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by Gerry Moran Gerry Moran No Comments

LinkedIn Character Limits for 2023

This year is winding down, and we don’t yet know of any updates to the 2022 LinkedIn character limits. But it’s still important to know your limits when it comes to your LinkedIn profile!

As you think about updating your profile to get a jump on your 2023 personal branding, here’s everything you need to know about every customizable LinkedIn profile touchpoint.

Mark Twain once said, “I didn’t have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one.” This quote applies to how you should develop your brand on LinkedIn. Less is more, as long as you tell your story. This LinkedIn character count list provides the box where you can be as creative as you’d like within the platform’s limits.

I’ve outlined all of the profile sections and their character limits for your personal LinkedIn account: the profile, contact information, and message and content posting. Each unit includes a link to show you how to edit your customized information.

While some of these profile changes can be made from your mobile device, it’s best to use the Desktop experience to make your updates. It’s just safer that way. Bigger working space. Fewer mistakes.

The Biggest Opportunity to Consider With LinkedIn Character Counts

By working with thousands of professionals in personal branding workshops when I ran the social media programs at SAP and Cognizant for ten years, I’ve found the biggest issue with LinkedIn character counts is knowing how to best use the space. For example, if you give an architect, a Realtor, and a homeowner a blank space to remodel, each will have a different approach. I would bet that the professional architect would achieve the best results. The same goes for using LinkedIn character limits to build a personal brand.

So, before we move right into a review of all the LinkedIn character counts, let’s define them.

complete LinkedIn Profile

What are LinkedIn Character Limits?

LinkedIn character counts are the limits created by the platform to ensure your branding information and messaging are neither too short nor too long.  It ensures their ecosystem thrives with hundreds of millions of users. The character limits present a box where you can be as communicative or creative as possible to leverage LinkedIn as your reputation’s destination.

You are forced to color inside these lines. Now you know what the lines are!

47 LinkedIn Character Counts for Your Profile

Use these character counts to guide you through your LinkedIn profile and messaging strategy. Please note that this list contains video, image, and photo limits. While not truly character counts, you still need to pay attention to these limits!

LinkedIn Profile Character Limits

  1. First and last name: 20 characters for your first name and 40 characters for your last name. Here’s how to change the way your name appears on your profile.
  2. Name pronunciation: 10 seconds. Here’s how to add your Name Pronunciation (click here) voice on your profile.
  3. Former name: 50 characters. Use this link to add or adjust your former, maiden, or nickname. (click here) 
  4. LinkedIn profile photo: 8MB. 400 (w) x 400 (h) pixels is the ideal size. Here’s how to change your LinkedIn Profile Photo (click here.)
  5. LinkedIn profile video. 30 seconds. This link will show you how to add your Video Profile Video (click here.)
  6. LinkedIn background photo. 8MB — 1584 (w) x 396 (h) pixels is recommended. View this link to see how to change your Background Photo (click here.)
  7. Headline: 220 characters. Here’s how to edit your Headline (click here).  
  8. Industry: LinkedIn predetermines all industry selections, which cannot be changed. Here’s how to edit your Industry (click here) choice.
  9. Public-facing Business Website URL. 262 characters. Here’s how to edit the Website URL in your Introduction (click here) section.
  10. Public-facing Business Website URL Description. 30 characters. Here’s how to edit the Website URL description in your Introduction (click here) section.
  11. Headline Hashtags: 140 characters. Here’s how to access the Creator Mode to add or edit your Headline Hashtags (click here).
  12. About (formerly Summary): 2,600 characters. Here’s how to change your About (click here) section.  
  1. Featured — title: 100 characters per title. Here’s how to edit your profile’s Featured (click here) section.
  2. Featured — description. 500 characters per description. Here’s how to edit your profile’s Featured (click here) section.
  3. Experience — job title: 100 characters per job title. Here’s how to add or edit a job title in your Experience (click here) section.
  4. Experience — description. 2,000 characters per job title. Here’s how to add or edit a job description in your Experience (click here) section.
  5. Experience — skills. 80 characters. This link will help you add Skills (click here) to each of your job titles. Please note that these additions also show up in your Skills section.
  6. Education: 150 characters per school name. Here’s how to add, remove, or edit an Education (click here) entry. 
  7. Volunteer experience: 100 characters per organization. Here’s what to do to add, edit, or remove a Volunteer position or Cause (click here) on your profile.
  8. Skills: 80 characters per skill. Here is how to change your Skills (click here) in your profile.
  9. Recommendations: 3,000 characters and spaces. Here is some information to help you secure a Recommendation (click here) for your profile.
  10. Accomplishments: 100 characters per entry. Here’s how to add Accomplishments (click here) to your profile.
  11. Profile Publication Title: 225 characters. Here’s how to add a Profile Publication Title (click here) to your profile.
  12. Profile Publication Description: 2,000 characters. Here’s how to add a Profile Description (click here)to your profile.
  13. Interests: 1,000 characters and spaces. How to add, edit, or remove your Interests from your profile.

