The Featured section of your LinkedIn profile is one of the most useful places to guide people towards the work, ideas and next steps that matter most. If you are reviewing your broader profile first, you may also find How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile: A Practical Checklist useful.
It allows you to curate selected posts, LinkedIn articles, newsletters, documents and external links near the top of your profile. Rather than relying on someone to scroll through your recent activity, you can make it easier for them to understand your expertise, explore your work and take a meaningful next step.
For thoughtful professionals, leaders, consultants, business owners and people navigating career or board transitions, the Featured section can help turn a LinkedIn profile from a static career summary into a clearer professional introduction.
What can you include in the Featured section?
The Featured section can include:
- LinkedIn posts you have created or shared
- LinkedIn articles
- LinkedIn newsletters
- external links, such as website pages, podcast episodes or published articles
- documents, including guides, reports, presentations and work samples.
The strongest Featured sections are selective. They do not attempt to display everything. Instead, they help a visitor understand what you want to be known for, how you help and where they should go next.
Begin with the action you want people to take
Before adding anything, consider this question:
What would I like someone to do after viewing my profile?
Your answer may be different depending on your current priorities.
You may want a prospective client to understand your services. You may want a recruiter or hiring manager to see the depth of your leadership experience. You may want a board chair to recognise your governance perspective. You may want someone to read your writing, subscribe to your newsletter, book a conversation or learn more about your organisation.
The Featured section should support that intention. For example, a consultant might feature a services overview, a useful article and a link to book an introductory conversation. A senior leader on a board pathway might feature a governance-focused article, a speaking appearance and a link to an external professional biography. A business owner may feature a recent client story, a practical guide and a link to a key service page.
For founders, consultants and professional-services leaders, this also connects with how your personal profile supports your business presence. Read Why Founders and Professional Services Leaders Need a LinkedIn Profile for more on this.
The Featured section is different from your activity
Your Activity section shows your recent LinkedIn activity, including posts, comments and reactions. It is shaped by recency. Your Featured section is curated. It gives you more control over the content that represents you when someone visits your profile.
While your latest post may be timely, conversational or experimental, your Featured section should usually be more enduring. It should help someone quickly understand your professional identity, expertise and direction.
How to add content to your Featured section
To add content from a desktop or laptop:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile.
- Click Add profile section near the top of your profile.
- Select Recommended.
- Choose Add featured.
- Select the type of content you would like to add.
- Follow the prompts to add a post, article, link or document.
You can also edit, reorder or remove items once they are in the section. It is worth reviewing the section regularly. A Featured section should evolve as your work, priorities and professional direction change.
Featured section ideas for leaders, consultants and business owners
The right content depends on the work you want to attract. Useful options may include:
- a clear link to your website or key service page
- a recent article or newsletter edition that reflects your point of view
- a practical guide, report or downloadable resource
- a client case study or example of the work you do
- a podcast appearance, event recording or published interview
- a post that has generated thoughtful discussion and reflects your core expertise
- a link to an upcoming workshop, event or speaking engagement.
Choose material that gives someone a useful sense of your work before they contact you.
Featured section ideas for career, board and advisory pathways
For professionals considering a career transition, board appointment or advisory work, the Featured section can help reinforce the direction of travel. If you are still clarifying your next direction, 4 Career Planning Tips for a Meaningful Career Change may help you think through what you want your profile to support.
You might include:
- a LinkedIn article or post that reflects your professional perspective
- a link to a published interview, speaking appearance or industry contribution
- a document outlining a relevant framework, report or thought leadership piece
- links to significant projects, initiatives or organisations where you have contributed
- professional awards, certifications or recognition that are relevant to your next step
- a link to an external portfolio where this is appropriate to your profession.
Avoid simply uploading your resume. A resume should be tailored to the opportunity in front of you. Your Featured section is better used to offer evidence of your thinking, contribution and professional reputation.
A few practical considerations
Keep the section focused. Three to five strong items will often be more effective than a crowded collection of links. Think about order. Place the most important item first, particularly the item that best supports your current professional priority. Check links regularly. Outdated event pages, expired offers and broken links can create unnecessary friction. Review your privacy settings. Some content may only be visible to people who are already connected with you, depending on the visibility settings attached to the original post or document.
Use the Featured section with intention
Your LinkedIn profile does not need to tell the whole story of your career in one visit. It does need to make it easier for the right people to understand who you are, what you bring and where they can learn more.
Used well, the Featured section gives you a small but valuable space to guide that journey with greater clarity and purpose.
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