Whether you’re new to LinkedIn or a grizzled veteran, you may or may not know about the feature that allows you to create your own personalized URL. It’s like a vanity plate for your LinkedIn profile. When you initially join LinkedIn, you are given a URL for your profile which is generally just a bunch of random characters and numbers. It looks something like this:
Claiming your own custom URL is a small detail, but extremely important if you are going to get the most out of LinkedIn.
Here’s why it’s so important:
LinkedIn is a Google Goldmine
Because of LinkedIn’s popularity it ranks high in most Google searches. When someone Google’s your name, your LinkedIn profile will likely be high on the list (in addition to all of your many, many athletic accomplishments!). If you use your name in your LinkedIn URL, it will rank even higher and provide a direct link for someone to your profile. This becomes even more important as you are transitioning from your playing days to the business world. You need to be easily accessible to those that are looking for you.
It Represents Your Brand
When you are building and growing your career, personal brand is everything. And when it comes to branding, the devil is definitely in the details. Your profile URL shows up at the very top of your profile page. It is one of the first things that people see. Now, does not having a custom URL mean you’re not getting the job? No, of course not, but it does say something about your attention to detail and tech savvy. It’s like a single typo on your resume. Is that a career killer? No. But it certainly doesn’t help.
Easy to Use and Remember
I recommend that everyone put their LinkedIn URL on their resume along with an email and phone number. Using a custom URL makes it clean and easy to read. It is also much neater on a business card or email signature. And if you find yourself in a networking setting, you’ll remember that URL with no problem and be able to provide it to someone you want to keep in touch with.
So How Do I Change It?
Here is a quick video to show you how to create your own personalized URL.
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