LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social networking platforms, with over 722 million users worldwide as of April 2022. On LinkedIn, users can create posts to share content, thoughts, and insights with their professional network. A common question that many LinkedIn users have is whether it’s possible to add a photo to a post after it has already been published.
Why Would You Want to Add a Photo After Posting?
There are a few reasons why a LinkedIn user may want to add a photo to their post after they’ve already hit publish:
- They forgot to include a relevant image in the original post.
- They want to make their post more visually engaging by including an image.
- Something relevant happened after publishing that they want to share an image of.
- They realize an image would help illustrate a point they made in the post.
Adding visuals to LinkedIn posts can help them stand out in the feed, convey information more effectively, and capture viewers’ attention. Posting the text content first and adding an image later allows the user to refine and improve their post even after it’s live.
Can You Edit a Published LinkedIn Post?
The good news is – yes, it is possible to edit a published LinkedIn post after it’s been shared. LinkedIn allows users to go back and make changes to posts that are already live. There are a couple different ways to do this:
- Via the LinkedIn website: In the LinkedIn post feed, click the three dots icon next to a post and select “Edit post” to make changes.
- Via the LinkedIn mobile app: Tap on a post and then tap the pencil icon to open the editing screen.
This editing capability makes it easy to go back and add a photo, fix typos, change the text, or make other updates to an already-published post.
Steps to Add a Photo to a LinkedIn Post After Publishing
Here are the steps to easily add a photo to your LinkedIn post after you’ve already posted it:
- Locate the post in your LinkedIn feed and click the three dots or pencil “edit” icon.
- This will open the post editor where you can make changes.
- Click the + icon to add an image.
- Select a JPEG image file from your computer to upload.
- Position the image where desired within the post text.
- When finished, click “Save” to update the post with the photo.
And that’s all there is to it! The existing post will now be updated to include the image.
Tips for Adding an Image to a LinkedIn Post
Here are some tips for seamlessly adding a photo to a LinkedIn post:
- Choose a high quality image that is relevant to your post content. Poor quality or random images can detract from your message.
- Reduce the file size if needed so the image uploads quickly. Large file sizes can lead to slow load times.
- Position the image in a logical spot within the flow of the text, such as next to a relevant heading or paragraph.
- Mention the image in the caption or short description of the post if it’s especially important.
- Preview how the post will look with the image before saving changes.
The Benefits of Adding Visuals to LinkedIn Posts
Including images in your LinkedIn posts can provide a number of benefits:
- Increased engagement – Posts with images typically get more likes, comments, and shares.
- Improved storytelling – Visuals can help illustrate your narrative or message.
- Enhanced post reach – Images make your posts stand out and can help them get seen by more people.
- Reinforced credibility – Relevant images reflect knowledge and expertise on a topic.
- Better communication – Some information is conveyed better visually than through text.
In today’s digital world, we process visual information faster. Adding photos to LinkedIn allows you to capitalize on this for more effective communication.
Potential Drawbacks of Posting Images on LinkedIn
While images offer many benefits, there are some potential drawbacks to be aware of when adding them to LinkedIn posts:
- Can be distracting if not relevant – Images for the sake of images alone can detract from your message.
- Take up valuable space – Less room for important text when space is shared with an image.
- Slow load time – Large file sizes negatively impact load speed.
- Lack of accessibility – Vision-impaired users may not be able to fully access the information.
- Copyright issues – Using images without proper licensing/attribution raises legal issues.
The key is choosing images intentionally, using them to enhance or supplement the post content, and providing proper attribution.
Ideal Image Types for LinkedIn Posts
When considering what types of images to add to a LinkedIn post, aim for relevant, high-quality photos and visuals that align with your goal for the post. Here are some of the best options:
- Infographics: Display data, stats, tips, comparisons, etc. in a visual format.
- Charts/graphs: Illustrate trends, changes over time, before/after data.
- Product images: Showcase a product, app, tool, or service your company offers.
- Photos of people: Show events, conferences, company culture, etc. Ensure you have permission!
- Quotes: Combine motivational or inspiring quotes with related imagery.
Infographics, charts, product images, and photos tend to perform especially well on LinkedIn. Quotes and data visualizations are also very popular. Choose clear, eye-catching images that make your post more interesting and informative.
Sourcing Quality Post Images Ethically
To add great images to your LinkedIn posts without issue, it’s important to source them properly. Here are a few recommendations:
- Take your own high-quality photos whenever possible.
- License images from stock photo sites like Getty Images or Unsplash.
- Use images from free image databases like Pexels or Pixabay.
- Properly cite and credit any images you did not create yourself.
- Avoid copyright-protected images without permission.
- Obtain photo releases/consent forms if posting images of people.
With proper attribution and licensing, you can find almost any type of quality image to use on LinkedIn without issues.
Ideal Photo Specifications for LinkedIn
To ensure your photos look fantastic on LinkedIn, it’s best to use high-resolution images with the following ideal specifications:
Photo Spec | Ideal Size |
---|---|
Dimensions | 1024 x 768 pixels |
Orientation | Landscape or Square |
Format | JPG or PNG |
File size | Under 8MB |
Square 1:1 ratio images look great as standalone images in posts. Horizontal landscape images are ideal for banners and headers. Following these specs results in crisp, clear photos on LinkedIn.
Optimizing Images for LinkedIn Using Online Tools
If you need to edit your existing images to meet LinkedIn’s ideal specifications, there are many free online photo editors you can use:
- Canva: Provides templates sized for LinkedIn posts and lets you easily resize, crop, and edit images.
- PicMonkey: Offers intuitive editing features to add text, touch up, resize, and adjust orientation of images.
- Befunky: Makes it easy to crop, recolor, apply effects, and more to optimize images.
- Adobe Express: Enables quick resizing, cropping, filter application, text/graphic overlays.
- IMG2Go: Simple drag-and-drop tool to quickly resize and compress images for web.
Using these DIY editing tools, you can adapt existing images to create perfect visual assets for your LinkedIn posts.
Conclusion
Posting compelling images is a great way to boost engagement, tell better stories, and visually communicate your message on LinkedIn. While you can’t add a photo when initially composing a post, LinkedIn’s editing feature makes it simple to go back and upload images to already-published posts.
Choose eye-catching, relevant photos that complement your content. Optimize them for LinkedIn’s specifications and source them ethically. With the right visuals, your LinkedIn posts will grab more attention and effectively convey what you aim to share with your connections.