Tagging people on LinkedIn looks simple… until your tag stays black, refuses to turn into a link, and you have no idea what went wrong. If you’ve ever typed someone’s name only to find LinkedIn didn’t recognize it, don’t worry — you’re definitely not alone.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to tag someone on LinkedIn correctly, how to tag someone outside your network, and why tagging can be one of the most powerful visibility tools on the platform. By the time you reach the end, you’ll know the exact formula for tagging profiles and business pages so your mentions always turn blue, clickable, and professional.
Why tagging matters more than you think
Tagging a user or business on LinkedIn is more than simple digital etiquette. When you mention someone correctly, LinkedIn turns the tag into a blue hyperlink that leads directly to their profile or business page. That blue link isn’t just cosmetic — it signals to LinkedIn that you’ve intentionally connected your content with that person or company. A proper tag means:
- The tagged user is notified.
- They can engage back (like, comment), increasing your post’s reach.
- Your audience can easily click and explore the tagged profile.
If the tag stays black and plain, it’s not a tag — it’s just text. That means no link, no notification, and no visibility boost.
How to tag someone on LinkedIn in your posts
Tagging users or businesses works the same whether you’re creating a post in the app or on the website. Here’s how to tag someone on LinkedIn in the simplest, most straightforward way.
The basic tagging process
- Start typing @ followed by the person’s or company’s name.
- LinkedIn will show you a dropdown list of matching profiles.
- Scroll and select the correct user or business.
That’s it — if the tag turns blue, you’ve successfully mentioned them. This method is ideal for tagging people within your network, since LinkedIn’s autocomplete system works best with connections and familiar contacts.
How to tag someone on LinkedIn outside your network
This is where most tagging issues happen. When you try to tag someone you’re not connected to, LinkedIn may not auto-populate any profile suggestions. That doesn’t mean you can’t tag them — you just need to use the dash method.
The dash method for tagging non-connections
If @NameSurname doesn’t work, try this:
- Type @
- Type the person’s first name
- Add a dash (-)
- Type their last name
For example:
- Marcia Turner → @ marcia-turner
- M Turner Technologies → @ m-turner-technologies
Each space in a profile or business page name must be replaced with a dash (-). Do not confuse the dash with an underscore (_). LinkedIn uses dashes, not underscores, to build handles. You may need to try a few combinations — but once you hit the correct username, the tag will instantly turn blue. If it stays black, the tag is still incorrect. Keep adjusting until LinkedIn recognizes it.
Tagging businesses using the same rule
Business pages follow the identical pattern. If the company name has multiple words, you must insert a dash for each space. If the business username is one single word, simply type @companyname with no dashes.
How to tell if you tagged someone correctly
A correct tag always appears as a blue hyperlink. An incorrect tag stays black, like normal text. Blue = LinkedIn recognizes the user or business, the mention is valid, and a notification will be sent. Black = LinkedIn ignores it, and nobody will know they were tagged. Always double-check this before publishing your post.
Final thoughts
Learning how to tag someone on LinkedIn is one of the simplest ways to improve the reach and professionalism of your posts. Whether you’re giving someone credit, highlighting an event, or shouting out a business, proper tagging ensures your mentions are clickable, visible, and meaningful. Just remember:
- Use @ to start the tag.
- For multi-word names, use dashes (-).
- Make sure the tag turns blue, not black.
- Only tag when it’s truly relevant.
Master these steps, and your LinkedIn posts will instantly look more polished — and perform far better.
