Here are 50 tips on how to post on LinkedIn
Brand repertoire – it’s what companies and marketers wish to grow online without the humbug of social media or the unpleasantness of generic content creation.
Although LinkedIn is technically a social media platform, its business-oriented content lends itself to a more strategic approach.
In other words, it’s an avenue for professionals to build a well-rounded online presence.
Created as a platform for professional networking, where companies and job seekers can connect and share job postings, LinkedIn has since grown into a powerful marketing tool for businesses.
Apart from helping professionals stay connected, it has since transformed into an effective channel for advertising products and services, which often translates to more leads and conversions.
The LinkedIn Publishing Platform is the epitome of this marketing strategy, allowing users to write and share their brand-related stories.
LinkedIn Publishing Platform
The addition of the LinkedIn Publishing Platform allows users to share long-form content with their connections.
This helps to increase user engagement, which can lead to more clicks, shares, and conversions.
Unlike a traditional WordPress blog, this article publishing tool carries some teeth, considering it’s a part of the world’s largest professional network. Connections, followers, and other readers may see and interact with your content if they find it interesting or relevant to their interests.
If you wish to leverage your LinkedIn presence, here are 50 tips on posting effectively.
1 – Post relevant content tailored to LinkedIn
Content must always be tailored to its target audience, and LinkedIn is no exception.
The content has to be relevant to the LinkedIn community, whether it’s a business news article, an industry-specific tip, or a compelling story.
And since your content is for a business-oriented audience, make sure you provide value through your posts.
2 – Your headlines on LinkedIn must be engaging.
You want people to click on your post from the very moment they look at it.
To see that they do, your headline should be catchy and invoke curiosity or interest among readers.
Let’s compare two examples that offer the same context yet deliver vastly different results:
- “5 Tips to Write Better Sales Emails”
- “Unlock the Secret of Writing Perfect Sales Emails Every Time.”
The latter will draw more attention due to its intriguing approach. It doesn’t overreach, but it also doesn’t underwhelm.
3 – Keep your LinkedIn posts short and to the point.
Long-form content has its place in the digital world, but when it comes to LinkedIn, short is best.
You have just a few seconds to lure readers in, so don’t waste it. Always keep your posts concise, but they also must be comprehensive enough to drive the point home.
4 – Use visuals whenever possible.
Visuals like photographs and illustrations add flavour to content by making it more interesting and helping readers remember your points.
They also increase the appearance of your posts and their chances of getting shared.
As the adage says, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” but in this case, it’s worth more than that.
When using visuals, see that the file size is optimized for upload. Don’t forget to include appropriate captions and ensure that the visual aids your point instead of hampering it.
5 – Include hashtags to increase visibility.
Tag your post with industry-appropriate hashtags to make it easier for readers searching for content related to its subject.
Hashtags are like labels that categorize posts and help them appear in search results, making them more visible and attractive.
It’s not that difficult, even if you haven’t used hashtags before, as illustrated below:
If your content is about marketing automation, you can use hashtags such as “marketingautomation,” “digitalmarketing,” and “businessgrowth.”
It’ll increase the chances of your post getting seen by people interested in the topic.
6 – Use a header image.
As with any content, having a header image improves the visual appeal and makes your post stand out.
An image at the beginning of the post makes sense because it’s the first thing readers will see when they access it.
Use a header that supports your content and encourages readers to continue reading further.
7 – Be very specific when it comes to title length.
You may feel it’s so minute of detail that it won’t affect your post.
But it does.
Try to keep your headlines between 40-50 characters in length, including spaces and special characters such as exclamation marks.
This is the optimal size to ensure that your post titles are neither too long nor too short.
8 – Post on LinkedIn at the right time of day.
The timing of your post is very important on LinkedIn.
The reason is that everyone posts at different times, but you must see that your content gets in front of the maximum number of readers.
