How to Cite LinkedIn in APA Format

Complete guide to citing LinkedIn in APA 7th edition with examples, unique formatting requirements, and common issues specific to this source.

LinkedIn presents unique citation challenges that require specific guidance beyond general source type rules. This page provides targeted help for finding citation information, handling LinkedIn's particular format requirements, and avoiding common mistakes specific to this platform.

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Quick Reference: LinkedIn Citations

Reference List Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Source.

LinkedIn-Specific Notes:
Citing LinkedIn in APA 7th edition involves unique considerations due to its nature as a social media platform. Unlike traditional sources, LinkedIn profiles and posts do not follow a standard format with authors, publication dates, and titles readily available. When citing a LinkedIn profile, you should use the individual’s real name as the author, followed by the date of the last update or access, the title of the profile in brackets (e.g., [LinkedIn profile]), and the URL. For example: Smith, J. (n.d.). [LinkedIn profile]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmith

One key difference from standard citation rules is the treatment of the date. Often, LinkedIn profiles do not display a specific update date, so “n.d.” (no date) is used. The URL is important for retrieval, but due to the dynamic nature of LinkedIn, profiles may change or become inaccessible over time, which is a challenge. Students often confuse the distinction between citing a profile versus a post, where posts should include the content of the post as the title and a precise date, if available, in the citation.

Best practices for citing LinkedIn include ensuring that you have the correct URL and capturing any relevant details at the time of access, as LinkedIn content can be altered or removed. Always verify the credibility of the LinkedIn profile, especially if using it to substantiate academic arguments. Understand that LinkedIn is a professional network, so personal biases or promotional content may exist. To avoid common pitfalls, students should treat LinkedIn sources as supplementary, not primary, and corroborate information with more stable, peer-reviewed sources when possible.

In-Text Citation:
- Parenthetical: ([Author], [Year])
- Narrative: [Author] ([Year])

Key Points:
- Use Social Media format with LinkedIn specifics
- Locate citation info on LinkedIn's website
- Handle LinkedIn's unique formatting requirements

Last Updated: 2025-10-30 | Reading Time: 5 minutes

Jump to Examples | Jump to Common Issues | Check Your Citation

Where to Find Citation Information on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that also serves as a valuable resource for industry insights and expert articles. When citing content from LinkedIn, it's crucial to extract accurate citation information such as the author, publication date, title, and URL. Here's a detailed guide on how to locate these details on LinkedIn:

Author

When you come across an article or post on LinkedIn, the author's name is typically displayed prominently. For articles published on LinkedIn, the author's byline is usually located at the top of the article, just below the headline. The name is often hyperlinked to the author's LinkedIn profile, allowing you to verify their professional credentials and background. If you're citing a post or discussion, the author's name will appear next to their profile picture at the top of the post.

Publication Date

On LinkedIn, the publication date of an article or post is displayed directly under the author's byline. For articles, this is typically found just below the headline and the author's name. In the case of posts or status updates, the date is found underneath the author's name or profile picture. The publication date might be presented as a specific day or, for older posts, as a relative time frame (e.g., "1 month ago"). For accurate citation, it is often best to hover over relative time frames to reveal the exact date.

Title

The title of an article or post on LinkedIn is usually easy to identify. For articles, it is prominently displayed at the top of the page, often in a larger or bold font. If you are citing a post, the first line or main text of the post can often serve as the title. Ensure that you capture the title in full, as it appears on the page, to maintain accuracy in your citation.

URL/Access Information

The URL is essential for locating the original source, and on LinkedIn, it can be found in the browser's address bar. When viewing an article, the URL will be unique to that piece, typically starting with "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/". For posts, the URL is unique to the post and can be accessed by clicking on the timestamp of the post, which will direct you to a page dedicated to that specific content. Always copy the full URL for your citation to ensure others can easily access the source.

Unique Considerations for LinkedIn

LinkedIn is unique because it's both a social network and a publishing platform. Articles are often written by professionals sharing industry insights, making author credibility a key factor. Always verify the author's credentials through their profile, which is accessible via their name link. This adds a layer of reliability to your citations, underscoring LinkedIn's distinctiveness as a source of professional content.

By following these steps, you can accurately gather all necessary citation details from LinkedIn, ensuring your academic work is supported by reliable and properly cited sources.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your LinkedIn Citation

What You Need

Before you start creating a LinkedIn citation, gather the following items:

  1. LinkedIn Profile URL: Make sure you have the URL of the LinkedIn profile you want to cite.
  2. Author Information: Note the full name of the individual whose profile you are citing.
  3. Publication Year: Determine the year you accessed the profile.
  4. Title: Decide on a title for the citation. This can be the individual's professional title or a descriptor like "LinkedIn profile of [Author's Name]."

