With all that is going on in the world, I find more people asking about their LinkedIn presence. They are usually asking how to improve their profile but say they don’t have the time for it. Well, I can share an action that truly only takes a few minutes. Below I share a quick step that can improve the branding of your LinkedIn profile immediately.
WHAT IS A LINKEDIN PROFILE URL?
First, let me explain a little for those who don’t know what a LinkedIn Profile URL is. When anyone signs up for a LinkedIn account, they are assigned a URL. This is essentially an “address” for your LinkedIn Profile. When someone types it into an internet browser, they land on your LinkedIn profile. To create the URL, LinkedIn starts with its website address and then takes the content in your name fields and adds a few letters and numbers after it (for example Linkedin.com/in/paula-brand-777bojz).
WHY SHOULD I CUSTOMIZE IT?
Editing the assigned URL is a key step in your personal branding and online presence. It’s best to claim your name, if possible. When I tried to create my URL, someone had already taken paulabrand. When this happens, consider using a middle name or adding a word related to your professional focus (for example LinkedIn/in/paulabrandcareers). Claiming your LinkedIn URL is like buying a vanity license plate for your vehicle. It allows you to mark something as your own (but it’s free).
HOW DOES CUSTOMIZING HELP?
Customizing your LinkedIn profile helps you to be found by others. First, it will help with search engine optimization (SEO) ranking. If someone searches for your name on Google or LinkedIn, you will likely come up higher in the search results if you have customized your LinkedIn URL. Second, utilizing it in your electronic signature, résumé, or business cards will create memorable and consistent messaging.
HOW DO I EDIT MY LINKEDIN URL?
LinkedIn has changed the steps to execute this task over the years. It doesn’t take long to do but it takes many clicks. These days I think showing you is easier than telling you in writing, so I created a video to visually show you how to do it. If you prefer written instructions, check out these from the LinkedIn Help Center on how to edit your LinkedIn URL from desktop or mobile.
FINAL TIPS
Please note that all of the letters will end up displayed as lowercase, no matter how you type them. Also, it says you cannot use any symbols, but I’ve learned over the years that it will accept a hyphen. So, what are you waiting for? Now that you know how, go claim your “vanity URL.”
