You’re So Vain – I’ll Bet You Think this LinkedIn Profile is About You. Don’t You?
by Kim Isaacs

Well, your LinkedIn profile is about you, so your profile should have a custom URL that includes your name.

You can set up 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 (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. Scroll to your current URL below your photo 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).

Any other ideas for naming a profile if the desired one isn’t available?