TL;DR
Yes, you can attach a PDF to a LinkedIn post. LinkedIn allows you to attach documents like PDFs, images, presentations, and more to your posts. The file size limit for attachments is 25MB. Attaching relevant PDFs to your posts can help share valuable content with your network and boost engagement.
What Types of Files Can You Attach to a LinkedIn Post?
LinkedIn supports attaching the following file types to your posts:
- PDF – Portable Document Format
- DOC/DOCX – Microsoft Word Document
- PPT/PPTX – Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
- XLS/XLSX – Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
- JPG, PNG, GIF – Image Files
- MP4 – Video Files
- ZIP/RAR – Compressed Files
Essentially, you can attach most common file formats to your LinkedIn posts. PDF and Word documents tend to be the most commonly attached.
The maximum file size for an attachment is 25MB. So as long as your file is 25MB or less, you can attach it to a LinkedIn post.
Why Attach a PDF to Your LinkedIn Post?
Here are some of the main reasons you may want to attach a PDF file to your LinkedIn posts:
- Share an in-depth guide, ebook, whitepaper, or report
- Provide extra details and context to accompany your post
- Share your resume, portfolio samples, or other documents
- Drive traffic to your website by sharing gated content
- Demonstrate expertise and thought leadership
Attaching a well-designed, relevant PDF helps provide extra value for your connections. It gives them something to download and reference later.
PDFs also boost engagement as people click through to view the attachment.
Step-by-Step Guide to Attaching a PDF to a LinkedIn Post
Attaching a PDF to your LinkedIn posts is easy and only takes a few clicks. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Draft your LinkedIn post as normal. You can include text, images, hashtags, mentions, etc.
- Click the “Attach” icon in the post editor toolbar. It looks like a paperclip symbol.
- A popup will open allowing you to select a file from your computer to upload.
- Navigate to the PDF file and select Open. Allow a moment for the file to upload.
- The PDF file will now appear as an attachment below your post text.
- Preview your post. Make any final edits needed.
- Click the blue “Post” button to share your post with attachments to your network.
And that’s all there is to it! With just a few clicks you can easily attach PDF files or other documents to your LinkedIn posts.
Best Practices for Attaching PDFs to LinkedIn Posts
When attaching a PDF to your LinkedIn posts, keep these best practices in mind:
- Choose a relevant, high-quality PDF – Make sure the content relates to your post topic and will be valuable to your audience.
- Keep the file size under 25MB – Large file sizes are difficult to download and discourage engagement.
- Only attach 1-2 PDFs per post – Too many attachments clutter the post and affect readability.
- Mention the PDF in your post text – Give readers context on what the attachment contains.
- Upload eye-catching PDF covers – The cover image will be displayed in your post so make it visually appealing.
- Use PDFs sparingly – Overuse makes posts seem spammy. Attach only your best content.
- Monitor engagement metrics – See which PDF attachment posts perform best with your audience.
Following these tips will ensure your PDF attachments are adding value for your LinkedIn connections.
LinkedIn Post with PDF Attachment Example
Here is an example of a well-formatted LinkedIn post with a PDF attachment:
Post Text:
Excited to share my full quarterly sales report! Download the PDF attachment to see key sales figures, trends, and analysis from Q3. Let me know if you have any other questions not covered in the report. Wishing you a successful Q4 finish!
Attachment:
Quarterly Sales Report Q3 2022.pdf
This example provides context in the post text explaining what the PDF contains. It encourages connections to download and view the file. The PDF has an enticing title using a date reference.
Tips for Creating Effective PDF Attachments
To maximize the impact of your PDF attachments, keep these tips in mind:
- Include a visually appealing cover page – This will display as a preview in your post.
- Use page numbers and table of contents – Allow readers to easily navigate the document.
- Balance text, images, graphs – Different elements make content more consumable.
- Format for on-screen reading – Optimize paragraph size and spacing.
- Highlight key information – Use callouts, text boxes, and other highlights.
- Use descriptive headers and subheaders – Help readers understand structure and find sections.
- Craft a compelling title – Hook interest and communicate the benefit.
- Keep file size reasonable – Long load times discourage downloads.
- Publish in PDF format – Ensures proper formatting across devices.
Investing in well-designed, relevant PDFs tailored to your LinkedIn audience will get your attachments more views and shares.
Alternatives to Attaching PDFs to LinkedIn Posts
While attaching PDFs directly to your posts can be effective, here are a few alternative options:
- Link to PDFs hosted on your website or Dropbox.
- Share PDF links in your LinkedIn publisher posts.
- Add PDF links in your LinkedIn profile summary or experiences.
- Include PDF links in LinkedIn Groups and Forums you are active in.
- Link to PDFs from your email signature or marketing emails.
- Promote new PDFs through LinkedIn status updates.
Depending on your goals and content format, linking to PDFs may make more sense than direct attachments. Test different options to see what drives the most clicks and engagement from your target audience.
3 Tips for Driving Engagement with PDF Attachments
To get the most value from attaching PDFs to your LinkedIn posts, leverage these three tips:
1. Segment Your Offers
Send different PDF attachments to targeted segments of your audience based on their interests and preferences.
For example, send your sales PDF only to connections in sales roles. Or send your company culture PDF only to HR professionals.
Segmenting allows your content to be more relevant.
2. Gate Valuable Content
Require visitors to download your PDF attachment before accessing exclusive information.
For instance, you may provide a link to the full version of a guide after someone downloads the sample PDF.
Gating makes PDF attachments more enticing.
3. Promote Your PDFs
Don’t just set-and-forget your PDF attachment posts. Promote them through mentions, direct messages, and other channels.
Remind audiences to check out your recent uploads if they missed them. Repurpose content into new formats like video or audio.
Promotion gives your attachments a longer lifespan.
Smart segmenting, gating, and promotion will amplify the reach and impact of your PDF attachment posts.
Conclusion
Attaching PDFs to your LinkedIn posts can be a powerful tactic for engaging your professional network. With LinkedIn’s generous 25MB file size limit, you have plenty of room to get creative with PDF content.
Focus on sharing high-quality, visually appealing PDFs that provide valuable insights to your target audience. Attach them to relevant posts that give context. Segment your list and leverage gated content where appropriate.
What type of PDFs perform best on LinkedIn? Test different styles and topics and track the engagement data to optimize your approach. Add multimedia elements where possible.
Wielding PDF attachments effectively takes a bit of strategy and effort, but the return in the form of more visibility, credibility and leads make it worth the investment.