LinkedIn adds side-hustle tools, paid Advice Sessions and connections-only feed

TechRadar reported that LinkedIn said the number of founders on its platform has risen by 70%, and the number of members reporting more than one job position is up 26% since 2019. Engadget reported that LinkedIn has seen a 70 percent increase over the last year in people adding 'founder' to their profiles. TechRadar also reported that more than half of Gen Z professionals are unsure how to develop a relationship after making an initial connection.

LinkedIn is testing a Network feed that will show posts and updates only from existing connections and accounts users follow, rather than algorithmic recommendations, Engadget reported. TechRadar reported that the initial test markets are the US, UK, India and Australia, with no broader rollout timeline announced. The company said the separate feed is intended to give users better visibility into what existing contacts are saying and doing.

LinkedIn is also adding digital business cards to its app with support for mobile wallet apps for quick access, TechRadar reported, with plans for a global rollout in the coming months. The feature is intended for conferences, meetings and other networking events. Premium subscribers will be able to add private notes to other people's profiles to remember details such as where they met, according to TechRadar.

Engadget reported that founders and business owners will get a new monetization option called Advice Sessions, which will let them offer paid one-on-one meetings and consultations through LinkedIn. The feature will initially be available to users with a business premium subscription in the US, and LinkedIn will not take a cut of users' earnings from those sessions, according to Engadget.

Creators are gaining a new dashboard to manage content and track statistics, TechRadar reported. Engadget reported that the analytics dashboard is meant to help people understand how their posts perform. For video creators, LinkedIn plans to expand its revenue-sharing program that passes on a cut of revenue generated by pre-roll ads, Engadget reported. TechRadar reported that In-Stream Ads are being tested with select US creators and advertisers.

LinkedIn is also tweaking profiles so people can highlight multiple jobs, according to Engadget. The changes are meant to reflect that work looks different for many people, a shift LinkedIn attributes in part to AI, Engadget reported.

Engadget asked Chief Product Officer Hari Srinivasan whether AI is making it easier to start new ventures or whether labor-market disruption is forcing people to get more creative. He said LinkedIn's data shows 'there are definitely more people starting businesses now,' though it is 'hard to tell' what the underlying reasons may be. He also said, 'You can build all this incredible stuff with AI, but I don't know if it's necessarily made it easier to build a business.'

LinkedIn summarized the effort by saying, 'Our goal is to help turn those relationships into real opportunities so you can get discovered, grow what you're building, and create new ways to earn along the way,' according to TechRadar.