LinkedIn Featured Section Guide: How to Showcase Your Best Work in 2025

What Is the LinkedIn Featured Section and Why It Matters

The Featured section appears prominently near the top of your LinkedIn profile, just below your introduction card and above your Activity section. This prime positioning makes it one of the first things visitors see after reading your headline and About section.

Unlike other profile sections, Featured content includes visual thumbnails that naturally draw the eye, creating an immediate opportunity to showcase your best work, key accomplishments, or thought leadership.

In an increasingly visual digital landscape, this section transforms your LinkedIn profile from a text-heavy resume into a dynamic portfolio that can:

• Provide immediate evidence of your expertise

• Showcase tangible examples of your work

• Demonstrate thought leadership in your industry

• Drive traffic to external content or websites

• Reinforce your personal or business brand

According to LinkedIn data, profiles with completed Featured sections receive up to 30% more profile views and connection requests than those without.

What Content Types Can You Include in Your Featured Section?

LinkedIn allows you to feature several different content types, each serving different strategic purposes:

1. LinkedIn Posts

What: Any post you've published on LinkedIn (text, image, document, or video posts)
Best for: Showcasing thought leadership, engagement metrics, and community building
Size requirements: N/A (uses existing post)

2. LinkedIn Articles

What: Long-form content published through LinkedIn's article platform
Best for: Demonstrating in-depth knowledge and thought leadership
Size requirements: Cover images should be 744 x 400 pixels

3. External Links

What: Links to websites, portfolios, case studies, or third-party publications
Best for: Directing traffic to your website or external content
Size requirements: Custom thumbnail images should be 1080 x 1080 pixels (square)

4. Media Files

What: PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, or images uploaded directly
Best for: Showcasing work samples, presentations, or visual content
Size requirements: Maximum file size of 100MB

How to Set Up Your LinkedIn Featured Section

Adding content to your Featured section is straightforward:

1. Navigate to your profile and locate the Featured section (below your intro and above Activity)

2. Click the "+" icon on the right side of the Featured section header

3. Select the content type you want to feature:

   • Posts: Select from your recent LinkedIn posts

   • Articles: Choose from articles you've published on LinkedIn

   • Links: Add external URLs to websites or content

   • Media: Upload files directly from your device

4. Customize your featured item:

   • For posts and articles: These will appear as they were originally published

   • For links: You can edit the title, description, and upload a custom thumbnail image

   • For media: You can add a title and description to provide context

5. Arrange your content by dragging items into your preferred order (most important items should appear first)

Strategic Approaches for Different Professional Contexts

Different professionals should approach their Featured section with specific strategies in mind:

For Agency Owners

Goal: Demonstrate credibility, results, and service offerings

Recommended content mix:

• Case study PDFs showing client results with metrics

• LinkedIn articles explaining your methodology or approach

• External links to your agency website or service pages

• Media samples of successful client deliverables

• LinkedIn posts showcasing client testimonials or team culture

Example: A digital marketing agency owner might feature a case study PDF titled "How We Increased Client's E-commerce Conversions by 135%," a link to their service page, and a LinkedIn article about their unique approach to campaign measurement.

For Freelancers

Goal: Showcase expertise, display work samples, and clarify service offerings

Recommended content mix:

• Portfolio samples as media uploads or external links

• Client testimonial posts or recommendation highlights

• Service overview documents or links

• "How I work" process guides or articles

• Before/after examples of client projects

Example: A freelance designer might feature their portfolio website link, a PDF of before/after UI redesigns, and a LinkedIn article titled "My 5-Step Process for Website Redesigns That Drive Conversions."

For Technical Professionals

Goal: Demonstrate technical expertise and thought leadership

Recommended content mix:

• GitHub repository links or project documentation

• Technical presentations or white papers

• Articles explaining complex concepts in accessible terms

• Code samples or project walkthroughs

• Certification achievements or technical challenge solutions

Example: A software engineer might feature a link to their GitHub profile, a technical presentation on microservices architecture, and a LinkedIn article explaining a complex technical concept for non-technical stakeholders.

