New LinkedIn Features 2026: Digital Cards, Notes & More

22 Oct

By Grainne Dunne | The Sidekick Co. | October 2026

You know when you come home from a networking event with 15 new LinkedIn connections and a vague recollection of having a brilliant conversation with someone called James?

You remember what James does. You remember thinking you'd definitely like to speak to him again. You might even remember what he was wearing.

His surname? Absolutely no idea.

As someone who spends a lot of time networking, both attending events and organising them, I know how easily those brilliant conversations can get lost amongst everything else that comes with running a business.

Which is why LinkedIn's latest updates have caught my attention.

On 15 October 2026, LinkedIn announced several features designed to help people build and maintain professional relationships, including digital business cards, private profile notes, pinned comments and a dedicated Network feed.

Some are already available, while others are being rolled out gradually.

Here's what each feature does, how to use it and whether it's worth your time as a business owner.

1. How to create a LinkedIn digital business card

LinkedIn is introducing personalised digital business cards that you can add to your phone's digital wallet and share with people you meet in person.

No more rummaging around for a business card or standing awkwardly trying to spell someone's name while they search for you on LinkedIn.

I can definitely see the appeal.

How do you get your LinkedIn digital business card?

LinkedIn announced the feature on 15 October 2026 and confirmed that it's rolling out globally over the coming months.

Once available, you'll be able to personalise your business card and add it to a supported digital wallet.

At the time of writing, LinkedIn hasn't published a universally applicable step-by-step setup guide for the new feature. I'll update this section when the full instructions are available.

In the meantime, keep your LinkedIn app updated and look out for the new business card option as the rollout progresses.

Can you add your LinkedIn business card to Apple Wallet?

LinkedIn has confirmed that the new cards support digital wallets.

However, the exact setup process and wallet compatibility may depend on your device and the stage of the rollout.

If you can't see the option yet, it doesn't necessarily mean you're doing anything wrong.

What should you do before creating your business card?

Here's the bit I think is more important than the card itself.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is actually worth sharing.

Imagine you've just had a brilliant conversation with a potential client. They open your profile and find a headline that simply says 'Director at XYZ Ltd', a banner that tells them absolutely nothing and no obvious way to contact you.

You've made it incredibly easy for them to find you, but what are they actually finding?

Before you start sharing your profile with more people, check that:

Your headline clearly explains what you do and who you help.
Your banner communicates something useful about your business.
Your About section sounds like you and explains the value you offer.
Your Featured section highlights relevant content or resources.
People can easily work out how to contact you.

If you're not sure how yours measures up, I've created a free interactive LinkedIn Check-Up. It asks nine quick questions, gives you a score out of 27 and provides practical recommendations.

Take the free LinkedIn Check-Up

2. How to add private notes to LinkedIn connections

Now this is a feature I can really get behind.

LinkedIn has introduced private notes, allowing eligible Premium subscribers to record useful information about people they're connected with.

You can use them to remember where you met someone, what you discussed or why you wanted to stay in touch.

If you regularly attend networking events, you'll immediately understand why this could be useful.

Step-by-step: How to add a private note on LinkedIn

If you have LinkedIn Premium Business or Premium All-in-One:

Open the LinkedIn profile of someone you're already connected with.
Find the Highlights section on their profile. If you have Sales Insights, the notes option may appear there instead.
Look for the option to add a private note.
Write a short reminder about your conversation or connection.
Save your note.

You can write up to 500 characters per note, with one note available for each first-degree connection.

For example:

'Met at a networking event in Tonbridge. Runs an accountancy practice, looking to expand the team and mentioned they're planning a new website.'

That's enough to jog your memory when their name pops up again.

Can other people see your LinkedIn private notes?

No. LinkedIn confirms that private notes are only visible to the person who created them.

Your connections can't see them, and neither can employers or company administrators.

You should still avoid recording sensitive personal information about other people.

Do you need LinkedIn Premium to add notes?

Yes. The new Premium Notes feature is available to Premium Business and Premium All-in-One subscribers.

It works across desktop, iOS and Android.

If you're using a free LinkedIn account, you won't currently have access.

Can you edit or delete LinkedIn notes?

Yes. You can edit an existing note, and LinkedIn allows you to delete it by saving an empty note.

Notes are also included in your LinkedIn data export.

One limitation worth knowing is that there's currently no central dashboard where you can browse or search all your notes.

What happens to your notes if you cancel Premium?

You won't be able to add or edit notes once your eligible Premium subscription ends.

LinkedIn says existing notes remain available as previews and are retained for up to two years, giving you the opportunity to restore editing access if you resubscribe.