Contact Info LinkedIn Character Counts

  1. Public Profile URL: 5 to 30 characters. Here’s how to add or change your Public Profile URL (click here) on LinkedIn. 
  2. Website URL: 256 characters. You can now display up to three website links in your profile. Here’s how to add Website URLs (click here) to your LinkedIn profile’s Contact section.
  3. Website Anchor Text: 30 characters. Anchor text describes your actual website (e.g., “Schedule time with me.” Here’s how to edit your Website Anchor Text (click here) in your Contact section.
  4. Mobile Phone Number: 25 characters. Here’s how to add your Mobile Phone Number (click here) to Your Contact Information. 
  5. Home or Business Address: 1,000 characters. Here’s how to change your Home or Business Address (click here.) 
  6. Instant Messenger Accounts: 25 characters. Instant Messenger Account (click here) your Instant Messenger accounts on LinkedIn.

Status Update LinkedIn Character Counts

  1. Post: 3,000 characters. Here’s how to Post on your feed.
  2. Post Comment: 1,250 characters.
  3. Post Hashtags: 140 characters. This character count is a part of your 3,000-character post or 1,250-character count limit.
linkedin jobs

LinkedIn InMail Messaging Character Counts

  1. InMail — subject line: 200 characters. Here’s how to write an InMail (click here) message subject line.
  2. InMail — body copy: 1,900 characters. Here’s how to write an InMail (click here) message.

Event Creation LinkedIn Character Counts

  1. Event — name: 75 characters. Here’s how to create an Event (click here) from your LinkedIn profile.
  2. Event — broadcast link: 1,024 characters. Here’s how to create an Event broadcast link (click here) from your LinkedIn profile.
  3. Event — description: 5,000 characters. Here’s how to create an Event description (click here) from your LinkedIn profile.
  4. Event — ticketing website: 1,024 characters. Here’s how to create an Event ticketing website description (click here) from your LinkedIn profile.

Invitation Character Counts

  1. Invitation to Connect: 300 characters. Here’s how to send a LinkedIn Invitation (click here.)

LinkedIn Group Posts LinkedIn Character Counts

  1. Groups — body copy: 3,000 characters. Here’s how to send a Linkedin Group Message (click here.) 
  2. Groups — comments: 1,250 characters.

Article (Pulse, LinkedIn Publishing Platform) Posts

  1. Article — title: 100 characters. Here’s how to post Articles on the LinkedIn Publishing Platform.
  2. Article — copy: 110,000 characters. Here’s how to post Articles on the LinkedIn Publishing Platform. 
  3. Article — comment: 1,250 characters.
  4. Article — photo credit: 250 characters. Here’s how to post Articles on the LinkedIn Publishing Platform. 

