Surprise! LinkedIn Company Pages are about to get a little design makeover, the social network announced on its blog today. But it looks like you'll have to wait a bit -- LinkedIn is only rolling out these changes to select companies this week, including Philips, Citi, HP, and Dell, and the social network indicated the design won't be available for all Company Pages until later this year.
HubSpot's Company Page was lucky enough to be included in the early rollout, so let's take a look at HubSpot's page before and after the redesign so you can see what's in store for your own page once the new design is universally available.
Company Page Changes: General Overview
First, let's review the changes at a high level. All in all, the changes you'll see will affect only the design of your Company Page. In other words, no new features will be added; just the look and feel will be different. Here is a general overview of the biggest changes you'll notice:
- More prominently featured page elements, such as Company Updates and the Products & Services sections of your page.
- The ability to add a cover-style image that represents your company/brand to the top of your page.
- The availability of Company Pages on iPhone, Android, and iPad apps.
- A new look for the Career Pages section for select Company Pages.
- A more obvious, prominently displayed option for targeting your Company Updates to certain segments of your audience.
Example Makeover: HubSpot's LinkedIn Company Page
Now let's take a look at how these changes manifest on a real, live page. We've compared the old design of HubSpot's Company Page with the new look.
The Old Homepage
The New Homepage
Notice how you now have the capability to add a cover image near the top of the page, and the Products & Services section of the page is now featured on the right sidebar (compared to the tiny link in the tabbed section at the top of the old page design).
Furthermore, the ability to target Company Updates is much more prominent when you click on the update field to create a page post.
Finally, the "About" section of the page has been moved to the very bottom, below the page's Company Updates. To be perfectly honest, we're not sure how optimized and user-friendly this new placement is, particularly for visitors who are trying to learn about a new company they've come across.
The Old Products & Services Page
The New Products & Services Page
Structurally, the new version of the Products & Services page is very similar. The main difference is in the right sidebar, which now highlights the names, job titles, companies, and profile images of LinkedIn users in the visitor's network who have recommended particular products/services on your page. This is great news for marketers, because it puts recommendations at the forefront and displays testimonials much more prominently.
Below these highlighted users, you'll find any videos you've added to the page, which were also available in the former page design. The page also excludes the short, descriptive section at the top of the page, which you'll notice in the old page design. Again, we're not sure why LinkedIn is making it more difficult for page visitors to get to know the company behind the page.
While the new LinkedIn Company Page design isn't dramatically different and we're a little dismayed by the less prominent placement of pages' "About" sections, the design is a bit more customizable like the business pages of other social networks such as Facebook and Google+. This gives companies a better opportunity to create a more branded, unique-looking LinkedIn page that stands out from other Company Pages. As soon as the new design is available for all LinkedIn users, marketers should be sure to optimize their page for the new design.
What do you think of the new design? Does it motivate you to make better use of your LinkedIn Company Page?
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Atilla Vekony 12:48 PM on September 06, 2012
Thanks for the timely info; been looking to figure out how better to use the LinkedIn company pages.
Rob Willox 1:13 PM on September 06, 2012
The new layout is certainly an improvement as the original looked dated and was not as intuitive in how it was laid out and the information presented. It was more confusing navigating than often seemed worthwhile in making the effort.
The new design lays out the important elements in a more aethetically pleasing way making it easier to interact with but do agree that it seems like an afterthough where they have dumped the About info. A link at top closer to company name would have been more practical and useful.
Jody Raines 1:50 PM on September 06, 2012
Thanks for the heads up and walk through of the design changes. Too bad they won't be rolled out to the masses for a while. Wondering if this is an optional migration or whether all business pages will be rolled into the new LinkedIn Business page format...
Catherine Tatum 2:06 PM on September 06, 2012
Thanks for the information. I think the new layout looks great and look forward to be able to use it for my business Classic Legacy custom gifts.
Jeanne Gumbleton 2:28 PM on September 06, 2012
Thanks for sharing. It will interesting to see if the new layout can attract and keep new followers.
Meagan Gall 2:34 PM on September 06, 2012
How exciting!!!
The new business profile page layouts and features look very clean and professional. I am eager to be able to use this for our company, Pacific Crest Independent Insurance Alliance.
I just hope this gets rolled out for all businesses sooner than later!
Katie 3:02 PM on September 06, 2012
Can't wait! The company pages have been a bit glitchy lately. Hope it all gets resolved with the new page design.
Darin "Doc" Berntson 4:48 PM on September 06, 2012
I really dig the new design, yours turned out great. But I have to agree with you on the about section. Who scrolls that far these days? Would have been cool to maybe see an about button that bookmarks people to the bottom, that or another tab.
Doc
Nazmul Alam 2:53 AM on September 07, 2012
Changes are vital and LinkedIn just finished redesigned their pages for organizations. Designs are eye-catching which are important to attract social network fans and LinkedIn finished doing what they supposed to do.
e free sms Send Free International text 4:59 AM on September 07, 2012
New layout looks neat,I will be changing our company page layout soon
David Shaw 9:03 AM on September 07, 2012
The new changes are certainly welcome although like others on here I was expecting more in terms of features. If LinkedIn is going to be the number 1 place for business it needs to give people reason to return and log in each day! I would love to see an overall of the groups as they seem to have been taken over and ruined by recruiters.
ofer 5:24 AM on September 08, 2012
Hi
why i cant see the New Company Page Design?
http://www.linkedin.com/company/hutzpe
Thanks
Ofer
sumtech 10:31 AM on September 09, 2012
new layout is interesting to see
Krystyna 4:51 PM on September 10, 2012
Hi, I am curious if you have any more information regarding your statement about Career Page changes - "A new look for the Career Pages section for select Company Pages" - any more insight to what this means? I don't see a Career Page on the new Hubspot page. If there is one, can you please respond with the link.
Thanks!
Pamela Vaughan 5:04 PM on September 10, 2012
Hi Krystyna: Unfortunately, LinkedIn was pretty vague in its announcement about the changes to the Careers section. I do know you have to pay to upgrade your Company Page to use the Careers section and post jobs, however, which is why you don't see it on HubSpot's page. Here's info about it: http://talent.linkedin.com/Career-Pages/. American Express is an example of a Company Page with a Careers section in the new design, too: http://www.linkedin.com/company/american-express/careers
Hope that helps!
Krystyna 5:33 PM on September 10, 2012
Thanks Pamela! I just saw the Amex Page. Helpful information :) Thanks again!
Juli Morris 1:36 PM on September 11, 2012
Any idea when we'll be able to auto-publish from our blog onto LinkedIn Company pages? It's sort of our 'missing link'.
Keith Wolf 9:47 AM on September 12, 2012
Looks like they've taken a page from FB's Timeline. Much more visually appealing, but I agree with your point regarding the About section. Doesn't make too much sense to put that section at the bottom when it essentially explains what a company does.