How to add a portfolio to linkedin: Your secret career weapon

Landing on a LinkedIn profile is like flipping through a well-organized resume—until you spot the portfolio link.

With one click, the profile changes from words on a screen into a slideshow of real work and results. Suddenly, it’s not job titles or skill lists; you’re seeing projects, achievements, and expertise brought to life.

That’s the power of a LinkedIn portfolio: it’s a direct line into what you’re truly capable of, a way to turn curious visitors into captivated audiences. Let’s see how to add portfolio to Linkedin, and how to make yours stand out.

What Is a LinkedIn Portfolio?

Simply put, a LinkedIn portfolio is a personal showcase on your profile that goes beyond your conventional resume.

Unlike the straightforward list of past jobs and accomplishments you’d typically find in a resume, a LinkedIn portfolio is an external site or link added to your profile. With this portfolio, you display your projects, publications, case studies, and any tangible evidence of your professional value.

While a resume offers a snapshot of skills and experience, a portfolio provides the proof—the tangible projects, visual examples, or written works that make your profile stand out.

Adding a portfolio link to your LinkedIn lets prospective clients, recruiters, and connections experience and see your work, instead of simply reading up on your expertise. A portfolio adds depth to your profile that words alone can’t capture.

How to Add Portfolio to LinkedIn

To add a portfolio to your LinkedIn profile, follow these steps:

➡️ Adding portfolio to the featured section

The “Featured” section is the most common and prominent place to showcase your portfolio on LinkedIn.

Step 1: Log in to LinkedIn and head over to your personal profile page.

Step 2: Click Add Profile Section. You’ll find it near the top of your profile.

Step 3: Select Recommended. From the dropdown menu, choose Add Featured.

Step 4: Click the + Icon to add content.

Step 5: Choose Add a Link or Upload Media

• If you have an online portfolio (e.g., a website), paste the URL.
• Or you can upload media like PDFs, images, presentations, or videos.

Step 6: Edit Title and Description to make your portfolio stand out. You can even add a thumbnail.

Step 7: Click Save. Your portfolio will now appear in the Featured section of your profile.

➡️ Adding portfolio to other sections

You can also add your portfolio to different sections of your LinkedIn profile:

➕ Experience Section

You can attach portfolio items directly under specific job roles.

Step 1: Go to the Experience Section and scroll down to the relevant job role.

Step 2: Click the Pencil Icon to edit the role.

Step 3: Scroll Down to Media. Click Add Media and either upload files or add links.

Step 4: Save Changes.

➕ Projects Section

If you want to highlight specific projects that aren’t tied to a particular job, do this.

Step 1: Click Add Profile Section Under Recommended, select Add Projects.

Step 2: Enter Project Details. Add a title, description, and media (optional).

Step 3: Save Changes.

➕ Contact Info

You can include your portfolio link in your contact information for easy access.

Step 1: Click the pencil icon in the contact section of your profile.

Step 2: Under Website, choose Portfolio as the type and paste your URL.

Share your portfolio directly though posts

You can also share updates about your portfolio directly in your LinkedIn feed by creating posts with links or media showcasing your work. These posts can later be featured in the “Featured” section as well.

What to Include in Portfolio on LinkedIn

What you include in your LinkedIn portfolio should reflect your best and most relevant work.

Make this your own based on what you want potential employers, clients, or connections to see.

If you’re a writer, include links to high-quality articles, blog posts, or published research. Designers might link to an external portfolio showing a mix of personal projects and professional commissions.

Developers could link to open-source projects or feature a demo of an app they built. The main thing here is relevance—the items you feature must fit with the roles or opportunities you’re interested in.

Pro-tip: Add a brief description to each item in the portfolio. LinkedIn will let you write a short blurb or title with each featured item—use this space to explain what the project is, why it’s significant, or what you contributed to its success.

What Media Can You Add to Your LinkedIn Portfolio

LinkedIn supports many types of media in the “Featured” section, and each has its strengths. You can add links to websites (like your portfolio site), upload PDFs of reports, include images (for visual creatives), or embed video links.

For instance, if you’ve given a talk or created a video demonstration, embed a YouTube or Vimeo link. Visual media, like infographics or project visuals, also makes your profile much more engaging.

LinkedIn usually favors content that’s easy to preview. If you’re linking to an external portfolio, make sure the site is accessible, loads quickly, and is mobile-friendly.

Good-to-know: LinkedIn compresses images, so make sure any visuals you upload are high-resolution to avoid pixelation. If your work involves interactivity—like coding projects or live demos—you might want to link to a site like GitHub where viewers can experience it firsthand.

How Much Content to Share in Your LinkedIn Portfolio

For content, less is more on LinkedIn. A concise but highly curated selection of your strongest work is far more effective than an exhaustive list.

Aim for quality over quantity: two or three projects that represent the best of your work are enough to capture attention.

A single featured project with a well-written description is better than more than a dozen links that viewers might gloss over. As a rule of thumb, ask yourself if each item tells a story about your expertise. If it does, keep it. If it’s redundant or doesn’t represent your highest quality work, cut it out.

What’s the Difference Between a Resume and a LinkedIn Portfolio?

A resume outlines your career history, skills, and achievements in a formalized way, but a LinkedIn portfolio is a personalized display of your accomplishments with real examples of your work.

A resume is structured and concise, intended to pass through applicant tracking systems and fit into standardized formats. A portfolio, on the other hand, is centred around visuals, interactivity, and storytelling.