Let Us Help You Develop Your Personal Branding Plan Using LinkedIn

Too much of a good thing isn’t always good, which is why there are limits. And this counts for LinkedIn, too. If you’re looking for how to develop your LinkedIn profile, then we’re here to help. Here are a few blog posts from marketingthink.com to jumpstart your LinkedIn profile update:

3 Key Questions to Ask About Using Optimal Character Counts on LinkedIn

During my ten years at SAP and Cognizant, and the additional time running Marketingthink Consulting, I’ve spent time looking under the hood of all key social media channels. You have to understand the specs of a machine before you use it to work for you. Understanding the character counts for each LinkedIn feature enables you to create the best message for the container. My hands-on leadership experience taught me to make sure you ask these questions when building and evolving your filling in those blanks of your LinkedIn Profile Page:

  • Because you have the space, should you use all of the space? Like the familiarized Spiderman quote, with great power comes great responsibility. And you have an obligation, not to bore or over-inform your audience. Make sure you use the correct number of characters to convey the message. The LinkedIn platform and community will thank you for it.
  • Are you staying up to date on the character counts? Like the LinkedIn algorithm, their character limits often change. Stay on top of the changes to ensure you use the platform to its full capability.
  • Do you socialize the character counts with your internal stakeholders? Everyone uses LinkedIn differently. The C-suite, thought leaders, subject matter experts, and event marketers, to name a few, all create content. Whether or not your company provides a shared-service model, everyone’s creating content to support themselves and the brand. These groups are likely not paying attention to character-count changes, so you must build a process to ensure everyone is educated. 

Your Next Move to Make You Improve Your LinkedIn Profile with the Optimal Character Counts

So, now you have a few ideas for optimizing your character counts with your LinkedIn profile and activity. It would be best if you also understood why character counts are essential. If you want to make that next move to enhance your LinkedIn strategy by using the optimal character count in the right areas but need a partner to get you there, we’d love to help.

Over 51% of people like you who want to improve their personal brand have incomplete profiles, let alone high-performing ones. A better LinkedIn profile will help you get that promotion, improve your chances for that dream job, and get you noticed by clients. What are you waiting for?

Marketingthink Consulting, LLC has years of hands-on leadership experience helping individuals and teams improve their personal brands. We want to show you what we can do for you. Make your next move by reading about our LinkedIn Profile Makeover Service, or start with a LinkedIn Profile Audit.

Again, “With great power, there must also come great responsibility,” says the Peter Parker principle. This recommendation suggests that even with all the space you can fill with characters and words on LinkedIn, be responsible, and use only what you need. This way, you’ll make a better impression on the web.

Schedule a quick 15-minute meeting with Gerry Moran to move ahead with refreshing your LinkedIn profile!

P.S. LinkedIn regularly makes changes to its platform, including character counts. If you see a change we have not noted, please let us know by commenting below or emailing gerry@marketingthink.com.

by Gerry Moran Gerry Moran No Comments

25 LinkedIn Profile Features To Build Your Personal Brand

Do you know how to create the perfect LinkedIn profile? It’s your reputation destination that builds your personal brand!

For many professionals, executives, and sellers, their LinkedIn account is the front door to their personal brand. If you understand the 25 steps leading to that front door, you’re on your way to inviting your community in and providing them with the value you have to offer.

Biggest Issue to Consider With LinkedIn and Your Personal Brand

I’ve found the biggest challenge for most LinkedIn members is using the platform as a resume. That’s the wrong approach. Your resume is supposed to be your resume. If you use your job title as your Headline and offer the same information as your resume, others will think you are looking for a job vs. demonstrating your expertise. We’re all salespeople, yet people insist they don’t like to be “sold to.” Instead, use your profile to highlight your value to make the sale, no matter how that sale manifests.

What is a LinkedIn Profile?

