Can I merge 2 LinkedIn profiles into one?
I’ve had several people ask me this question over the last year or two: Can I merge two LinkedIn profiles into one?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a merge feature yet!
So, you will need to decide which profile to keep and which to delete. Decide based on number of connections and/or how developed your profile is.
Tip: I would keep the one with the most connections and move the profile data.
Here are some steps to help you successfully move to a single profile:
1. Login to the Account you want to delete.
2. Export the Connections to an csv or excel file. (See link at bottom of Connections)
3. Save all profile info into a Word Document.
4. Delete the account.(Go to Account & Settings and Close the account.)
5. Login to the account you want to keep.
6. Import the Connections stored in file from deleted account and re-invite them to connect on the correct profile. Offer an explanation since they were already connections on the other profile.
7. Update your profile as needed.
8. Associate multiple email addresses with your LinkedIn account so that people can find you by any of your email addresses. (Go to Account & Settings and Add Email under Personal Info.)
I hope this helps! For more social media tips or to ask your questions, become a Fan on Facebook.com/SocialMediaExplained
Getting Your LinkedIn Profile to 100%
New users on LinkedIn are often curious about how they can get their profile to 100%.
To complete a LinkedIn profile, users must add the following information:
- Current employment position
- Two past employment positions
- Education info
- Profile summary
- Profile photo
- Specialties Info
- At least three recommendations
5 Ways to Use LinkedIn for Job Search
If you are looking for a new job, LinkedIn.com is one of the most important places to be. Here are 5 Ways you can used LinkedIn in the job search process.
1. Present Yourself with a Professional Profile
Creating a profile only takes a few minutes but creating a profile that gets you the job you want will require a significant investment of time and energy. Like a resume, your profile should highlight your greatest accomplishments so employers who view your profile can quickly see why they should hire you.
2. Get Solid Recommendations On Your Profile
Get in touch with former managers and request a LinkedIn recommendation from them. Next, if you work directly with clients, you may want recommendations that highlight your strengths from a client perspective. Tip: If you have received complimentary emails in the past from bosses or clients, repurpose those emails by replying back to the author asking if they would be willing to post their words of recommendation on your LinkedIn profile.
3. Use Job Search to Identify Available Positions of Interest
The Job Search tool on LinkedIn is unique from other Job databases because you can see who in your network is connected to someone in the company that has posted the job. Tip: Request a personal introduction to the job poster by someone in your network who is connected to the person posting the job.
4. Use People Search To Identify Hiring Personnel
On LinkedIn, you can search people by various information such as keywords, titles and location. For example, if you are a CPA moving to Atlanta and need to begin your job search. Here is what you could do: Search people by
Industry: Accounting Industry
Location: Near 30303 (an Atlanta zip code)
Title: HR
Your search results will show who fits these criteria in your network and in the greater LinkedIn network.
5. Answer Questions in Your Area of Expertise to Increase Your Exposure
To gain greater exposure and put a spotlight on your areas of expertise, search Answers on LinkedIn for questions related to your expertise. Answer as many as you can to the best of your ability. By entering the conversation, you will be exposed to new contacts many of whom may be recruiters or employers who are looking for an expert in your industry.
If you have specific questions regarding how to use LinkedIn for Job searches, please post them as comments and I will answer them in a future post! Thanks for joining the conversation.
Michelle Cullison, New Media Strategist
How to create a personalized URL on LinkedIn
By default on LinkedIn, you get a URL with random characters. You can personalize your URL:
Here’s how:
- Click on the ‘Edit Your Profile’ link found on the left hand side of the home page.
- Click on ‘Edit’ next to the ‘Public Profile’ area.
- Click on ‘Edit’ next to the ‘Your Public Profile URL’ area at the top of the page.
- Enter your new custom URL. All custom URL’s must start with www.linkedin.com/in/ and must contain 5-30 alphanumeric characters. Do not use spaces, symbols, or special characters.
- Click on ‘Set Address’.