Put it this way: Your resume is the foundation that lays out who you are, while the portfolio adds color and depth and offers proof of your skills in action. For many roles, like in creative fields, the portfolio is the real selling point.

The Benefits of a LinkedIn Portfolio

Increased visibility and engagement

The more people interact with tangible examples of your work, the more engagement your profile is likely to attract.

A LinkedIn portfolio opens the door for recruiters, clients, and potential collaborators to discover the depth of your skills. Each time someone clicks on your portfolio link, they get an immersive look at what you can do. This encourages deeper engagement than a simple scroll-through.

Showcases versatile skills and expertise

A LinkedIn portfolio lets you demonstrate the full spectrum of your abilities. Rather than just listing abilities, you’re showing them in action.

Professionals in multifaceted roles need this versatility—like marketers with a mix of content, design, and analytics skills, or software developers with both front-end and back-end projects.

Establishes authority in your field

When you add a portfolio with valuable, relevant content, you’re building authority. Portfolios with case studies, data-backed projects, or notable publications are a testament to your expertise.

Since differentiation matters a lot in professional contexts, a LinkedIn portfolio positions you as a leader or specialist within your domain.

Enhances professional credibility

When you link a portfolio filled with substantial projects, testimonials, and data, you provide proof of your abilities. For those in creative or technical fields, this credibility is a must.

A strong portfolio shows you’ve done the work, achieved results, and can do the same for prospective employers or clients. In essence, it’s your professional reputation in visual form.

Differentiates you from competitors

A LinkedIn portfolio link distinguishes you from others with similar qualifications by giving hiring managers and recruiters a clearer sense of your unique value.

Rather than being just another profile, yours will offer a real-life demonstration of your achievements—that alone makes you a standout candidate.

Supports career and Networking Goals

Beyond job hunting, a LinkedIn portfolio helps with your career-building and networking goals. A portfolio filled with compelling content leads to unsolicited inquiries, collaboration requests, and better networking opportunities.

Professionals in your field will see you as a potential partner or resource and it will open doors to mentorship, partnerships, and other mutually beneficial relationships.

LinkedIn Portfolio Examples

Example 1: Ibrahim Abdulla

Abdulla’s portfolio is polished and sleek. It is exactly what you would expect from a top-tier product designer.

Example 2: Sarah Ann

Sarah Ann is a writer, and her portfolio is the pinnacle of focused minimalism. It reflects her best work on various site.

Example 3: Trent Smyth

Trent Smyth is the Executive Director at The Chief of Staff Association. His LinkedIn portfolio is highly polished and features a mix of articles and visuals that show his professional achievements and leadership roles.

LinkedIn Portfolio Best Practices

Align your portfolio with your career goals

Your portfolio should reflect not just what you’ve done, but where you’re headed.

Consider the type of roles or projects you aspire to and adjust your portfolio content to align with those goals. For example, if you’re looking to pivot into a more specialized field, highlight work that demonstrates relevant skills or expertise.

Organize content for easy navigation

When someone clicks on your portfolio link, you want them to navigate with ease.

Arrange your content in a clear, logical order that tells a story or demonstrates progression. If you have several different types of projects (e.g., case studies, articles, design samples), consider categorizing them so viewers can jump to sections that interest them most.

Add LinkedIn lead magnets

Lead magnets are resources offered for free, like a downloadable guide, checklist, or report, that attracts interested viewers to your profile and even encourage them to reach out.

These lead magnets can be linked directly to your portfolio and you can offer value upfront while building your personal brand and credibility.

Add testimonials for social proof

Testimonials add social proof and gives your portfolio an extra layer of credibility.

If you’ve received positive feedback from clients, supervisors, or colleagues, include short testimonials within your portfolio to reinforce your expertise and professionalism.

Testimonials also give firsthand insight into what it’s like to work with you and they are especially persuasive for those considering hiring or collaborating with you.

Browse other LinkedIn portfolio examples

Explore other LinkedIn portfolios to find inspiration and understand best practices. For example, designers should look at profiles with visually dynamic portfolios hosted on Behance or Dribbble; content creators might explore portfolios on personal websites or Medium.

Seehow others structure their portfolios—particularly those in similar fields—to get ideas on organizing, describing, and showcasing your work.

Use data to showcase impact

Wherever possible, quantify your impact with metrics, statistics, or other data points that show measurable success.

If you managed a project that increased user engagement by a certain percentage, or developed a product feature that boosted customer satisfaction scores, make these results front and center. Concrete data gives prospective employers or clients a measurable sense of your contributions.

Use high-quality content and multimedia

High-quality visuals and multimedia are non-negotiables for a LinkedIn portfolio that stands out. Avoid low-resolution images or videos with poor audio quality.

Use multimedia to attract attention. A video walkthrough of a project, for instance, offers richer context than a simple screenshot, likewise an infographic quickly conveys complex data.

It’s Portfolio Power-Up Time

It is time to make your LinkedIn profile pop. Adding a portfolio is the ultimate way to turn heads and show off your skills in action!

A well-curated portfolio transforms your profile from ordinary to extraordinary, whether you’re a marketer, creator, writer or designer.

If you’re serious about optimizing your LinkedIn profile, check out Highperformr. This social media management tool helps you fine-tune every aspect of your profile—from SEO optimization to content curation—ensuring you rank higher in searches and attract the right opportunities.

Book a demo today.

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