Now that you have everything you need, let’s walk through the steps to create a citation for a LinkedIn profile.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Author

Action: Determine the full name of the individual whose LinkedIn profile you are citing.

Verification: Double-check that you have the correct spelling of the individual's name. This is important for accuracy in your citation.

Time Estimate: 1-2 minutes.

Step 2: Gather the Year of Access

Action: Record the year you accessed the LinkedIn profile.

Verification: Ensure that you note the current year or the year you accessed the page. This is critical as it reflects when the information was retrieved.

Time Estimate: 1 minute.

Step 3: Create the Citation Title

Action: Develop a title for your citation.

Tip for Efficiency: A simple title could be "LinkedIn profile of [Author's Name]." For example, if the author is John Smith, your title would be "LinkedIn profile of John Smith."

Verification: Make sure the title clearly identifies the content of the citation.

Time Estimate: 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Format the Citation

Action: Use the template provided to format your citation. The format is as follows:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Source.

For example, if your author is John Smith, the year is 2023, and your title is "LinkedIn profile of John Smith," your citation would look like this:

Smith, J. (2023). LinkedIn profile of John Smith. https://www.linkedin.com

Verification: Check that the author's name is in the correct format (last name, first initial). Confirm that the year and title are accurate as well.

Time Estimate: 3-5 minutes.

Step 5: Add the Source URL

Action: Insert the URL of LinkedIn at the end of your citation.

Verification: Ensure that you have copied the correct LinkedIn URL and that it directs to the right profile.

Time Estimate: 1-2 minutes.

Step 6: Review Your Citation

Action: Go back and review your completed citation for any errors.

Tip for Efficiency: Read the citation aloud. This can help you catch any mistakes in names, years, or formatting.

Verification: Double-check for correct punctuation, spacing, and overall format according to the template.

Time Estimate: 2-3 minutes.

Step 7: Save Your Citation

Action: Once you are satisfied with your citation, save it in your preferred format (document, notes, etc.).

Verification: Make sure your citation is saved correctly and is accessible for future reference.

Time Estimate: 1 minute.

Step 8: Keep a Citation Log

Action: Maintain a log of all citations you create for easy reference in the future.

Tip for Efficiency: Use a spreadsheet or citation management tool to organize your citations. This will make it easier to find them later.

Verification: Check that your log is organized and includes all necessary details for each citation.

Time Estimate: 5-10 minutes.

Conclusion

Creating a LinkedIn citation is a straightforward process when you follow these steps. By identifying the author, gathering necessary information, and formatting the citation correctly, you ensure that your citation is both accurate and professional. Taking the time to review and save your citation will save you time in the future and help you maintain an organized log of your references. With these steps, you will be well-equipped to create citations for LinkedIn profiles or any other online sources.

Real Examples from LinkedIn

This section provides authentic citation examples from LinkedIn using recent publications from 2023-2024.

I'm unable to access current LinkedIn content directly or provide real-time examples since my training data only goes up to October 2023, and I don't have access to external websites. However, I can guide you on how to format LinkedIn content in APA 7th edition style, using hypothetical examples.

Example 1: Standard Individual Author

Scenario Description:
A LinkedIn article written by a single author discussing the impact of remote work on productivity, published in 2023.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Doe, J. (2023). The impact of remote work on productivity. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/article-url

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(Doe, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
According to Doe (2023), remote work has significantly affected productivity.

Notes:
This example is noteworthy for its straightforward structure, typical for individual authors on LinkedIn.

Example 2: Corporate Author

Scenario Description:
A post by a company on LinkedIn outlining their sustainability initiatives for 2024.

Complete Reference List Citation:
GreenTech Innovations. (2024). Sustainability initiatives for 2024. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company-post-url

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(GreenTech Innovations, 2024)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
GreenTech Innovations (2024) outlines their sustainability initiatives for the coming year.

Notes:
This example highlights how corporate authorship is handled, emphasizing the organization's name as the author.

Example 3: Multiple Authors

Scenario Description:
A collaborative article by three professionals discussing leadership trends for 2023.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Smith, A., Johnson, B., & Lee, C. (2023). Leadership trends for 2023. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/article-url

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(Smith, Johnson, & Lee, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
Smith, Johnson, and Lee (2023) explore the latest leadership trends.

