By Matt Scherer
One of the simplest LinkedIn branding tools involves changing your LinkedIn URL to a custom one.
According to LinkedIn’s official Help documentation, you can customize your URL by clicking “View Profile,” then the edit icon next to “Public profile & URL” on the right pane. Under “Edit your custom URL,” click the edit icon next to your public profile URL and type or edit the last part of your new custom URL
Your custom URL can use 3-100 characters. It cannot contain spaces, symbols, special characters or the term LinkedIn. The social media powerhouse allows its users five times in six months. After the fifth change, a profile user has to wait 180 days.
For those folks who aren’t digital natives, here is a step-by-step instruction guide.
Log into LinkedIn and go to your profile page
Click “Edit public profile & URL” on the right side of your profile page
Look for the “Edit your custom URL” section on the right side of the screen
Click the pencil/edit icon next to your current URL
Enter your desired custom URL (3-100 characters)
- Use only letters, numbers, or hyphens
- No spaces, symbols, or special characters
- It must be unique (not already taken by another user)
Click “Save”
Here are several LinkedIn profiles that demonstrate how to leverage the unique capabilities of this platform.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-overberg/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigeljcliffe/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-stacey/
Once a LinkedIn profile user updates their custom profile, here are several ways to share this new online moniker.
Start first with your email signature.
Next, add this custom URL to any resume.
After updating a business card, it’s time to add this custom URL
(Want to know more about how to capitalize on LinkedIn’s hidden features? Please send me a connection note with your email. I’ll forward to you a link to my free LinkedIn course.)