What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
LinkedIn is adding a creator dashboard, paid Advice Sessions, and a limited In-Stream Ads test, alongside new networking tools. Together, the changes are designed to help professionals find an audience, turn expertise into consultations, and manage a side business without leaving LinkedIn. Access depends on country, subscription, invitation, and rollout stage.
What LinkedIn announced
In an October 15, 2026 announcement, LinkedIn described new ways to build connections, grow a side hustle, and earn on the platform. The main additions are a centralized creator dashboard, Advice Sessions for paid one-to-one consultations, and In-Stream Ads for selected video creators.
The push reflects how members are using LinkedIn. LinkedIn reports that founder numbers are up 70% year over year, members reporting more than one ongoing position have increased 26% since 2019, and more than 80% of LinkedIn creators make content alongside another role.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The three tools most relevant to earning
| Tool | How it works | Income or growth path | Availability | Operational work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creator dashboard | Combines content management, performance insights, and creator growth or earning opportunities in one control center. | Indirect: helps decide which content and offers to develop. | Global rollout planned in the coming weeks. | Review analytics, manage content, and use the available growth or earning options. |
| Advice Sessions | Eligible creators offer paid consultations from their profiles, with booking, payment, and video calls handled through LinkedIn. | Direct consultation fees. | Business Premium subscribers in the United States; LinkedIn says more markets are planned. | Define a consultation offer, accept bookings, conduct calls, and manage payments. |
| In-Stream Ads | Pre-roll advertisements run alongside eligible creator videos. | Revenue when ads run. | Limited test with invited or otherwise eligible creators in the United States. | Create eligible video and meet LinkedIn’s test requirements; access is not automatic. |
Creator dashboard: one place to manage the business
LinkedIn says the dashboard will bring content management, performance understanding, and earning opportunities together. It is intended to reduce the need to piece together audience and content information from separate areas of LinkedIn. The company has announced a global rollout in the coming weeks, but has not published a universal activation date or a complete list of dashboard features.
#1 Best Overall
Advice Sessions: the clearest direct-income option
Advice Sessions let eligible creators “offer 1:1 consultations directly from your LinkedIn profile.” A client can book a session, pay, and join a video call through the service. This makes the feature relevant to consultants, coaches, advisers, and specialists whose side income comes from time and expertise rather than advertising.
At launch, eligibility is limited to Business Premium subscribers in the United States. LinkedIn has not published current subscription prices, transaction fees, or the timing of expansion to other countries. A member outside the United States, or on a different subscription tier, should not assume the feature will appear.
In-Stream Ads: a test, not a dependable revenue stream yet
In-Stream Ads can pay creators when pre-roll video ads run alongside eligible video content. LinkedIn describes the program as a select U.S. test for invited or eligible creators and advertisers, with broader access planned over time. Because participation is limited and ad revenue depends on ads actually being served, this is currently an experimental supplement rather than a predictable side-hustle income source.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #2
Networking features that help people get discovered
Network feed
LinkedIn is testing a Network feed that combines posts from connections and people a member follows. The test covers the United States, India, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Its role is discovery: it can make relevant work, expertise, and updates easier for existing relationships to find, but it is not itself a paid feature.
Digital business cards
Digital business cards are rolling out globally over the coming months. A personalized card stored in a digital wallet can make it easier to share a professional identity at events or in follow-up conversations. The commercial value is indirect, through introductions and leads.
Private profile notes
Premium subscribers can add private notes to profiles globally. Notes can record follow-up context or relationship details that are not visible to the other person. This is a relationship-management aid, not public content.
Pinned comments
Authors can pin comments on their posts. Pinning a useful question, clarification, or testimonial can focus discussion for visitors and make a post more useful to prospective clients.
Other ways to build an audience or find work
Creator Marketplace
Creator Marketplace can make eligible creators discoverable to brands, but LinkedIn Help currently limits it to a select group in the United States and Canada. The stated eligibility requirements include at least 12 posts in 90 days, 5,000 followers, 45,000 impressions in 90 days, and an invitation. LinkedIn says these thresholds can change, so meeting the published numbers does not guarantee access.
Newsletters
Every LinkedIn member can create newsletters about professional topics. Subscribers may receive push, in-app, and email notifications for new editions, making newsletters useful for building a repeat audience. The cited LinkedIn guidance does not describe direct payments for newsletters, so treat them as an audience and lead-generation channel rather than a built-in payout program.
How the tools fit different side-hustle models
| Side-hustle goal | Most relevant feature | What to measure |
|---|---|---|
| Sell expertise by the hour | Advice Sessions | Qualified bookings, attendance, repeat clients, and time spent per paid session. |
| Grow authority before selling a service | Creator dashboard, Network feed, newsletters, and pinned comments | Relevant followers, engagement quality, profile visits, and inquiries. |
| Earn from video reach | In-Stream Ads, if invited or eligible | Eligible video views and whether ads are actually served. |
| Find brand collaborations | Creator Marketplace, if invited | Discoverability, qualified proposals, and completed campaigns. |
Premium products LinkedIn is positioning for small businesses
LinkedIn’s May 12, 2026 small-business announcement positions Premium Business, Premium Company Page, Premium All-in-One, and Hiring Pro for founders and small teams. Advice Sessions are described as rolling out to Premium Business subscribers in the United States.
LinkedIn reports that Premium Company Page subscribers see 7.5 times more Page engagement on average and can compare up to nine companies with Competitor Analytics. It also reports early Premium All-in-One results of a 57% rise in followers and a 40% lift in profile views. A separate February 12, 2026 announcement says Premium All-in-One combines sales, marketing, and hiring tools, reported up to a 60% increase in reply rates from daily prospect suggestions, and found that 74% of small-business leaders globally consider brand building critical to their goals. These are LinkedIn-reported results, not guarantees for an individual account.
LinkedIn lists the courses Scaling Your Small Business, The AI Edge for Entrepreneurs, and Small Business Marketing as learning resources. No current subscription prices or Advice Sessions fees are established in the announcements.
Best Value
What to check before planning around a feature
- Country: Advice Sessions currently name the United States; Creator Marketplace names the United States and Canada; the Network feed test names four countries.
- Subscription: Advice Sessions require Business Premium eligibility, while private profile notes require a Premium subscription.
- Invitation: In-Stream Ads and Creator Marketplace access can depend on an invitation or a selected test.
- Rollout timing: A global or expanding rollout does not mean every account receives the feature on the same day.
- Commercial terms: LinkedIn has not published current subscription prices, Advice Sessions transaction fees, or guaranteed advertising rates in the announcements.
What this means for a side-hustle creator
LinkedIn’s most concrete path to direct payment is Advice Sessions, but it is geographically and commercially limited at launch. The creator dashboard and networking changes are primarily infrastructure for finding the right audience and converting attention into conversations. In-Stream Ads may eventually add video revenue, while Creator Marketplace and newsletters support discovery without promising a payout.
The practical approach is to build a clear professional topic, publish consistently, track which subjects generate qualified conversations, and check the eligibility panel on your own account before committing to a paid offer. Treat every availability statement as temporary: LinkedIn is staging these tools by market, plan, invitation, and test.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
