If you’re using LinkedIn to grow your professional presence or promote a business, you’ve probably wondered: Should I focus on my Personal Profile or set up a Business Profile? It’s a question that the team at Delivered Social are asked continually, and getting the balance right can make or break your LinkedIn strategy. Let’s get started straight away with, LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile, what’s the best way to utilise them.

A LinkedIn Personal Profile is what most people start with, it’s designed for networking, job searching, and personal branding. It allows you to connect directly with others, send messages, post content, and engage in conversations. On the other hand, a LinkedIn Business Profile (also called a Company Page) is built for organisations, providing a platform to showcase a brand, post updates, recruit employees, and run ads.

So, LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile, which one should you use? The answer depends on your goals. If you’re an entrepreneur, consultant, or industry expert looking to build credibility and grow your network, your Personal Profile is your biggest asset. If you’re running a business, want to establish a brand presence, and need tools like LinkedIn Ads or employee connections, a Company Page is essential.

But it’s not always an either-or situation. The best approach is often a combination of both, leveraging your personal connections for engagement while using a Company Page for credibility and brand visibility.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences, benefits, and best practices for each, helping you decide how to use LinkedIn effectively to grow your business or personal brand.

Understanding The Differences

Before deciding whether a LinkedIn Personal Profile or Business Profile is best for you, it’s important to understand how each one works and what they are designed for.

What is a Personal Profile?

A Personal Profile is your individual presence on LinkedIn. It’s where you connect with people, share content, join discussions, and build your personal brand. If you want to be seen as an expert in your field, network with industry professionals, or attract job opportunities, your Personal Profile is essential.

Key features of a LinkedIn Personal Profile:

• Connect directly with people and send messages.
• Post updates, articles, and videos to engage with your network.
• Get endorsements and recommendations from colleagues.
• Join and participate in LinkedIn Groups.
• Follow companies and interact with their content.

What is a Company Page?

A LinkedIn Business Profile (Company Page) represents an organisation, rather than an individual. It’s a space to showcase your brand, share updates, and build credibility. Business Profiles are particularly useful for companies that want to promote services, recruit employees, and use LinkedIn Ads.

Key features of a LinkedIn Company Page:

• Displays company information, branding, and updates.
• Allows businesses to run LinkedIn Ads and sponsor content.
• Connects employees under one brand.
• Provides analytics and insights on page engagement.
• Offers a careers page for hiring talent.

Both profiles have their place, and knowing when to use each is key to making LinkedIn work for you. In the next section of our article, LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile, we’ll explore the pros and cons of a Personal Profile and when it’s the best option for your needs.

Pros and Cons Of A Company Page

A LinkedIn Business Profile (Company Page) is designed to showcase an organisation rather than an individual. It’s a powerful tool for brand visibility, recruitment, and marketing, but it comes with limitations. Understanding the pros and cons will help you decide if a Company Page is right for your strategy.

Pros of a Company Page

1. Increases Brand Credibility
   A Business Profile provides an official presence for your company. When people search for your brand, a well-optimised page reinforces trust and professionalism, making it easier to attract potential clients and employees.

2. Enables Employee & Team Visibility
   Employees can link their profiles to the company page, showing who works there. This builds credibility and trust, especially in industries where team expertise matters.

3. Access to Analytics & Insights
   Unlike Personal Profiles, Business Pages provide detailed analytics on post engagement, follower growth, and audience demographics. These insights help businesses refine their LinkedIn marketing strategy.

4. Ability to Run Paid LinkedIn Ads
   Company Pages can run LinkedIn Ads, allowing companies to target specific audiences, generate leads, and promote content strategically. This is one of the biggest advantages over a Personal Profile.

5. Showcases Business Updates & Content
   A Business Profile allows companies to share updates, articles, job postings, and events in a professional space without mixing personal content.

Cons of a Company Page

1. Lower Organic Engagement
   LinkedIn prioritises content from Personal Profiles over Business Pages, meaning company posts often receive less engagement unless promoted.

2. No Direct Messaging to Potential Clients
   Unlike a Personal Profile, a Business Profile can’t send direct connection requests or messages, making it harder to engage in one-on-one conversations.

3. Slower Growth Compared to Personal Profiles
   Gaining followers for a Business Profile is more challenging than growing a Personal Profile. While individuals can easily connect with others, a Business Page relies on people choosing to follow the company.