Best Practices for LinkedIn Featured Section Content

1. Maintain Visual Consistency

Create a cohesive visual identity across your Featured items:

• Use consistent colors that align with your personal or business brand

• Create custom thumbnails for external links with similar design elements

• Ensure text overlays on images use consistent fonts and styling

• Maintain similar imagery style and quality across all featured items

When creating custom thumbnails or selecting cover images, follow these specifications:

2. Prioritize Strategic Content

Not all content deserves to be featured. Select items that:

• Represent your best, most current work

• Align with your current career goals or business objectives

• Demonstrate measurable results or impact

• Showcase specialized expertise or unique capabilities

• Support the professional narrative established in your headline and About section

Limit your Featured section to 4-6 high-quality items rather than showcasing everything possible.

3. Update Regularly

Keep your Featured section current and relevant:

• Review and refresh content quarterly

• Replace outdated case studies or examples with newer work

• Feature seasonal or timely content when appropriate

• Add new accomplishments or publications as they occur

• Remove content that no longer reflects your current focus or expertise

4. Optimize for Engagement

Make your Featured content compelling and clickable:

• Use clear, benefit-driven titles for documents and links

• Include a call to action in descriptions where appropriate

• For articles and posts, choose those with strong engagement metrics

• Test different thumbnail images to see which drive more clicks

• Ensure the first 2-3 items are your absolute strongest content

5. Leverage Media Types Strategically

Different media types serve different purposes:

• PDFs: Best for detailed case studies, portfolios, or comprehensive documents

• PowerPoint/slides: Ideal for visual presentations with minimal text

• Images: Perfect for before/after comparisons, data visualizations, or design samples

• Videos: Excellent for demonstrations, speaking samples, or animated portfolios (although these must be shared as LinkedIn posts first)

Creative Featured Section Ideas by Industry

Marketing & Communications

1. Campaign results deck: "How We Achieved 317% ROI on Client's Q4 Campaign"

2. Content calendar template: "The Content Planning Template We Use With All Clients"

3. LinkedIn post: "5 Marketing Trends We're Watching in 2025 (Based on Real Client Data)"

4. Case study: "From 50 to 5,000 Leads: A B2B Lead Generation Case Study"

5. Video walkthrough: "Behind the Scenes: Our Creative Process Explained"

Design & Creative

1. Process documentation: "My Client Experience: From Concept to Completion"

2. Before/after gallery: "5 Website Redesigns That Doubled Conversion Rates"

3. Portfolio highlights: "My Top UX/UI Projects from 2024"

4. Design principles article: "How I Approach Accessibility in Every Design Project"

5. Client testimonial collection: "What Clients Say About Working With Me"

Software Development & Tech

1. Architecture diagram: "System Design: How I Built a Scalable E-commerce Backend"

2. Code sample with explanation: "Solving Performance Bottlenecks in React Applications"

3. GitHub project link: "Open Source Contributions: My Work on [Project Name]"

4. Technical article: "Microservices vs. Monoliths: Real-World Trade-offs"

5. API documentation: "RESTful API Design Best Practices I Follow"

Consulting & Professional Services

1. Methodology overview: "Our 5-Step Process for Business Transformation"

2. ROI calculator: "Interactive Tool: Calculate Your Potential Savings"

3. Client success story: "How We Helped Client X Achieve Y in Just Z Months"

4. Industry report: "State of [Industry] Report: Key Findings and Predictions"

5. Testimonial video: "Client Results and Experiences"

Common Featured Section Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overwhelming Visitors with Too Much Content

Featuring too many items creates visual clutter and dilutes the impact of your best work. Limit your section to 4-6 high-quality items that tell a cohesive story about your professional value.

2. Featuring Outdated or Irrelevant Content

Content from previous career paths or outdated projects can confuse visitors about your current focus. Ensure all featured content aligns with your current professional direction.

