LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 810 million members. It allows you to connect with other professionals, follow companies, find jobs, share content, and more. One useful feature on LinkedIn is the ability to post thoughts and updates to share ideas, experiences, articles, etc. with your connections. Posting thoughts allows you to establish your professional brand, demonstrate your knowledge, and engage with your network. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about posting thoughts on LinkedIn.
Why Post Thoughts on LinkedIn?
Here are some of the key reasons you may want to post thoughts on LinkedIn:
- Share ideas and perspectives – Posting thoughts allows you to share your views on industry topics, current events, personal experiences, etc.
- Establish thought leadership – Consistently posting insightful thoughts can help build your reputation as a thought leader in your field.
- Promote content – Drive traffic to your blog, website, articles, videos, etc. by posting links and summaries.
- Engage your network – Posting thoughts prompts discussion and reactions from your connections.
- Build relationships – Thoughtful posts give connections a window into your expertise and personality.
- Find opportunities – Discussions sparked by your posts can uncover new prospects, partners, jobs, etc.
In summary, posting thoughts provides value to your connections while helping you achieve a variety of professional goals. It’s a simple way to raise your profile and get more out of LinkedIn.
What Can I Post as a Thought on LinkedIn?
The thoughts you share on LinkedIn can cover a wide range of topics. Here are some ideas of what you can post:
- Industry news and analysis – Commentary and insights on developments in your field.
- Event recaps – Highlights, key takeaways and photos from events you attend.
- Career or business advice – Tips, how-tos, and recommendations based on your experience.
- Reactions to articles – Your thoughts on articles you’ve read.
- Company or product updates – News from your business or employer.
- Personal reflections – Lessons learned, goals, stories, etc.
- Links to your content – Articles, blogs, videos, presentations, etc.
- Quotes – Inspiring or insightful quotes (with attribution).
- Questions – Pose questions to your network to spark discussion.
- Projects – Provide updates on projects you’re working on.
- Work successes – Career milestones and achievements.
Essentially, if there is something worthwhile you would tell your professional connections, it can likely make an interesting LinkedIn post. The key is providing value to your network.
How to Post Thoughts on LinkedIn
Posting thoughts on LinkedIn is simple. Here are the steps:
- Go to LinkedIn and log into your account.
- Click on the “Write an article” button on your LinkedIn home page.
- In the pop-up window, fill in the details for your post:
- Headline – A title for your post.
- Article format – You can choose either long-form or short-form.
- Attach – Add an image, document, video, or poll if desired.
- Visibility – Select who can see your post (connections, public, etc.).
- Write your post in the main text editor below. Use rich text formatting as needed.
- When done, click “Post” to share your thought with your network.
And that’s all it takes! Your thought will now be visible on your profile and in the feeds of your connections.
Tips for Posting Great Thoughts
Here are some tips to make your LinkedIn thoughts compelling and get maximum engagement:
- Be authentic – Share your real experiences, views, and personality.
- Add value – Offer insights, ideas, and resources your network will appreciate.
- Engage your audience – Ask questions, share stories, use visuals, etc. to get reactions.
- Be timely – Connect your thoughts to current events when possible.
- Be consistent – Post regularly to stay top of mind, but avoid spamming.
- Monitor responses – Reply to comments and answer questions from your connections.
- Promote your posts – Share your thoughts off of LinkedIn too.
- Analyze performance – Review analytics to see what types of posts work best.
- Optimize for SEO – Use relevant keywords so your posts are easily discoverable.
Following these best practices will help you create an active presence on LinkedIn and fully leverage the platform.
LinkedIn Post Examples
Here are a few example LinkedIn posts across different formats to give you an idea of what compelling thoughts could look like:
Industry Analysis
The semiconductor industry took a hit last quarter from falling memory chip prices. But the demand for semiconductors remains strong in high-growth areas like AI, 5G, and IoT. Here are 3 reasons why I’m still bullish on semiconductor stocks for the long-run: 1. Rising digitization, 2. Growth of cloud computing, and 3. The rollout of 5G technology globally.
Event Recap
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos. It was an extremely insightful few days of panels and conversations with global leaders. My key takeaways: 1. There is urgent need for public-private partnerships to solve big global issues. 2. Leaders clearly recognize the vast economic potential of embracing diversity. 3. Geopolitical rifts are unfortunately growing wider despite calls for greater collaboration.