For example, if you’re targeting a US audience, you should aim for posting in the afternoon between 12 pm and 5 pm EST.
Doing so will increase the visibility of your posts and give you the best chance of success.
9 – End posts with a call-to-action (CTA).
Don’t forget to end content with a CTA that encourages readers to take action.
Think of it as a signpost pointing them in the right direction after they’ve finished reading your post.
Here are a few examples of CTA phrases:
- “Take the next step.”
- “Share your thoughts with us.”
- “Follow us for more helpful tips and insights.”
10 – Share thought-provoking questions on LinkedIn
If you want to ensure your post stands out on LinkedIn, ask questions that are thought-provoking and relevant to the topic.
This will attract readers’ interest while sparking dialogue which can help spread your ideas even further.
It doesn’t have to be an overly complex question, just something that will get people talking and thinking.
11 – Invite comments from readers.
One way to engage with your followers is to invite them to comment on your post.
Ask for their opinion and address any questions raised in the comments section, as this shows readers you care about their views and open a door for further discussion.
12 – No need for videos.
In a world riddled with Tiktok and Instagram, there’s no need to add videos to your post as you would on other social media platforms.
Text posts are more than enough for LinkedIn and can easily capture readers’ attention if written well.
Some studies indicate that videos and other multimedia elements in long-form LinkedIn posts can distract and reduce engagement.
13 – Appreciate those who engage with your content.
Don’t forget to showcase gratitude when someone takes the time to read and comment on your post – it goes a long way in building relationships.
Thank them for their input, respond to comments, and share their posts. Yes, it takes precious minutes of your day, but it’s worth the effort.
14 – Use a “How-To” headline.
People love instruction-style content and often want to learn how to do things fast. Consider using a “how-to” headline which will likely attract more readers than just a standard headline.
The idea is to make it as catchy as possible yet straightforward enough to let readers know exactly what they’re getting into.
For instance, a headline which says, “How To Write A Killer LinkedIn Post” or “How To Increase Your LinkedIn Engagement” are likelier to get clicks than something generic, i.e., “Tips For Writing Better Posts.”
15 – Paragraphs should be short; break up the text.
LinkedIn posts with long paragraphs are painful to read and can easily bore readers.
Breaking the text into smaller paragraphs makes it easier for people to skim through and adds visual interest.
Doing this also helps draw attention to important points and make your post look organized and well-structured.
16 – Emojis help readers digest your content.
Although emojis are more typical in Facebook and Instagram posts, they can also be used to add a bit of colour and personality to your LinkedIn content.
They are visual cues that attract attention and make the text more interesting for readers.
They can even help clarify the meaning in certain contexts where words may not suffice or break up long blocks of text.
17 – Never overdo it with hashtags.
Yes, we discussed using hashtags earlier, but too much of them can be just as bad as not using them.
Try to stick with no more than two or three hashtags in a single post and ensure they are relevant to the content.
18 – Tag other users to increase engagement.
By tagging individuals or businesses in your post, you can amplify its reach and boost engagement.
Not only does this shine a spotlight on your content, but it also expresses gratitude for the referenced parties’ efforts – which may convince them to explore what you wrote and even share it with their followers!
If you recall, LinkedIn was built as a professional network, so the more you can make the network work for you, the better.
19 – Humour your readers.
Including touches of humour in your posts will lighten the mood.
Just because you’re posting content to a professional network doesn’t mean it has to be overly serious.
Humour corresponds to more engaging content and helps you stand out in the sea of corporate posts.
When done right, humour can also show that there’s an actual person behind the post rather than just a company or brand.
This builds trust with readers and may even encourage them to follow you.
20 – People love stats.
Including statistics and other data in your posts injects credibility into what you’re saying. Instead of just making claims, back them up with facts and figures, making it easier for readers to trust your words.
This doesn’t mean that you should include stats for the sake of including them. Only share relevant data which bolsters your argument.