3. Using Low-Quality Visuals

Pixelated images, poorly designed thumbnails, or inconsistent visual styling creates a negative impression. Invest time in creating professional, high-quality visuals for all featured content.

4. Lacking Strategic Organization

Randomly arranged featured items miss the opportunity to guide visitors through a strategic narrative. Arrange content deliberately, with the most impressive or relevant items first.

5. Missing Descriptive Context

Posting documents or links without clear titles or descriptions leaves visitors guessing about their relevance or value. Always provide concise, descriptive context for each featured item.

6. Focusing Only on Self-Promotion

Featuring only promotional content can come across as one-dimensional. Balance self-promotion with genuinely helpful resources and thought leadership content.

7. Not Optimizing for Mobile Viewing

With approximately 57% of LinkedIn users accessing the platform via mobile devices, failing to check how your Featured section appears on mobile can result in poor user experience for the majority of your profile visitors.

Using Analytics to Optimize Your Featured Section

While LinkedIn doesn't provide direct analytics for Featured section engagement, you can use these strategies to gauge effectiveness:

1. Track External Link Clicks

For website or external content links:

• Use UTM parameters in URLs to track traffic from your LinkedIn profile in Google Analytics

• Create unique landing pages specifically for LinkedIn profile visitors

• Use URL shorteners with analytics (like Bitly) to monitor click-through rates

2. Monitor Content Engagement

For LinkedIn posts and articles:

• Note any increase in engagement after featuring them

• Compare engagement metrics between different featured posts

• Use these insights to inform what content types to feature in the future

3. Test Different Approaches

• Rotate different content into your Featured section for 30-day periods

• Compare profile view statistics during these periods

• Note which featured content correlates with increased connection requests or messages

Enhancing Your LinkedIn Featured Section with LiGo

Creating compelling content for your Featured section can be time-consuming. LiGo's LinkedIn Profile Enhancement tools can help by:

1. Generating professional articles and posts specifically designed to showcase your expertise

2. Creating visually consistent thumbnails and cover images for your featured content

3. Suggesting optimal content types based on your industry and goals

4. Helping you develop a cohesive visual identity across all Featured items

[visual CTA: "Create LinkedIn-ready content for your Featured section with LiGo"]

LinkedIn Featured Section FAQ

How many items can I include in my Featured section?

While LinkedIn doesn't specify a strict limit, the section displays approximately 4 items in the initial view (without scrolling horizontally). We recommend featuring 4-6 high-quality items to maintain visual impact without overwhelming visitors.

Can I feature someone else's content in my Featured section?

No, you can only feature content you've created or shared yourself, including your own LinkedIn posts, articles you've authored, or external links you've added.

How often should I update my Featured section?

Review your Featured section quarterly at minimum. Update it whenever you have new significant work to showcase or when your professional focus changes. Regularly refreshing this section keeps your profile dynamic and current.

Should I feature the same content on my company page and personal profile?

While some overlap can reinforce brand consistency, your personal profile's Featured section should include unique content that highlights your individual expertise and perspective, even if you're the company owner.

Can visitors see how many views or clicks my Featured content receives?

No, engagement metrics for your Featured content are visible only to you. Visitors can see public engagement metrics (likes, comments) on featured posts and articles, but not click or view data.

Related Resources

• LinkedIn Banner Size Guide [2025]: Dimensions, Templates, and the New Slideshow Feature

• LinkedIn Experience Section Guide: Templates & Examples to Showcase Your Professional Value

• LinkedIn About Section Template & Examples: How to Write a Summary That Converts

• LinkedIn Headline Examples & Guide: Stand Out in 2025 with These Proven Formulas

• Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Get Clients

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This article is part of our 30-day Linkedin Roadmap. If you are just getting started on Linkedin, then let's start from the beginning:
Linkedin Growth: The Complete Roadmap for 2025

Also featured in Week 3: Linkedin Profile Optimization: The Strategic Guide