LinkedIn allows users to showcase their skills, certifications, and achievements through digital badges displayed on their profile. Badges serve as visual indicators of a LinkedIn member’s expertise and accomplishments in a particular area. They help showcase your knowledge, credibility, and proficiency to employers, clients, and other LinkedIn users. Knowing where your LinkedIn badges appear can help you effectively highlight and maximize their visibility.
Where are badges shown on your LinkedIn profile?
LinkedIn displays earned badges in two main places on your profile – the top banner photo section and the “Licenses & Certifications” section.
Profile Banner Photo
The most prominent location where LinkedIn displays badges is in the top banner photo section of your profile. This is the large background image that sits behind your profile photo and headline.
When you earn select badges from LinkedIn Learning courses, LinkedIn automatically adds them to your profile banner image. The badges will appear as small icons along the bottom of the banner photo, below your name and headline.
This puts your badges front and center on your profile in a very visual way. When people land on your profile, your badges will be one of the first things they notice as their eyes scan the page.
Licenses & Certifications Section
The other main place you can find LinkedIn badges is in the “Licenses & Certifications” section of your profile. This is located within the “Background” section of your profile.
Any badges you’ve earned from LinkedIn Learning courses, as well as other third-party certification programs, will be displayed in this section. The badges appear as small icons next to the name of the certification or license.
When viewers click on a badge icon in this section, they’ll be taken to a page with more details about the certification, including the issuing organization, issue date, expiration date, and credential ID.
Other Places You Can Showcase Badges
In addition to the two main profile sections above, there are a few other places where you can display and reference your LinkedIn badges:
Headline
While not displayed visually, you can mention your badges or certifications by name in your profile headline. For example: “Product Manager | Certified ScrumMaster | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt”. This helps summarize your key credentials upfront.
“Featured” Media Section
You can upload images of your badges and feature them individually in the “Featured” media section of your profile. This allows you to provide some additional context around a badge if desired.
“Accomplishments” section
In your “Accomplishments” section, you can reference any noteworthy badges and detail the work or learning undertaken to earn them.
LinkedIn Articles
If you write LinkedIn articles, you can reference and discuss the significance of your badges within your articles. This shows your expertise in the subject matter.
Customizing Where Your Badges Appear
You do have some ability to customize where your LinkedIn badges appear. Here are a few options:
Profile banner
You can choose which Learning badges appear in your profile banner and in what order. To do so:
1. Go to your profile and click “Edit profile banner”
2. Click the pencil icon to edit media
3. Drag and drop badge icons to reorder them
4. Click “X” on any badges you want to remove from the banner
5. Click “Save”
Featured media section
You can add any badges you want to the “Featured” media section by uploading them as images. This allows you to selectively showcase badges beyond just Learning ones.
Licenses & Certifications
You can delete any third-party certification badges you don’t want displayed in this section by clicking the “X” icon next to them. However, you can’t delete or reorder Learning badges featured here.
Accomplishments section
You have full control over the content you add to your “Accomplishments” section, allowing you to choose which badges and certifications to feature or not.
Tips for Showcasing Badges Effectively
Here are some tips to make sure your LinkedIn badges are displayed effectively:
Curate which badges appear at top of profile
Carefully choose which 3-5 badges appear in your profile banner, highlighting those most relevant to your goals. Avoid cluttering this prime space.
Keep featured badges up-to-date
Don’t let outdated badges remain in your profile banner. Promptly remove certifications once they expire.
Use high-quality badge images
When possible, upload crisp, clean versions of your badge images rather than using lower-res icons from LinkedIn Learning courses.
Provide context around badges
Convey more value by brief explaining what knowledge and skills each badge represents and how they apply to your goals.
Align badges to your brand
Make sure the certifications you showcase align with your professional brand and the story you want your profile to tell.
Do LinkedIn badges help your profile?
Yes, LinkedIn badges can certainly enhance your profile and add value in several ways:
Demonstrate skills & expertise
Badges visually communicate skills, knowledge and expertise in particular areas relevant to a profession or industry. They serve as credibility indicators.
Convey up-to-date knowledge
Displaying current certifications and credentials shows you’re actively keeping your skills and capabilities up to date.
Differentiate your profile
Not everyone on LinkedIn displays badges. Doing so can help give your profile a competitive edge and stand out.
Support career goals
Strategically displaying targeted, career-relevant badges makes your LinkedIn profile more attractive to potential employers or partners.
Expand professional brand
Certifications further build your professional brand by highlighting the expertise you want to be known for on LinkedIn.
Spark engagement
Badges indicate topics you’re knowledgeable about, which can spur profile views, connection requests and engagement from interested parties.
Should you display every badge earned?
No, you should be selective about which badges you showcase on your profile. Here are some factors to consider:
Relevance
Only display certifications directly relevant to your professional niche, skills and specialties.
Recognition
Prioritize widely recognized, respected credentials from accredited programs or institutions.
Current
Avoid displaying expired certifications you no longer have active.
Credibility
Focus on certifications that took significant work/study to attain. Don’t overwhelm your profile with less meaningful participation badges.
Career Goals
Pick badges strategically aligned with your target companies or roles. Leave off random badges that distract from your brand.
Number
Limit profile banner to 3-5 badges to avoid looking cluttered. Curate just your “best of” certifications.
What are the most impressive LinkedIn badges?
While subjective, some of the most impressive and valuable LinkedIn badges include:
LinkedIn Learning courses:
– Leadership Development programs
– Technical / software engineering programs
– Highly rated, extensive soft skills programs
Relevant industry credentials:
– CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
– PMP (Project Management Professional)
– CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
– AWS and Microsoft certifications
Advanced degrees:
– Ph.D.
– Professional doctorates (MD, JD)
Widely-recognized programs:
– Harvard Business School Executive Education
– Singularity University programs
– Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship programs
The common thread is rigour and real-world applicability. Premium badges from globally recognized institutions or extensive learning paths tend to carry more weight.
Conclusion
LinkedIn badges serve as impactful visual symbols of knowledge, skills, and credentials. Displaying relevant, current badges on your profile – especially in the banner and licenses & certifications sections – can enhance your professional brand and attract opportunities. But be selective. Showcase only your most meaningful, career-aligned badges. Curate them strategically to tell the story you want recruiters and partners to see.