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LinkedIn is expanding its monetization options for professionals and video creators. Since October 15 2026, the platform has offered paid consultation bookings directly on profiles in the USA and is testing ad revenue from pre-roll video ads. For German accounts, these two revenue streams are currently not generally available.
Two business models instead of one uniform creator payout
Advice Sessions is aimed at consultants, coaches and other professionals: clients can book one-on-one sessions, pay for them and conduct them by video. According to LinkedIn's announcement, the feature is initially enabled for Business Premium subscribers in the USA. More markets are expected to follow; LinkedIn does not state a German launch date.
In-Stream Ads, by contrast, focuses on video content. Selected US creators can share in ad revenue when pre-roll ads run before their eligible videos. This is a limited test, not an open payment programme for all video views.
Digital business cards: making networking after events easier
Unlike the two US monetization tests, the personalizable digital LinkedIn business card is planned, according to LinkedIn's product announcement15 of October, for a worldwide, gradual rollout over the coming months. Members can design a card from profile details, share it via a scannable code and store it in a digital wallet. For trade fairs, conferences and sales teams, this is an additional way to move from a personal conversation to a profile contact – no integrated CRM and no promise about lead quality.
A QR code for sharing profiles has existed on LinkedIn since 2018; what is new is the personalized design and wallet integration. Social Media Today highlights exactly this difference. Companies introducing digital business cards should check which contact details are shared publicly, whether a follow-up CRM entry complies with data protection rules, and which contacts actually lead to an agreed follow-up.
Other new networking features include private profile notes for Premium members (according to LinkedIn, available worldwide) and a separate Network Feed with posts from contacts and followed accounts. The feed is first being tested in selected markets, including the USA, UK, India and Australia; a general release in Germany is therefore not confirmed. The new business card and the new feed are not new advertising formats, but tools for contact maintenance and organic visibility.
What changes for B2B advertising
For advertisers, this creates an additional option to place ads alongside professional videos. They do not necessarily have to conclude an individual partnership with each creator. This distinguishes the model from directly negotiated sponsorship deals and complements existing LinkedIn offerings such as BrandLink and Thought Leader Ads. Social Media Today also reports additional search filters in the Creator Marketplace.
The restriction for the German market is significant: LinkedIn's help page on the Creator Marketplace currently names only selected members in the USA and Canada. In addition, according to LinkedIn's Marketing Solutions help, LinkedIn restricts the discoverability and sponsorship of creator posts in DMA countries. Germany is among them. More on this in our analysis of the LinkedIn Creator Marketplace and Germany.
Reach is not the same as revenue
A new creator dashboard is intended to bundle performance data, content management and monetization options and will roll out worldwide in the coming weeks. Alongside this, LinkedIn is testing its own network feed in selected countries and introducing digital business cards and profile notes. These features should not be equated with a general release of the paid offerings.
For agencies and freelancers, it is worth measuring consulting revenue, sponsorships and ad revenue shares separately: a high video reach guarantees neither paying consulting clients nor a specific advertising income. Our guide to social media goals and KPIs shows how reach, leads and revenue can be told apart. If you want to market your expertise independently of platform features, you will also find approaches to productizing your expertise.
Sources: LinkedIn Newsroom, 15.10.2026, LinkedIn Help on the Creator Marketplace, Social Media Today, 15.10.2026.