs are crawled more frequently.
- Your name builds your personal SEO brand.
For maximum SEO benefit, include your target keywords in the URL. This tells LinkedIn and Google what your profile is about. Just don’t over-stuff it with keywords.
Should I link my LinkedIn URL or profile ID?
When sharing your LinkedIn page on your website, resume, or email signature, you can link either your custom URL or profile ID.
Here’s a comparison of the two options:
Custom URL | Profile ID |
---|---|
Descriptive and memorable | Random string of numbers |
Customizable | Assigned by LinkedIn |
Cleaner appearance | Looks more technical |
Directs right to profile | Requires extra click |
In most cases, linking your vanity URL delivers a better experience. The only advantage of the profile ID is it will always lead to your profile even if you change your username. But most people don’t change their URL often, so the customized version is preferable.
Do I need a custom URL to be found on LinkedIn?
No, a customized LinkedIn URL is not required. Without one, your profile will have a long default URL with a series of numbers. But this URL still leads to your profile just fine.
Your profile will also still appear in LinkedIn search results regardless of your URL – it does not impact discoverability. The main advantages of a custom URL are branding, professionalism, memorability, and SEO.
Can I claim a URL without a LinkedIn account?
No, you must have an active LinkedIn account in order to claim a custom username or URL. LinkedIn used to allow non-members to reserve URLs through a “vanity URL” program, but this was discontinued.
Here are a few options if you want a particular LinkedIn URL but don’t have an account yet:
- Sign up for a free LinkedIn account and claim the URL.
- Ask connections or colleagues if they will reserve it for you.
- Periodically search to see if the URL becomes available later.
Once you join LinkedIn, you can navigate to your profile settings and reserve your desired URL. But you must have an active account first.
Should I delete my customized LinkedIn URL?
There are a few reasons you may want to delete your custom LinkedIn URL, such as:
- You are leaving LinkedIn.
- You want to make your profile anonymous.
- You changed your name.
- You want to overhaul your personal brand.
To delete your custom URL on LinkedIn:
- Go to your profile and click “Edit public profile & URL”.
- Select “Edit URL”.
- Delete the text and leave the field blank.
- Click “Save”.
This will revert your profile to the default URL with a long string of numbers. Keep in mind any existing links to your old URL will break.
In most cases, it’s best to keep your URL for consistency. But you can delete it in just a few clicks if needed.
Conclusion
Customizing your LinkedIn URL is a great way to polish your profile. A vanity URL looks more professional, improves click-throughs, gets better SEO, and makes it easier to share your profile. With over 740 million members, finding an available name takes a bit of creativity. But taking the time to configure a URL that represents you well is worth the effort. Just don’t change it too often to maintain your brand consistency across the web.