For global companies aiming to expand their reach, particularly in regions like Asia-Pacific (APAC) with ambitions to compete worldwide, LinkedIn is a powerful platform to showcase expertise and build credibility. One effective way to enhance your brand’s presence is by adding a “Featured Customers” link to your LinkedIn Company Page. This feature allows businesses to highlight prominent clients who use their products or services, fostering trust and social proof. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of adding a Featured Customers link, based on LinkedIn’s official guidelines, while addressing key requirements and challenges for global companies offering specialized solutions.
Understanding LinkedIn’s Featured Customers Feature
The Featured Customers feature enables companies to display well-known clients on their LinkedIn Product Page, reinforcing credibility and attracting potential customers. According to LinkedIn’s official documentation (https://www.linkedin.com/help/lms/answer/a1310838), this feature is exclusive to flagship Product Pages, which must meet specific criteria. For a global company offering digital solutions, such as a provider of enterprise software or services, creating a compliant flagship Product Page is the first step to unlocking this feature.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Featured Customers Link
1. Verify Your LinkedIn Company Page and Admin Access
To create a Product Page and add a Featured Customers link, you need an active LinkedIn Company Page and super admin or content admin privileges. Check your admin status in the admin view of your Company Page. If necessary, assign additional admins through the Page settings to ensure your team can manage the process.
2. Create a Flagship Product Page
LinkedIn mandates that the Featured Customers feature is only available for flagship Product Pages, where the product name matches the company name (https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a785550). For example, a company named “TechTrend Innovations” would create a Product Page named “TechTrend Innovations” to represent its core offerings. To set this up:
- Navigate to your Company Page’s admin view.
- Click the “Products” tab in the left menu.
- Select “Add Product” and choose “Yes, my product and organization have the same name” to designate it as a flagship Product Page.
- Confirm by checking the box and clicking “Create.”
This requirement ensures the product is closely tied to your brand. Attempting to create a standard Product Page for a specific offering (e.g., “TechTrend Analytics Suite”) will not qualify for the Featured Customers feature.
3. Complete the Product Page with Compelling Details
Once the flagship Product Page is created, populate it with details that highlight your brand’s value. For a global company focused on APAC with worldwide ambitions, emphasize your solutions’ scalability and regional expertise. Include the following:
- Product Logo: Use your company logo or a product-specific logo that aligns with your brand identity.
- Product Description: Craft a concise description (up to 500 characters) outlining your solution’s benefits, such as global scalability, seamless integration, or tailored performance for APAC markets.
- Media Content: Add high-quality images or videos showcasing your product. For example, include screenshots of software interfaces or videos of successful deployments. LinkedIn recommends a 16:9 aspect ratio for videos (up to 5GB) and images of at least 1128 x 376 pixels.
- Call-to-Action (CTA): Select a CTA like “Request Demo” or “Learn More” and link to your official product page or website.
- Target Audience: Define up to 10 job functions to optimize visibility in LinkedIn searches.
4. Add Featured Customers
With the flagship Product Page set up, you can add up to 21 featured customers, provided they have LinkedIn Company Pages. For a global company, this could include multinational corporations or APAC-based businesses that use your solutions. To add them:
- In the admin view, go to the “Products” tab and select your flagship Product Page.
- Click the “Edit” icon next to “Featured Customers.”
- Enter the names of the companies, ensuring you have their permission to feature them.
- Click “Submit for Review.”
LinkedIn’s review process may take up to two weeks. Upon approval, you’ll receive a notification, and you can publish the Product Page by clicking “Publish Product.” The Featured Customers link will then appear on your Product Page and in your Company Page’s header, boosting visibility.
5. Monitor the Review Process
LinkedIn reviews all Product Pages to ensure compliance with their guidelines. The product must be self-developed and owned by your company to avoid rejection due to intellectual property concerns. For example, a company offering customized software solutions must clarify that its offerings are proprietary to pass the review. Check the Activity tab for updates on the review status.
Challenges for Global Companies
Global companies, particularly those with a focus on APAC and ambitions for worldwide expansion, face unique considerations when creating a LinkedIn Product Page:
- Intellectual Property Compliance: LinkedIn requires that the product be self-developed. If your solution builds on a third-party platform, clearly articulate your proprietary contributions to avoid rejection.
- Flagship vs. Standard Product Pages: Standard Product Pages, which require a corresponding official product page URL, do not support the Featured Customers feature. For example, a page for a specific solution like “TechTrend Analytics Suite” would be considered standard and ineligible.
- Strategic Customer Selection: Choose featured customers that reflect your global and APAC presence to appeal to a broad audience.
- Review Timelines: The approval process can be lengthy, so plan ahead to align with marketing campaigns or product launches.
Best Practices for Success
- Secure Customer Permission: Obtain approval from customers before featuring them to maintain professional relationships and comply with LinkedIn’s policies.
- Encourage Reviews: Invite customers to leave reviews (1–5 stars, up to 500 characters) on your Product Page to enhance credibility.
- Optimize for Search: Incorporate relevant keywords in your description, such as “enterprise software” or “APAC digital solutions,” to improve discoverability.
- Promote Your Page: Share your Product Page in LinkedIn groups, posts, or newsletters to drive engagement.
Conclusion
Adding a Featured Customers link to your LinkedIn Page is a strategic way to showcase your brand’s success and build trust with a global audience. By creating a flagship Product Page, adhering to LinkedIn’s guidelines, and strategically selecting featured customers, you can elevate your company’s presence. For global businesses with a focus on APAC and beyond, this feature offers an opportunity to highlight your expertise and attract new clients. Start building your flagship Product Page today to unlock the power of social proof on LinkedIn.