Having the right email address for your LinkedIn profile is important for projecting a professional image and ensuring you don’t miss out on key notifications and messages. With so many options available, how do you choose the best email address for LinkedIn?
Should you use your personal or work email?
One of the first considerations is whether to use your personal email (e.g. gmail, yahoo, etc.) or a work/business email. There are pros and cons to each:
Personal email pros:
- You’ll continue to have access even if you change jobs
- It’s often your primary email that you check frequently
- You have total control and ownership
Personal email cons:
- It may look less professional than a work email
- Contacts may not associate it with your professional identity
- It could be cluttered with non-work emails
Work email pros:
- Looks professional and is associated with your role
- Contacts will recognize the company domain
- Keeps your network notifications separate from personal emails
Work email cons:
- You may lose access if you leave the company
- It identifies you with one company only
- You may not check it as frequently
In general, if you plan to stay with your current company and are looking to network within your industry, using your work email is recommended. However, if you think you may change jobs down the road, going with a personal email you’ll always have access to can be the better long-term option.
Should you create a separate LinkedIn email address?
Another option some LinkedIn users choose is to create a separate email address just for their LinkedIn profile. Here are some potential benefits of having a dedicated LinkedIn email:
- Keeps LinkedIn notifications from getting buried in a cluttered personal or work inbox
- Clear indicator to connections that messages are LinkedIn-related
- Easier to filter and organize LinkedIn emails into their own folder/label
- Can retain continuity even when switching jobs or emails
The downsides are the need to monitor and check yet another inbox, and potentially missing important LinkedIn messages if you don’t check it frequently enough. But for some job seekers and active networkers, having a separate LinkedIn email address optimizes their communication and organization.
Email address ideas for LinkedIn
When creating a dedicated LinkedIn email, you’ll want to come up with an appropriate and professional username. Here are some ideas:
- [email protected] (e.g. [email protected])
- [email protected] (e.g. [email protected])
- [email protected] (e.g. [email protected])
- [email protected] (e.g. [email protected])
You’ll notice that including identifiers like “LI” or “LinkedIn” helps clarify that the email is for LinkedIn purposes only. This can be beneficial for both you and your connections.
Some additional tips for your LinkedIn email username:
- Use your real first and last name for recognizability
- Keep it simple – avoid multiple underscores, dashes, periods, or numbers
- Use a reputable email service like Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.
- Make sure the full email address is not overly long
How to add your new LinkedIn email address
Once you’ve created your new dedicated LinkedIn email address, you’ll need to add it to your LinkedIn profile. Here are the steps:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click “View profile” to edit your profile
- In the “Contact Info” section, click the pencil icon to edit
- In the email field, begin typing your new email address
- Select the new email address from the dropdown list
- Click “Save”
LinkedIn will then send a confirmation email to your new address to verify ownership. Just click the confirmation link in that email and you’re all set.
Note that your existing LinkedIn email address will remain visibly on your profile until you also complete email verification with the new address. So be sure to check for that confirmation email and confirm before the link expires.
Turn on LinkedIn email notifications
To get the most value from your dedicated LinkedIn email address, you’ll want to customize your notification settings:
- Go to your LinkedIn Settings
- Select “Communications”
- Under “Email preferences”, select “Send me all email updates”
- Under “Messages”, check “Someone messages me”
- Under “Notifications”, select “Send notifications about my network weekly”
- Scroll down and click “Save changes”
This will ensure all LinkedIn alerts and updates are sent to your new email address. You can further customize notifications in your Settings later if needed.
When to change your LinkedIn email address
As a general rule, you’ll want to update your LinkedIn email address if:
- You plan to leave your current job so will lose access to your work email
- Your current email address looks unprofessional
- You don’t check your current email frequently enough
- You want to separate LinkedIn notifications from other emails
- You’re receiving too many irrelevant emails to your current address
Aim to review your LinkedIn email address whenever you go through a job transition. This ensures connections can consistently reach you.
You may also want to proactively change it if you notice your current email is outdated or insufficient for LinkedIn purposes.
When NOT to change your LinkedIn email
On the other hand, refrain from changing your LinkedIn email if:
- You have an established presence with your current email
- You don’t want to lose touch with existing connections
- Your email is already branded ([email protected])
- You are satisfied with the volume of LinkedIn emails received
- The new email would be difficult for contacts to remember/recognize
Be thoughtful before making a change – there can be downsides to switching if your current email works fine. Make sure the benefits outweigh losing any brand equity or relationships.
How to switch back to your previous LinkedIn email
If you change your mind after updating your LinkedIn email address, you can switch it back. Here’s how:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile and click “View profile”
- Click the “Contact Info” pencil icon to edit
- In the email field, type your old email address
- Select the old email from the dropdown menu
- Click “Save” to make the change
Note that you will have to once again verify the email address via a confirmation message from LinkedIn. But once verified, this will revert your profile back to its original email.
Best practices when changing LinkedIn emails
To ensure a smooth transition when changing your LinkedIn email, keep these best practices in mind:
- Gradually update your email – don’t immediately abandon your old address
- Check both inboxes during the transition period
- Update your email in your profile’s intro/summary section
- Let key connections know about your new email
- Set up forwarding from old to new if possible
- Export LinkedIn connections for easy reconnection later
Rushing to change your email without a transition plan in place can lead to missed messages and lost touchpoints. Take it slow and communicate the shift to minimize disruption.
Pro tips for managing your LinkedIn email
Once you’ve chosen the best LinkedIn email for you, keep these management tips in mind:
- Check it daily as part of your routine
- Create LinkedIn-specific filters and labels
- Unsubscribe from any irrelevant LinkedIn updates
- Report any spam messages to LinkedIn
- Clear out your inbox regularly
- Respond promptly to time-sensitive messages
- Review your sent emails for typos and errors
Actively maintaining your LinkedIn email helps project professionalism. With a few minutes a day, you can stay organize and responsive.
Email services for custom LinkedIn addresses
When creating a custom LinkedIn email address, you’ll need an email service provider. Here are some top options to consider:
Service | Features | Pricing |
---|---|---|
Gmail | 15GB storage, powerful search and filters, integrates with Google services | Free |
Outlook.com | 15GB storage, customizable folders, calendar integration | Free |
Yahoo Mail | Unlimited storage, POP access, ad-free option | Free – $50/year premium |
Zoho Mail | 5GB – 15GB storage, data privacy controls, multi-account support | Free – $1/month billed annually |
Each platform has its own strengths, such as Gmail’s stellar filtering or Outlook’s calendar integration. Evaluate your email habits to decide which free or low-cost provider works best.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn email address deserves careful consideration, as it has implications for your personal brand and networking capabilities. While a work email generally looks more professional, a personal or custom email ensures long-term continuity.
Weigh factors like frequency of use, ability to segment notifications, and professionalism when choosing. And take steps to gradually transition between addresses, notify connections, and actively maintain your inbox.
With the right email address strategy, you can optimize your LinkedIn experience for career success.