A LinkedIn profile is your reputation’s destination. It’s the landing page to your unique story told via the different chapters of your experiences. It can provide resume-like information targeting hiring companies. Or, it can be the springboard to start conversations with industry peers, coworkers, and connections of your connections. Through a mix of visual assets, experience descriptions, and active participation on the platform, you can connect with others, or they can find and connect with you. It’s the mission control of your personal brand.

linkedin profile audit

Personal Branding Facts You Should Know About LinkedIn Profiles

  1. 80% of LinkedIn users say professional networking is vital for success. (Source: LinkedIn)
  2. LinkedIn viewing sessions grew by 31% in the first quarter of 2021. (Source: Business of Apps, Alexa)
  3. 100,000 articles are published on LinkedIn weekly; however, less than 1% of the user base is publishing these articles. (Source: LinkedIn)
  4. Almost 25% of all LinkedIn traffic comes from search engines, over 99% of which is organic. (Source: LinkedIn)
  5. 33% of professionals on the planet use the LinkedIn platform. (Source: LinkedIn)
  6. The average LinkedIn user has 400 connections. When you factor in companies, the count rises to 930. (Source: LinkedIn)
  7. Almost 60% of LinkedIn users do not use Twitter. (Source: LinkedIn)
  8. Nearly 40% of LinkedIn users pay for their premium services. (Source: WERSM)
  9. 85% of hiring companies use or plan to use LinkedIn to find the best candidate. (Source: LinkedIn)
  10. Six people are hired through LinkedIn every minute! (Source: LinkedIn) 
linkedin profile audit

How to Improve Your Reputation Destination and Personal Brand

  1. Name. Make sure to use the name people typically call you. The last thing anyone wants to read is a formal name only your mother uses.
  2. Profile Photo. Open those eyes, smile, and look straight into the camera. If I ever meet you, then I want to recognize you.
  3. Headline. Think of your Headline as the title of the book about your career. It needs to be attention-getting and informative.
  4. About. The About section needs to read like an inside book cover, so people will keep reading and want to buy your ideas.
  5. Experience. Don’t think of this section as your resume. Build on your background to show its relevance today.
  6. Education. While a fundamental inclusion, you can enhance it using correct phrases. Please take a look at how I reference my education.
  7. Skills. Your skills are your superpowers and are the keywords the LinkedIn algorithm loves to choose. Pick the best ones that differentiate you from everyone else. Yes, everyone is hard-working and creative, so don’t use them.
  8. Industry & Location. Choose the best industry and location that best represents your current state.
  9. Connections. A bigger relevant audience is always better than a smaller relevant audience. And relevancy varies across over 800 million LinkedIn users. Try to get to 500 connections, and your community will work harder for you.
  10. Background Image. A picture tells the story of a thousand words, so find a great visual to say to yours.
  11. Personal URL. Nothing is worse than a URL that does not contain your name or a variation of it–that is, a bunch of jumbled numbers. It’s simple to change it to include your name.
  12. Contact Info. The point of LinkedIn, from my vantage point, is communication. And if there is no way to reach out to connect with you, then what’s the end game?
  13. Public Website. Not everyone has a public-facing website, like a blog. Do list yours if you have one.
  14. Creator Mode. The creator mode helps you get your posts, content, and profile in front of a bigger audience. However, it’s not worth it if you don’t post a lot (shame on you!).
  15. Headline Hashtags. In Creator Mode, LinkedIn users use hashtags to follow niche conversations of interest. Adding these will help you and your post be found by an interested audience.
  16. Follow Button. If you post regularly and don’t want to be connected to everyone on LinkedIn, then use this button to encourage others to follow your narrative without linking to you.
  17. Video Profile Pic. This nifty new feature gives you time to show you’re introducing yourself with a video vs. a static picture. It’s a way to differentiate yourself.
  18. Featured. This section lets you highlight your best on-platform posts, external posts, or visuals that continue to tell your story.
  19. Activity. An active profile shows you have empathy and can add value to the community and an organization. Stay engaged with posts so you can start the right conversations.
  20. Articles. This feature allows you to share your expertise and POV. It’s a great differentiating credibility builder.
  21. Endorsements. Endorsements show that others agree with your self-assessment of your superpowers.
  22. Recommendations. Receiving a recommendation is validation that you add value. And this feature enables you to highlight how you’ve added value throughout your career. The more you give, the more you get!
  23. Accomplishments. Listing your external articles, awards, books, and acknowledgments is an excellent way to humble-brag and highlight your expertise.
  24. Volunteerism & Causes. Non-profit activity is a great way to start conversations and to show you are part of a more significant altruistic movement.
  25. Interests. Just another conversation starter, filling out the most relevant companies, influencers, and schools is brilliant.

