#Branding – Creating a Custom LinkedIn URL

LinkedIn allows us to create our own custom LinkedIn URL.

What is a URL?

[URL – Universal Resource Locator meaning – The address of a World Wide Web page] such as https://www.michelleharris.social

It seems people aren’t taking the advantage of creating a branded personal LinkedIn URL.

Its so easy to do, and no jumping through hoops that other networks can make you do.

When you first sign up to LinkedIn and create your account LinkedIn will assign a URL to your account, this URL will be comprised of letters and numbers. Usually your name with a dash separating it and some numbers.

Which looks something like this linkedin.com/in/your-name-b439-4321

This URL isn’t good for branding, SEO or getting found on a search. Whats more it doesn’t look savvy at all – It needs to go right away, and its very simple to do.

Creating a Custom LinkedIn URL

First, you need to think about how you want to be found on LinkedIn. Most people would just choose their name, but how do you want your name, do you want your middle name, or just your initials - how are you known on other networks.

• MHarris
• MDHarris
• MichelleDHarris
• MichelleDebraHarris

Sometimes your name will have already been taken. You can even use your business name or you could use your business name and then your own name, or any mixture as long as you can stick to the rules

• Michelledh
• MichelleHarrisSocial

LinkedIn URL Rules

Your custom URL can have from 5 to 30 letters or numbers. You cannot use spaces, symbols or any special characters, which is rather annoying but that’s what we have to work with. It is case sensitive so if you want something like LVlovesPR that would be fine.

I always had my name as michelledh as even back 10 years ago I couldn't get Michelle Harris, but I’ve recently changed it to MichelleHarrisSocial after my rebranding of my business and website.

If you don’t like what you have created for your custom LinkedIn URL you can change it up to five times within six months. After that, all is not lost but you will have to wait six months to change it again.

How to Create a Custom LinkedIn URL

• Click your profile picture icon at the top right of your LinkedIn homepage.
• Click View profile.
• On your profile page, click Edit your public profile on the right.
• Now you will see – Edit your public profile on the right with your URL underneath

www.dhirubhai.net/in/MichelleHarrisSocial – beside this is a pencil icon – click that to edit the URL 

• Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box.
• Click Save.

A very quick video to show you the steps.

And that’s it, now you can share this link, add it to your email signature, website, business card, anywhere and it won’t look silly.

Hope this helps you to get started Creating a Custom LinkedIn URL - Hit me up if you are struggling in any other ways with social media or social networks.