A LinkedIn Business Profile is best for companies wanting to establish credibility, share updates, and run targeted advertising campaigns. However, for relationship-building and organic engagement, a Personal Profile is more effective.

Should You Use Both? How to Leverage Both Profiles Together

Let’s see how we can leverage LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile. Trust me, if you’re serious about using LinkedIn for business, relying solely on either a Personal Profile or a Company Page could mean missing out on key opportunities. The most effective approach is often a combination of both, using each for its unique strengths.

Why You Should Use Both

LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile. A Personal Profile allows you to engage directly with people, build relationships, and showcase your expertise, while a Business Profile strengthens your brand’s credibility and reach. Here’s how they complement each other:

1. Use Your Personal Profile for Networking & Thought Leadership

   • Send connection requests and direct messages to build relationships.
   • Post engaging, conversational content that gets more reach than a Business Page.
   • Join LinkedIn Groups and participate in industry discussions.

2. Use Your Business Profile for Brand Awareness & Advertising

   • Share company updates, product launches, and job openings in a professional space.
   • Run LinkedIn Ads to target specific industries, job roles, or demographics.
   • Showcase team members and company culture to attract top talent.

How to Use Them Together

• Share Company Page Content on Your Personal Profile. This increases visibility since Business Pages naturally have lower engagement.
• Encourage Employees to Engage with the Business Page. More interaction boosts credibility and reach.
• Use Personal Messages to Drive Business Page Growth. When connecting with prospects, reference your Business Profile for further credibility.

By leveraging both profiles, you get the best of both worlds, the personal engagement of a LinkedIn Personal Profile and the brand authority of a LinkedIn Business Profile.

LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile: Best Practices for Optimising Both Profiles 

Using both a LinkedIn Personal Profile and a Business Profile is a powerful strategy, but only if they are optimised correctly. A poorly managed profile can hurt credibility, while a well-optimised one can attract leads, build trust, and increase engagement.

Optimising Your Personal Profile

1. Craft a Strong Headline & About Section

   • Your headline should clearly state your expertise and not just your job title.
   • The About section should tell your story, highlight key skills, and explain how you help your audience.

2. Use a Professional Profile Picture & Banner

   • A high-quality headshot builds trust and engagement.
   • Your banner should reinforce your brand or expertise (e.g., a call-to-action or company branding).

3. Engage Consistently & Post Valuable Content

   • Comment on industry discussions, post thought leadership content, and share insights that position you as an authority.
   • Avoid just sharing company updates, instead, provide genuine value to your audience.

Optimising Your Company Page

1. Complete All Sections & Use Keywords

   • Fill in the About section, company website, industry, and specialties with relevant keywords to improve searchability.

2. Post Regularly & Encourage Employee Engagement

   • Share industry insights, client success stories, and team updates to humanise your brand.
   • Ask employees to like, comment, and share posts, this increases visibility.

3. Use LinkedIn Ads & Analytics to Improve Performance

   • Run targeted LinkedIn Ads to reach your ideal audience.
   • Use LinkedIn Analytics to track what content performs best and refine your strategy.

By optimising both profiles, you maximise reach, engagement, and credibility, ensuring LinkedIn works as a lead generation and branding tool.

Now, let’s wrap up with some frequently asked questions about using LinkedIn for business in our article, LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. Should I have both a LinkedIn Personal and a Company Page?

Yes! A Personal Profile helps you network, engage, and build authority, while a Business Profile strengthens brand credibility and visibility. Using both ensures a well-rounded LinkedIn strategy.

2. Can I run LinkedIn Ads from my Personal Profile?

No, only LinkedIn Business Profiles can run paid ads. If you want to promote content or target specific audiences, you’ll need a Business Profile.

3. Why does my Personal Profile get more engagement than my Company Page?

LinkedIn’s algorithm favours personal content, so posts from Personal Profiles typically get more reach and interactions than Business Pages. However, a Business Profile still provides value for brand authority, recruitment, and paid marketing.

4. Can I message connections from my Company Page?

No, only Personal Profiles can send direct messages. This is why networking is more effective through a Personal Profile.

5. What’s the best way to grow a LinkedIn Company Page?

• Encourage employees to engage with company posts.
• Share valuable industry insights, not just promotions.
• Use LinkedIn Ads to reach a wider audience.
• Post consistently to build brand visibility.

So, LinkedIn – Personal Profile vs Business Profile. By combining a Personal and Business Profile, you get the best of both worlds, organic engagement from a personal brand and credibility from a company presence.