LinkedIn noticed something. More professionals juggle multiple roles than before. The Microsoft-owned network responded Thursday with a batch of updates aimed squarely at users building businesses on the side.
The changes arrive as the platform records a 70% jump in members adding "founder" to their profiles over the past year. Profiles listing more than one current position have also climbed. Engadget reported the details first.
Profiles now support highlighting several jobs at once. Users can add founder status without awkward workarounds. Simple. Direct. It reflects how work actually looks in 2026. But the real story lies in the tools built around these realities.
Monetization Arrives for Experts and Creators
Founders and consultants gain "Advice Sessions." This feature lets verified experts offer paid one-on-one consultations directly on the platform. Bookings, payments, and video calls happen inside LinkedIn. No commission taken from earnings at launch.
Availability starts with U.S. Business Premium subscribers. LinkedIn VP of Product Management Ora Levit explained the thinking. According to Social Media Today, she said the Advice Sessions option will enable verified experts to offer paid 1:1 consultations and charge for them directly on LinkedIn using secure payments.
Verification matters here. Profiles must meet standards before charging takes effect. The barrier keeps quality high. Early testers see potential for coaches, specialists, and experienced operators to turn knowledge into immediate revenue. No middleman. No platform cut.
Content creators receive support too. A fresh analytics dashboard shows how posts perform. Clear metrics replace guesswork. Video makers benefit from an expanded revenue-sharing program. Pre-roll ads now appear alongside their clips in testing with select U.S. partners. Creators earn a share of that ad money.
LinkedIn also improved its Creator Marketplace. New search tools help brands locate relevant voices faster. The goal? Smoother sponsorship deals without endless back-and-forth emails.
These moves build on earlier tests. Reports from September and June 2026 hinted at broader creator monetization plans, including possible subscriptions and funds. Today's announcements deliver concrete steps. TechRadar covered the relationship-building angle.
Yet money represents only part of the picture. Many side hustlers struggle to maintain real connections amid algorithmic noise. LinkedIn heard that complaint.
The platform tests a "Network" feed in the U.S., U.K., India, and Australia. This separate view shows only posts from existing connections and followed accounts. No algorithmic suggestions. No distractions from strangers chasing virality. Early feedback suggests it helps users stay close to people they actually know.
Physical meetings get easier too. A new digital business card feature integrates with phone wallet apps. Tap to share your LinkedIn profile in person. The gap between offline encounters and online follow-ups shrinks. Simple execution that solves a daily pain point.
Hari Srinivasan, LinkedIn's chief product officer, pointed to broader shifts. He told Engadget the company's data shows "there are definitely more people starting businesses now," though it's "hard to tell" why. Work changed. Platforms must change with it. But caution remains. Technology accelerates opportunity. It doesn't replace the need for genuine expertise or relationships.
Side activities on LinkedIn aren't new. Ghostwriters earn thousands monthly writing executive posts, as one Entrepreneur profile detailed in July. Consultants land clients through consistent value sharing. Digital products scale without trading more hours.
These features amplify existing behaviors. Profiles that once hid side projects can now display them cleanly. Analytics guide better content decisions. Paid sessions create direct income without leaving the app. The network feed fights distraction.
Critics wonder about execution. Testing phases often stretch. Premium requirements limit access. Verification adds friction. Still, the direction feels intentional. LinkedIn moves beyond pure job hunting. It embraces the hybrid careers many already live.
Gen Z professionals stand out in the data. Over half feel unsure how to develop relationships after initial contact, per LinkedIn's internal observations. The business card and network feed target exactly that uncertainty. Tools that convert fleeting interactions into lasting ties.
Advertisers gain too. Pre-roll video ads on creator content open new B2B channels. Brands reach engaged audiences without forcing partnerships. Creators earn passively. Everyone moves forward.
The timing matters. Economic pressures push more workers toward extra income. AI automates routine tasks, freeing time for ventures. LinkedIn positions itself as the central hub where professional identity, audience building, and revenue intersect.
Not every update will stick. Some features may evolve based on usage. Others could expand beyond initial markets. What stays constant is the signal. Professional networks no longer stop at employment. They support the full spectrum of how people create value today.
Users with side projects should review their profiles now. Add those multiple roles. Claim founder status where accurate. Explore the new dashboard once available. Test an Advice Session if qualified. The tools exist. Results still depend on consistent effort and real skill.
LinkedIn didn't invent side hustles. It simply built better ways to manage them. In a year defined by multiple income streams, that adjustment carries weight.
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