Did you know we have a $199 LinkedIn Profile Audit service that reviews your profile, provides best-practice tips and gives you actionable recommendations? Click here to learn more.

linkedin profile audit

Let Us Help You Plan a Better LinkedIn Profile

The good news is there are many right ways to build your brand on LinkedIn. However, there are many poor ways, too. We’re here to help. Here are a few blog posts from marketingthink.com to jumpstart your plan:

3 Key Questions to Ask Yourself About LinkedIn and Your Personal Brand

During my ten years at SAP and Cognizant, where I built and ran their social media programs and centers of excellence, I worked globally with thousands of executives, sales team members, and professionals on their personal brands. My hands-on leadership experience taught me to make sure you ask these questions when building your personal brand on (primarily) LinkedIn:

  1. Does your LinkedIn profile position you as a job seeker or someone with a lot of experience who can help others? By slightly altering your approach to building your LinkedIn profile, you can position yourself as an individual who adds value. Someone with whom a hiring company, client company, or internal leader would love to do business.
  2. Is your LinkedIn profile technically correct and optimized? Only when your profile is perfect and optimized will it be able to be searched for and found. And when people see you, you will be able to tell your story. The last thing you want is to receive a profile view and have your audience form an opinion based on typos, grammatical errors, incomplete information, and the lack of a story. I’ve seen too many execs miss press opportunities and sales professionals miss out on deals because of a poor and lackluster profile.
  3. Can you commit to being active on LinkedIn? Working on your curbside appeal is one thing when you sell yourself. It’s another thing to get people to visit your ‘open house.’ Your LinkedIn profile is your reputation’s destination, but your posts and engagements with others are the fuel to get your audience to visit.
linkedin profile audit

Your Next Move to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

So, now you have a few ideas for improving your LinkedIn profile. It would be best if you also understood why these ideas are essential. If you want to make that next move to enhance your personal brand and need a partner to help you get there, we’re here to help.

Over 51% of people like you who want to improve their personal brand have incomplete profiles, let alone high-performing ones. A better LinkedIn profile will help you get that promotion, improve your chances for that dream job, or get you noticed by clients. What are you waiting for?

Marketingthink Consulting, LLC has years of hands-on leadership experience helping individuals and teams improve their personal brands. We want to show you what we can do for you. Make your next move by reading about our LinkedIn Profile Makeover Service, or start with a LinkedIn Profile Audit.

Schedule a quick complementary 15-minute meeting with Gerry Moran to move ahead to refresh your LinkedIn profile!

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How to Be a Social Media Jedi

Do you have the skills to be called a social media Jedi?

How you use the social media force to support your company depends on your social media skills. I’ve recently received a request from a marketer to help them become social media Jedi. Funny ask, huh? Actually, not so amusing. The ask was to enable them to be better at social media. That’s it. 

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5 Ways to Get Your LinkedIn Invitations to Work Harder

A LinkedIn invitation is a personal branding doorway. It’s the portal through which others decide to walk through to be a part of your community. Are they going to answer your networking knock or pass you by?

It’s the first step in making a first impression with someone you want to add to your network. There are two mistakes most members make with LinkedIn invitations. One is not customizing it. The other is not responding to acceptances. 

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9 Ways to Measure Your LinkedIn Networking Success

Yes, a bigger LinkedIn network is better. It’s better for your social selling, job searching, and reputation-establishing efforts.

Small ones can work too. It’s what you do with your network that’s important. The more attention you can provide to your connections, the better! The more value-add touches you make, even better!

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10 Social Media Touchpoints to Get on Someone’s Radar

Is there a message to your social media posts? Does your content get to the point? Can you determine which social media posts help you drive business results?

I’ve heard many salespeople, marketers, and job seekers say they just cannot get their calls answered. No one is responding to their applications. Cold calls don’t get answered. Invitations to marketing conferences are ignored.

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