Are private notes worth using?

If you regularly build relationships through LinkedIn, I think they could be.

I meet a lot of people through networking events, workshops and running my businesses, and remembering the context behind those conversations is incredibly useful.

But I'd encourage you to actually use the information.

A note reminding you that someone was planning to launch a new service is only useful if you eventually remember to ask how the launch went.

3. How to pin a comment on LinkedIn

LinkedIn has also announced the ability for post authors to pin helpful comments.

This allows you to highlight a particular contribution rather than letting it disappear amongst the rest of the discussion.

How do you pin a LinkedIn comment?

If the feature is available on your account:

Open one of your published LinkedIn posts.
Find the comment you'd like to highlight.
Select the three-dot menu beside the comment.
Look for Pin comment.
Select it to highlight the comment.

The exact options may differ as the feature rolls out. Check the menu on your own post for the available controls.

If you don't see 'Pin comment', the feature may not yet be available to you.

Why would you pin a comment?

Let's say you've published a post about something happening in your industry.

Someone asks a brilliant question, and you give a detailed answer that would be useful to other people reading the post.

Pinning that exchange could make it easier for others to find.

Or perhaps someone shares a different perspective that adds something genuinely interesting to the conversation.

You could highlight their contribution instead.

For business owners, pinned comments could be useful for drawing attention to frequently asked questions, extra information, relevant resources or particularly valuable discussions.

What I wouldn't do is automatically use them as another opportunity to sell something.

Sometimes the most useful contribution comes from someone else, and giving that person a little more visibility is a good thing.

4. What is LinkedIn's new Network feed?

LinkedIn is also testing a dedicated Network feed, designed to show posts from your connections and people you follow.

The idea is to make it easier to keep up with people you actually know, rather than relying entirely on the main feed.

The initial test includes the UK, US, India and Australia.

How do you access the LinkedIn Network feed?

As of October 2026, LinkedIn is still testing this feature in selected markets.

There's no confirmed universal navigation process yet, so if you can't find it, you may not have access to the test.

I'll update this guide when LinkedIn confirms the wider rollout and access instructions.

Why might this be useful?

One of the things people often tell me is that they struggle to keep up with their LinkedIn connections.

They meet someone at an event, have a brilliant conversation, connect on LinkedIn and then barely see anything from them again.

A feed dedicated to your network could make it easier to stay in touch.

And I think that's important because LinkedIn is about much more than publishing your own content.

If someone you've met shares something interesting, comment on it. If they've achieved something, congratulate them. If they ask a question you can help with, answer it.

You don't need to turn every interaction into a sales opportunity.

Frequently asked questions about LinkedIn's new features

Are LinkedIn digital business cards free?

LinkedIn has announced digital business cards but hasn't yet clearly confirmed every eligibility detail. Check the feature when it becomes available to your account.

Why can't I find the LinkedIn digital business card feature?

The rollout is taking place globally over several months from October 2026. You may simply need to wait for access.

Can I add private notes to anyone's LinkedIn profile?

No. LinkedIn's Premium Notes feature currently supports eligible first-degree connections.

Can my LinkedIn connections see the notes I write about them?

No. Your Premium Notes are private to you.

How many private notes can I add?

You can add one note per eligible connection, containing up to 500 characters.

Why can't I pin a comment on LinkedIn?

Although LinkedIn announced pinned comments in October 2026, availability may vary as the feature is introduced. Check the options on a post you've authored.

Is the new LinkedIn Network feed available in the UK?

The UK is one of the initial test markets, but that doesn't mean every UK account has access.

Which new LinkedIn features should business owners actually use?

If you're wondering whether you now need to spend your afternoon trying to find all these new settings, please don't.

I'd start with the things that are most relevant to how you use LinkedIn.

If you do a lot of networking, private notes could help you keep track of conversations and follow-ups.

If you're regularly meeting people in person, digital business cards could make connecting easier once they're available.

If you're publishing content that generates interesting discussions, pinned comments might help you highlight the most useful contributions.

And if you struggle to keep up with people in your network, the new Network feed is worth watching.

But before you get carried away with any of these features, I'd encourage you to look at your own profile.

Because making it easier for people to find you is only useful if they like what they find.

Give your LinkedIn profile a five-minute check

I've created a free interactive LinkedIn Check-Up to help you see how your profile comes across to someone who doesn't already know you.

It's called 'What does your LinkedIn say about you when you're not in the room?'

You'll answer nine quick questions covering your profile picture, banner, headline, content, personality and more.

You'll receive a score out of 27, feedback and practical suggestions for improving your profile.