LinkedIn rolls out new feature to help SMBs promote their service offerings

Small and midsize business owners will now be able to list the services they offer directly on their LinkedIn profile pages, the company announced Tuesday.

When an SMB owner adds service listings to their individual profile, they will automatically be eligible to show up in relevant search results for those services.

“From now on, members looking for help will be able to filter their general LinkedIn searches for service providers,” writes LinkedIn’s Group Product Manager Vidya Chandra on the LinkedIn blog, “When you add services to your profile, you’ll show up in these search results.”

Why we should care

LinkedIn reports it has more than 10 million small business leaders in the U.S. using its platform. Giving SMB owners (and freelancers alike) the ability to list their services directly on their profile pages could help them promote their services outside of their LinkedIn company pages — if they even have one. Making sure their profile page shows up in searches for the specified services adds an extra layer of exposure for the business.

This is a bonus for any company lacking the time and resources to build out a comprehensive social media marketing presence. Chandra writes, “This is a great way to quickly indicate to members that you are open for business.”

Not only is LinkedIn adding SMB service providers to search results, it will encourage members to message the SMB directly to ask about services.

More on the news

• The new feature is first being rolled out to small business leaders and freelancers in the U.S. with a Premium Business LinkedIn subscription, but the company said it will make it available to all SMB owners this fall.
• To add service listings, Premium Business subscribers can go to their profile pages on mobile or desktop to see if the feature has been activated. LinkedIn said users should see a box under their profile photo and headline to “Add Services.”
• Any SMBs that currently do not have access to the “Add Services” box can request to be placed on a waiting list for the new feature.

About The Author

Amy Gesenhues

Amy Gesenhues was a senior editor for Third Door Media, covering the latest news and updates for Marketing Land, Search Engine Land and MarTech Today. From 2009 to 2012, she was an award-winning syndicated columnist for a number of daily newspapers from New York to Texas. With more than ten years of marketing management experience, she has contributed to a variety of traditional and online publications, including MarketingProfs, SoftwareCEO, and Sales and Marketing Management Magazine. Read more of Amy's articles.