LinkedIn has announced that they will be doing a major redesign to user profile pages in the near future. The major change is that they are adding the option to have a larger cover photo, similar to other social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Many people are applauding the move, saying it gives a more professional look, making it easier to use a LinkedIn profile page as something similar to a ‘digital resume.’
The updated profile page is available to use for premium members of the site now, and will roll out to the rest of the community in the coming months. Premium users, which pay $10 or more per month, will also gain access to a number of other enhanced features, including the following:
- Displayed More Prominently – Premium members will show up in searches with more detailed information from their profile, and will show up in more searches.
- Open Profiles – There will be an option to have the full profile viewable by everyone on LinkedIn, rather than just those who you are connected to. This premium feature may allow potential employers or other contacts to find a good candidate, even if they aren’t yet connected.
- Keyword Updates – LinkedIn searches will begin using a keyword suggestion area provided to premium users to help them get found for the right searches.
- See Who Has Been Visiting – It will be possible to see a full list of everyone who has viewed your profile for the past 90 days.
- Compare to Competition – Premium users will have access to the ‘how you rank’ feature to show how their profile ranks compared to connections or company peers.
Overall, the bulk of the change is directed toward premium users, but everyone will get the new profile page once it is fully rolled out. Clearly LinkedIn is looking to expand its revenue by trying to bring in more premium users with the new and enhanced set of features.
