How to Share a LinkedIn Profile

Knowing exactly how to share your LinkedIn profile is a professional superpower you might not realize you have. Whether you're making a new connection, referring a colleague for a job, or simply adding it to your email signature, getting it right creates a seamless, professional impression. This guide breaks down every step into easy actions, covering how to share your profile (and someone else's) from your computer or phone.

Why Share a LinkedIn Profile in the First Place?

Before jumping into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Sharing a profile isn't just about sending a link, it's a strategic move that helps with:

• Networking: Effortlessly introduce yourself or connect two people who should know each other.
• Job Hunting: Add your profile to resumes, applications, and email signatures to give recruiters a complete view of your skills and experience.
• Referrals and Recommendations: Share the profile of a talented colleague with your network to vouch for their skills.
• Building Credibility: Feature team members on your company website or introduce a guest speaker with a direct link to their professional background.

Every share is an opportunity to strengthen your professional network and build social proof.

First Things First: Find and Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URL

The most common way to share your profile is by sending its unique URL. But the default URL LinkedIn assigns you is usually a clunky mix of your name and random numbers. A customized, or "vanity," URL looks cleaner, is easier to remember, and feels far more professional.

How to Find and Edit Your URL on Desktop:

1. Log in to LinkedIn and go to your profile by clicking "Me" in the top navigation bar, then clicking "View Profile".
2. On your profile page, look to the upper-right corner and click on "Edit public profile & URL".
3. Another page will open. In the top-right corner, under the "Edit your custom URL" section, you'll see a small pencil icon next to your current profile URL. Click it.
4. A box will appear allowing you to change the last part of the URL. Choose something simple and professional, like linkedin.com/in/YourFirstNameYourLastName. If that’s taken, try adding a middle initial or a keyword related to your industry (e.g., /JaneDoeMarketing).
5. Click "Save," and you’re all set.

How to Find Your URL on the Mobile App:

1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile picture in the top-left corner.
2. Tap "View Profile".
3. Tap the three dots (...) next to the "Add Section" button.
4. Select "Contact info". Your profile URL will be listed here. You can copy it, but note that you'll have to use a desktop browser to edit it.

Now that you have your polished URL ready, let’s get into the different ways to share it.

How to Share Your Own LinkedIn Profile

You have several straightforward options depending on the device you're using and where you want to share your profile.

Sharing from Your Computer

This is the most direct method. With your professional URL ready, you can simply copy it from your browser's address bar when you're on your profile page and paste it anywhere - an email, a direct message, a job application, you name it.

LinkedIn also has a built-in sharing feature on your profile:

1. Navigate to your profile ("Me" > "View Profile").
2. Click the "More" button located right below your profile introduction section.
3. You'll see two options:
   • Share in a post: This creates a new LinkedIn post with a link preview of your profile. You can write an update about something you're looking for, like a new opportunity.
   • Send in a private message: This opens a composer where you can send your profile directly to one of your connections.

Sharing from the Mobile App

The mobile app makes sharing your profile a simple task, whether you're at your desk or networking on the go.

The Universal Share Button:

1. Go to your profile in the app.
2. Tap the three dots (...) button to the right of "Add section."
3. Tap "Share via..." and your phone's native share sheet will appear. From here, you can send your profile link to apps like Messages, Gmail, Slack, or copy the link to your clipboard.

The Underused Superpower: Your LinkedIn QR Code

For in-person networking, the LinkedIn QR code is incredible. Instead of manually spelling out your name, just have the other person scan your code with their phone camera. It will take them to your profile instantly.

Here’s how to find it:

1. Tap the search bar at the very top of the LinkedIn app's home screen.
2. You'll see a small QR code icon appear on the right side of the search bar. Tap it.
3. Your unique QR code will pop up. You can let someone scan it on your screen, save it to your photos, or share it directly. A fantastic idea is to add this saved QR code to your business cards or presentation slides.

Practical Places to Share Your LinkedIn Profile

Beyond sending a direct link, you can strategically place your LinkedIn profile link in several key places to boost your visibility passively.

• In Your Email Signature: It's one of the easiest ways for anyone you correspond with to connect with you. Just add a simple link labeled "LinkedIn Profile" or use a small LinkedIn icon hyperlinked to your profile.
• On Your Resume or CV: Always include your custom LinkedIn URL in your resume's contact information section. Recruiters and hiring managers expect it - and they will almost certainly look you up anyway.
• On Your Other Social Media Bios: If it's appropriate for your professional brand, add your LinkedIn URL to your bio on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or as a link-in-bio on Instagram.
• On Your Personal Website or Portfolio: Place a social media link or icon pointing to your LinkedIn profile in the footer or on your "About" or "Contact" page.

How to Share Someone Else's LinkedIn Profile

Sharing another person's profile is just as easy but requires a bit of tact. It’s the perfect way to make an introduction or recommend a candidate for a role.

Sharing Another Profile from a Computer

1. Navigate to the profile of the person you want to share.
2. Just below their name and headline, click the "More" button.
3. A dropdown menu will appear. Select "Send in a private message" if you want to send it directly to one of your connections, or "Share profile in a post" to publicly mention them.
4. Alternatively, you can just copy their profile URL from the browser's address bar and paste it where you need it.

Sharing Another Profile from the Mobile App

1. Go to the profile page of the person you're sharing.
2. Tap the three dots (...) to the right of their name.
3. Tap "Share via..." in the pop-up menu.
4. Your phone's share menu will open, letting you send it through messaging, email, or any other app you have installed.

A quick tip: When sharing someone else's profile, always add context. If you're making an email introduction, explain why you're connecting the two parties. If you’re messaging a colleague, say, "Hey, I thought you might be the perfect fit for this opportunity." A personal note makes the share more meaningful and professional.

One Last Step: Optimize Your Public Profile View

Before you start sharing your URL everywhere, take a moment to see yourself as a non-connection would. Your public profile is what people who aren't in your network will see when they click your link. Make sure it's making the right first impression.

You can adjust what’s visible by going to "Edit public profile & URL" (the same page where you set your custom URL). On the right side of the page, you’ll find a series of toggles that allow you to decide exactly what someone sees. At a bare minimum, people must have public access to:

• Your Profile Picture
• Your Headline & Summary
• Your Current Experience
• Your Skills

Making things public gives strangers who find you the most context to understand your professional story.

Final Thoughts

From grabbing a simple link to flashing a QR code at a conference, sharing your LinkedIn profile is a core skill for any professional today. By choosing the right method for the moment and making sure your profile is ready for visitors, you turn a simple link into a powerful networking opportunity.

Once you’ve polished your LinkedIn presence, the next step is often maintaining a consistent and professional brand across all social channels. Getting that right can feel like a full-time job. At Postbase, we built an easier tool specifically for that reason - to give you one straightforward, visual calendar where you can plan, schedule, and see all your content. It turns what feels like chaos into a manageable, clear process, so you can spend your time building your brand, not fighting with confusing software.