21 – Clickbait headlines aren’t half bad, either. (Yup, you heard that right!)
Although clickbait is often frowned upon, it still works in many cases to increase engagement.
If your readers are hooked by the headline and find that the content delivers what it promises (which should be the case), they will not only stick around but may even return for more.
The key here is to craft clever headlines which are genuine and accurate. If you can manage this, clickbait headlines could be a great addition to your strategy.
Warning: Be wary of going overboard with this – it could backfire and damage your image. Don’t make false promises, and ensure that your content lives up to the expectations created by the headline.
22 – Publish on LinkedIn often and at the right times.
Consistent posting is key, but publishing too much won’t do you any favours, either.
People will quickly tire of seeing your posts everywhere and may even start to avoid them.
The same goes for post timing – pick the right times to publish content.
However, don’t forget that every audience may have different preferences. Experiment with your posts’ timing until you find what works best.
Here’s what LinkedIn said about the ideal time to post content:
“Updates posted in the morning usually earn the highest engagement, with a slight bump occurring again after business hours. You should experiment to see what works best for your company.”
23 – Monitor and improve your performance.
Checking the performance of your content will give you an understanding of what resonates with your audience and how to adjust future posts accordingly.
A great way to do this is by looking at analytics – LinkedIn provides insights into the performance of your posts, making it easy to identify which pieces are working and which need improvement.
If you’re eager to increase engagement with your content, consider using visuals in future posts – after all, research shows that images often result in more interaction than text-only pieces.
24 – Answer questions.
It’s all about listening. When you encourage readers to ask questions, you must follow them up by responding to them.
It’ll show that you care about your readers’ opinions and encourage further discussion – which could be the start of something great!
Answering questions shows that you’re active and willing to engage with people.
And did you know that all answers are indexed by search engines, which translates to organic traffic for you?
25 – Get involved in conversations.
Going beyond just answering questions, actively participate in conversations related to your area of expertise.
Engage with people and comment on what you think about the discussed topic.
Remember, this isn’t counterintuitive or a waste of time.
When you talk to people on LinkedIn, you will likely increase engagement with your posts. You don’t need to say much, just be present and share your input whenever it adds value.
By participating in conversations, you build a network with other professionals and make new connections – which can open doors for potential opportunities.
26 – Use a storyline.
Human-to-human marketing refers to the use of storytelling to connect with your audience.
People are likelier to engage with content presented as a story.
We’re not saying you need a novel or any long-winded piece – having a clear beginning, middle, and end will suffice.
Note: Stories are a nifty way to explain complex topics, especially in business, economics, finance, and other related disciplines.
27 – Insert some intellectual property (IP) if you have one.
If it’s business credibility you’re concerned about, consider inserting some of your intellectual property into the mix.
That could be a patent, trademark-protected product or process, etc. Having IP adds an extra layer of professionalism to your content. We can’t imagine any other way to demonstrate that you mean business.
One excellent example is a proprietary algorithm.
All companies develop their algorithms for different purposes, and explaining the inner workings of one or two is a surefire way to impress your readers.
Remember that when it comes to IP, you need to be extra careful with rules and regulations.
See that you’re not violating any laws by sharing content related to your intellectual property.
28 – Never include a link to an external site.
You probably are used to doing this with your WordPress blog or social media posts, but LinkedIn won’t allow it. Since it’s focused on providing a safe and secure platform for professionals, outside links are not allowed.
There’s no explicit rule about this, but the platform does keep an eye out for such content.
You’ll know it when your post has low engagement and views.
A better alternative is to use an in-platform link, which doesn’t get you penalized and still provides users with extra information if they’re interested – the best of both worlds.
29 – A motivational quote works, too.
This is true, especially when content is about personal and professional development.
Everyone loves to be inspired, and using a quote from an influential figure can boost engagement with your post.
Remember that this doesn’t apply to LinkedIn; it’s true for all social media platforms.