Notes:
This example illustrates how to cite multiple authors, with the use of an ampersand in parenthetical citations and the word "and" in narrative citations.

Example 4: Special Formatting Case

Scenario Description:
A LinkedIn post by an influencer using a video format to discuss personal branding strategies.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Taylor, R. (2023). Personal branding strategies [Video]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/video-url

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(Taylor, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
In the video, Taylor (2023) discusses effective personal branding strategies.

Notes:
This example is unique due to the multimedia format, requiring specification that it is a video.

These examples show a variety of authorship and content types that you might encounter on LinkedIn, formatted in accordance with APA 7th edition guidelines.

Common Issues When Citing LinkedIn

When it comes to citing LinkedIn in academic work, students often face unique challenges due to the platform's format and interface. Below, I will address common citation problems specific to LinkedIn and provide practical solutions according to APA 7th edition guidelines.

Problem 1: Identifying Authors

Issue Description:
Students often struggle to correctly identify the author of a LinkedIn post or profile. LinkedIn content can be authored by individuals, companies, or groups, and determining the correct "author" can be confusing.

Why It Happens:
LinkedIn profiles are often personal and the content shared can vary widely—from individual posts to corporate announcements. Unlike traditional articles or books, LinkedIn content does not always clearly label the author in the expected format.

Solution:
1. For individual posts or profiles: Use the name of the person as it appears on LinkedIn.
2. For company pages or organizational posts: Use the company name as the author.
3. If a group is responsible for the content, use the group name.

Example:
- Before: "John Doe LinkedIn profile"
- After: Doe, J. (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn. URL

Problem 2: Date Formats

Issue Description:
Determining the correct date format for LinkedIn content can be tricky, especially if the content is regularly updated or lacks a clear publication date.

Why It Happens:
LinkedIn profiles and posts do not always have explicit publication dates. Profiles are dynamic and can be updated frequently, making it hard to pin down a single "date."

Solution:
1. Use the date you accessed the content if no specific publication date is available.
2. For profiles, use "n.d." for "no date" if you are referring to the general content of a profile.

Example:
- Before: "April 2023"
- After: (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn. URL

Problem 3: URL Handling

Issue Description:
Students may have difficulty properly including URLs for LinkedIn content, especially when considering whether the content is accessible to others.

Why It Happens:
LinkedIn profiles can be private or require a login to view, which complicates the inclusion of URLs in citations.

Solution:
1. Always use the full URL from the address bar.
2. If the page is private or requires a login, note this in your citation.

Example:
- Before: No URL included or incomplete URL
- After: Doe, J. (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe

Problem 4: Access Requirements

Issue Description:
Determining whether it is appropriate to cite content that might not be accessible to all readers is a common challenge.

Why It Happens:
LinkedIn content may be behind a login wall or set to private, making it inaccessible to those without an account or connection.

Solution:
1. Indicate in your citation that the content requires a LinkedIn account to view.
2. Consider whether the content is critical to your argument and if a more accessible source could be used instead.

Example:
- Before: No note on access
- After: Doe, J. (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe (requires login)

By addressing these common issues with LinkedIn citations, students can ensure their references adhere to APA 7th edition guidelines while accurately reflecting the nature of the source.

Note: For general Social Media citation errors, see How to Cite Social Media.

Frequently Asked Questions About LinkedIn

Q: How do I find the author information needed for a LinkedIn citation in APA format?

A: On LinkedIn, the author is usually the individual who created the content. Their name is typically displayed prominently at the top of the post or article. Use the name as it appears on their LinkedIn profile for your citation.

Q: What should I do if a LinkedIn post doesn't have a clear publication date?

A: LinkedIn posts usually display the date right below the author's name. If the date is unavailable, use "n.d." (no date) in place of the year in your citation to indicate that no date was provided.

Q: How should I format the URL for a LinkedIn citation in APA style?

A: Use the direct URL to the specific LinkedIn post or article, which can be found by clicking on the timestamp of the post. Ensure the URL is complete and leads directly to the cited content.

Q: Are there any specific considerations when citing LinkedIn compared to other social media platforms in APA format?

A: LinkedIn is often more formal and professional than other social media platforms, so ensure you replicate the professional tone in your citation. Unlike platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn doesn't use handles, so always use the full name of the author.

Q: What is the best way to handle multiple authors for a LinkedIn post in APA citation?

A: If a LinkedIn post lists multiple authors, include them all in your citation, up to 20 authors, following the order they appear in the post. Separate each author’s name with a comma and use an ampersand (&) before the final author's name.

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