How to Set Up Your LinkedIn “Vanity” URL
by Kim Isaacs

Wouldn’t you rather have an easy-to-remember, professional-looking LinkedIn URL that you can use on resumes, email signatures, business cards, and other branding materials? When you set your custom URL, your profile page will have a URL like mine (http://linkedin.com/in/kimisaacs) vs. the one LinkedIn assigns, which includes a series of unwanted numbers and letters like this: http://linkedin.com/pub/your-name/1a/123a/123b.

It’s easy to set up your LinkedIn “Vanity” URL. Here’s how:

1. Sign in to LinkedIn. Hover over “Profile” on the top menu and click “Edit Profile”:

2. In the top left box, scroll to “Public Profile” and click “Edit” to create your LinkedIn vanity URL:

3. On the right-hand side of the next screen, you will see “Your public profile URL.”  Click “Customize your public profile URL”:

4. In the box that pops up, type in your name and click “Set Custom URL”:

The ideal name is your first name followed by your last name, with no spaces or dashes. If the name you pick is available, you’re done! If your name is already taken, see if one of these ideas will work:

  • Add your middle initial or middle name (e.g., maryesmith or maryelizabethsmith).
  • Reverse your first and last name (e.g., jonesmary).
  • Add a degree or professional designation (e.g., BillJonesMBA or MarySmithCPA).
  • Use a name associated with your brand (e.g., SalesProBill or MarySmithSEO).
  • Use your first initial and your last name, or add your middle initial as well (e.g., MSmith or MGSmith).
  • Add your location (e.g., BillSmithNYC).

Kim’s Bio: Kim is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW). She serves on the National Resume Writers’ Association’s advisory committee for the NCRW credential. Kim coauthored The Career Change Resume: How to Reinvent Your Resume and Land Your Dream Job (McGraw-Hill) with Karen Hofferber. Numerous other career books feature Kim’s advice about online job search techniques and sample resumes and cover letters.

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