30 – Memes, anyone?
On the same note as the above tip, don’t forget about memes!
Humorous anecdotes serve as welcoming topics of conversation, quickly spreading across social media due to their relatable nature.
Also, your post will stand out when you share something unexpected on LinkedIn – like comedic content!
31 – List posts do wonders when writing about business or related stuff.
List posts are your best friend when writing about business or marketing topics.
Listing out points orderly helps readers understand the message quickly and move ahead with the discussion. Also, it’s easier to go through than a long narrative post.
For example, if you’re writing about the five best practices for customer service, you can list those five points and explain each in a few lines.
Following this format is more effective than discussing all topics in a single post.
32 – Collaborate with other professionals when possible.
This one’s a no-brainer, considering we’re discussing a platform designed for business professionals.
Collaboration builds relationships and exchanges ideas and expertise.
Reach out to other professionals and suggest writing a post together.
It’ll open doors to new opportunities and lead to some great connections.
You could even acquire more knowledge in the process.
Make sure to include a link to their profile in the post, too!
33 – Turn articles into newsletters.
LinkedIn makes this possible. After you post an article, you can create a newsletter and send it to your followers.
They’ll get the latest updates on their newsfeeds as soon as you make any changes or make new content available.
Truth be told, it’s a clever way to keep people engaged with your content.
34 – Boost your branding by incorporating your name in your LinkedIn URL.
Having a custom LinkedIn URL makes your brand stand out.
It also looks better than the default one, which is usually just a combination of numbers and letters.
Pick something unique and make sure it has your name so users can easily find you on Google.
So, every time you publish an article on LinkedIn, you get to include your custom URL in the post.
35 – Syndicate your blog content.
This is an effective way to increase your reach and bring more readers to your blog.
You can take a post from your blog and share it on LinkedIn, adding value with some extra tidbits or insights for the benefit of the readers.
Don’t forget to link the original post so readers can go directly to it if they wish. If you want a different way to drive traffic, this is a surefire way to do it.
36 – Share your content in LinkedIn Groups.
Groups are a great way to spread the word about your latest content, as you can join relevant groups and share your articles there.
This gives you access to a larger pool of professionals who might be interested in what you have to say.
It’s an organic way of introducing yourself and growing your network – something every professional should do.
37 – Let your followers know about your recently published content on LinkedIn.
This is another simple yet effective way to get more eyes on your content.
You can tell your followers about the post you just published on LinkedIn by linking it to various social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
While LinkedIn doesn’t like it when you put external links in your posts, it’s alright to direct the traffic from other platforms.
38 – Create involvement.
LinkedIn is primarily a professional network but is still a social media platform.
People love engaging in conversations, so asking them questions that pique their interest is an easy way to get them involved.
Frame the questions in a way that encourages people to come up with their answers and opinions, and you’ll notice how quickly your post starts gaining traction.
39 – Discuss third-party content.
Curating content is an absolute “must-do” when you hope to showcase your expertise in the field.
As such, you may want to discuss third-party content as long as you give credit where it’s due.
Of course, you can’t just discuss any content – it must be relevant to your target audience.
But if done correctly, you’ll draw a lot of attention to your profile and get more people talking about the topics you care about.
40 – Celebrate milestones with success stories.
People love reading about success stories, and LinkedIn as a platform is no exception when celebrating its members’ achievements.
If you’ve recently achieved a major milestone, why not share it with your network?
Your story could inspire those who are just starting out.
We don’t know about you, but there’s something about reading people’s success stories that make us want to strive for more.
41 – Take advantage of LinkedIn advertising options.
LinkedIn Ads are designed to get your content in front of the right people.
With the platform’s advanced targeting options, your ads will likely reach the people who matter most to your business – and that’s priceless!
Also, don’t underestimate sponsored posts to promote your original content or boost existing posts.
It makes sense from the budget perspective, as your spending will bring more traffic to your profile, thus giving you better chances for organic growth.
