LinkedIn Tests Tools to Help Freelancers and Creators Earn from Their Networks

LinkedIn is rolling out a set of new features aimed at professionals who are building side businesses or creator careers on the platform. The Microsoft-owned company said the move responds to a rise in independent work: founders on the platform are up 70%, and members reporting more than one job position have increased 26% since 2019, according to TechRadar.

The most significant change for daily users is a separate Network feed, currently being tested in the US, UK, India and Australia. This feed will show posts only from existing connections, distinct from the main feed. The goal is to give users better visibility into what their established contacts are sharing and doing, rather than mixing those updates with broader algorithmic content. LinkedIn has not said when or whether the feature will become generally available.

For in-person networking, LinkedIn is integrating digital business cards into its app, with support for mobile wallet apps. The company plans a global rollout in the coming months. This could simplify exchanging contact details at conferences, meetings and other events, where pulling out a phone is already common.

Premium subscribers will gain the ability to add private notes to other members' profiles. These notes are intended to help users remember context about a contact, such as where they met. The feature is a small but practical addition for people who manage large networks and struggle to recall details.

On the monetization side, LinkedIn is giving creators a new dashboard to manage content and track performance statistics. The company is also testing In-Stream Ads on videos with selected US creators and advertisers, adding another potential revenue stream for video publishers.

In a statement, LinkedIn summarized its aim: "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."

The platform also noted that more than half of Gen Z professionals are unsure how to develop a relationship after making an initial connection. That concern appears to inform the Network feed and private notes features, which focus on deepening existing ties rather than just making new ones.

For everyday users, the Network feed could be the most noticeable change if it rolls out widely, as it offers a way to filter out noise from the main feed. Digital business cards may appeal to frequent conference-goers. For Premium subscribers, private notes add a lightweight CRM-like function. Creators and video publishers should watch the dashboard and In-Stream Ads test, which could affect how they earn from content. However, most of these tools are still in testing or limited rollout, so broader impact remains uncertain.

TechRadar reported these developments, noting that LinkedIn has not provided timelines for general availability beyond the planned global rollout of digital business cards.