Career Advice
Looking to expand your professional network? Here are 5 quick relationship-building tips that have worked for me: 1. Approach new connections with a “how can I help?” attitude. 2. Don’t ask for favors immediately. 3. Follow up consistently. 4. Share relevant opportunities and articles. 5. Avoid talking only about yourself.
Personal Reflection
This past weekend I took my daughters hiking for the first time. It was so rewarding watching their sense of wonder exploring nature up close. As a parent, I cherish moments like this that let my children expand their perspectives and passions. Small joys like a fun family outing give such fulfillment.
Link to Article
Excited to share a new article I published on 5 common communication mistakes that derail meetings and how to avoid them. As both a consultant and professor, I’ve seen these issues constantly hinder teams. Let me know if the advice resonates! [Link to article]
Optimal Post Length and Frequency
When posting thoughts on LinkedIn, keep these best practices in mind for length and frequency:
Length
- 2-3 paragraphs or ~100-200 words for short-form posts
- 600-1,000 words for long-form articles
- Ideally focus on quality over quantity
Frequency
- 1-2 times per week for active professionals
- Up to 1 post per weekday for power users and content producers
- Avoid posting multiple times a day
- Let your industry and audience needs guide ideal posting cadence
Test different lengths and frequencies to see what resonates best with your audience. Staying active with valuable content is the goal rather than flooding connections.
Interacting with Your Posts
To maximize the impact of your posts, be sure to interact with them. Here are smart ways to engage:
- Thank anyone who likes or comments on your posts.
- Reply to all comments thoughtfully to keep the conversation going.
- Ask followers questions to get them discussing.
- Monitor messages you receive regarding your posts.
- Share your posts to other platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
- Send individual messages with your post to key connections.
This level of engagement boosts your credibility and expands your reach. Don’t just post and walk away!
Measuring Post Performance
LinkedIn provides data on how your posts are performing. Track these metrics regularly:
- Reactions – Likes, celebrates, loves, etc. Show your content resonates.
- Comments – People discussing your posts have high engagement.
- Reshares – Others sharing your content expands your reach.
- Clicks – Click-throughs show valuable info that people want.
- Followers – Gaining followers means your content draws people in.
- Earned media views – External sites drives new audiences.
Review top-performing posts to identify your thought leadership sweet spots and replicate that success.
Potential Pitfalls to Avoid
While posting thoughts has many benefits, there are some potential pitfalls to sidestep:
- Over-promoting – Don’t make every post an ad or self-promotion.
- Lack of substance – Posts should educate, inform, or entertain.
- Controversy – Avoid polarizing stances that alienate your audience.
- Too much frequency – Don’t bombard connections with constant posts.
- Too many #hashtags – 1-2 max per post for discoverability.
- Spamming – Don’t directly message posts to those not following you.
Keep your audience’s perspective top of mind when posting to avoid turning them off. Focus on value.
Using LinkedIn Thoughts Strategically
To maximize the impact of your LinkedIn posts, integrate them into your overall social media and content strategy.
- Cross-promote top performing posts across other platforms.
- Turn thought posts into blog articles using the long-form post format.
- Identify your best topics and post types and do more of those.
- Engage with other top creators and share their content.
- Use posts to promote webinars, events, offers, or other initiatives.
- Collaborate with colleagues to provide different perspectives.
Use your posts as part of a cohesive approach to position yourself as an industry leader.
Tools to Manage LinkedIn Posts
Managing a consistent presence on LinkedIn takes time. Make it easier on yourself by using tools like:
- Buffer – Schedule posts in advance and analyze performance.
- Hootsuite – Manage posts and conversations from one dashboard.
- Sprout Social – Track messages, comments, and post analytics.
- Loomly – Plan, collaborate on, and schedule content.
- MeetEdgar – Recycle old posts and save time writing new.
The right tools help streamline posting and free up time to create awesome content.
Conclusion
Posting your thoughts and perspectives on LinkedIn provides a simple yet powerful way to establish yourself professionally, engage your network, and grow your personal brand. By consistently sharing valuable insights, experiences, and resources, you can leverage LinkedIn to achieve your career and business goals. Use this guide to start posting thoughtful and engaging content that resonates with your industry and connections. Maintain an active presence, analyze performance, and find your LinkedIn thought leadership niche. With the right strategy, posting thoughts on LinkedIn will quickly become an impactful element of your marketing toolkit.