42 – Analyze your performance with LinkedIn Insights.
LinkedIn Insights afford a lot of opportunities for analytics and tracking. With this data, you can optimize your strategy and get the most out of your content regarding views, engagement, leads generated, etc.
It’s an invaluable tool for building a more efficient marketing campaign.
For instance, you can track views and see what content resonates best with your audience.
This information will help you adjust your strategy and focus on the topics that get the most response from viewers.
43 – Amplify the reach of your content by leveraging guest blogging.
This one’s rather straightforward – find influential industry blogs that feature guest contributions and pitch yourself as a contributor.
Remember, though, that the content should be relevant to their audience, so make sure you craft an article that appeals to their readers.
Once published, you can link to your LinkedIn profile in the article, ultimately exposing yourself to a new audience.
44 – Do away with political content.
Save the political talk for your other social pages, or better yet, keep it to yourself!
On LinkedIn, people come to network and build relationships with professionals in their field.
Political debates won’t do you any favours as they tend to spark heated arguments that make everyone uncomfortable.
45 – Share unsponsored videos.
Instead of embedding videos on an article you plan to publish on LinkedIn, you’re better off posting them as unsponsored videos.
LinkedIn says this strategy gives you a better chance of being seen than regular posts.
And since it’s pure video, viewers can comment and like directly on the post, which boosts engagement.
Tip: Unsponsored videos may contain an animation of a recently launched product, a recap of a newly released whitepaper, or a video of you speaking about an industry-related topic.
46 – Try some LinkedIn Live events.
If you want to take your content to the next level, LinkedIn Live is a tool that potentially attracts customers while engaging with current ones.
You’ll have the opportunity to connect with individuals in real time and provide answers immediately.
And did you know that these events have a longer shelf life than regular posts, as they stay available to view for up to a month after the live stream ends?
47 – Use text posts.
The term “text post” in LinkedIn refers to content written directly into the platform.
They often appear in the feed just like any other post, albeit devoid of imagery.
If you think it sounds boring, wait until you realize that text posts create effective engagement for certain content types, i.e., polls and surveys, excerpts of an article, responses to a comment, quick tips, inspirational quotes, and even a riddle.
Fun Fact: Sometimes, articles with so many images become so monotonous that some readers find it refreshing to see a text post in the feed.
48 – Make sure your visuals are optimized for mobile devices.
Most people now access social media from their phones, so your visuals must look good on both web and mobile devices. See that you use formatted images with enough resolution and optimize them for your viewers’ mobile devices.
The post won’t be cut off or displayed poorly on their screens, and you can save them from having to zoom in to view it.
49 – Don’t forget about organic growth.
Although LinkedIn ads will provide results, don’t underestimate the power of organic reach. Check analytics to see what content is doing well organically and post more of that kind of content instead.
Also, remember to engage with other users – like or comment on their posts and join relevant groups.
50 – Have fun!
All these tips won’t bring you engagement if you don’t have fun doing it.
As with any other social platform, LinkedIn users will get bored if your content lacks personality and excitement. So be yourself! If you’re passionate about something, share it!
And always try to inject a bit of humour or wit into your posts so that viewers can relate to them easily.
LinkedIn will forever have its distinct personality as a business-oriented platform, and it’s up to you to use that personality according to your needs. Be creative, and don’t be afraid to try new things.
Yes, rules within the platform will still need to be followed, but that shouldn’t stop you from experimenting. Have fun, connect with the right people, and be consistent with it!
Joel Mark Harris graduated from the Langara School of Journalism in 2007. Joel is an award-winning journalist, novelist, screenwriter and producer.
He has ghostwritten numerous books in all types of genres including true life crime, business, memoir, and self help. With over 1,000 blog posts to his name, he has helped hundreds of business owners scale their business and increase their visibility. You can email him at info@ghostwritersandco.com