LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social networking sites, with over 740 million members worldwide as of 2022. On LinkedIn, users can share content like articles, images, and videos to their connections. There are a few different ways to share content on LinkedIn:
Posting Original Content
Users can create and post original content directly to their LinkedIn profile. This could include writing an article, sharing an image they created, or posting a video they recorded. Original posts appear in the connections’ feed and help build the user’s professional brand and credibility.
Sharing Content
Users can share content posted by other individuals or pages on LinkedIn. When a user shares content, it appears in their connections’ feed with attribution to the original poster. Sharing is an easy way to curate and pass along relevant content.
Commenting
Users can engage with posts by leaving comments. Commenting allows users to provide feedback, continue the discussion, and interact with the original poster and others who have commented. It does not repost the content to the user’s own profile.
Liking
Users can like posts, which is a quick way to show endorsement or appreciation. A like does not repost content to the user’s own profile.
Reposting
Reposting means sharing a post originally made by someone else to your own profile. A reposted article will appear on your profile exactly as if you had posted it yourself. The original poster is indicated below the content.
So in summary, posting original content, sharing others’ content, commenting, and liking do not repost content to your own LinkedIn profile. A repost does republish the content on your profile with attribution to the original source. Reposting allows you to present content to your own connections without having to create it yourself.
Benefits of Reposting on LinkedIn
There are several potential benefits of reposting relevant content on LinkedIn:
- Exposes your connections to articles and information they may find useful or interesting.
- Positions you as an expert curator who shares quality content.
- Helps build relationships by tagging connections in reposts they would appreciate.
- Can increase your visibility, reach, and engagement on the platform.
- Allows you to contribute to conversations and express your perspective.
- Takes less effort than creating original content.
Drawbacks of Reposting
However, there are some potential drawbacks to reposting as well:
- If overdone, it can overwhelm your connections’ feeds.
- Excessive unattributed reposting violates LinkedIn’s rules.
- It can appear lazy or unoriginal, especially if you rarely post your own content.
- Too many irrelevant reposts may cause connections to disengage.
- You lose control of the content’s messaging and branding.
Best Practices for Reposting
If you do choose to repost, here are some best practices to follow:
- Repost selectively – only a few times per week to avoid overwhelming your network.
- Ask permission from the original poster when possible.
- Attribute the source by mentioning their name in your post.
- Add your own commentary rather than just passing along content.
- Ensure content aligns with your brand and expertise.
- Tag connections who would find the repost valuable.
- Use reposts strategically to build relationships and expand reach.
LinkedIn’s Reposting Guidelines
LinkedIn outlines rules and best practices around reposting in their User Agreement. Key guidelines include:
- Always attribute the author and source of any content you repost.
- Only repost with express permission from the copyright holder.
- Add value through commentary when resharing posts.
- Follow any additional guidelines from the original poster.
- Comply if the original poster asks you to take down a repost.
Violating these guidelines can result in removal of the post or suspension of your account.
Conclusions
In summary:
- Reposting means resharing someone else’s content on your own LinkedIn profile.
- It can expand your reach and build relationships, but should be done strategically and attributed properly.
- Follow LinkedIn’s rules and best practices when reposting to avoid issues.
- Balance reposting with posting original content to showcase expertise.
- Seeking permission, tagging connections, and adding commentary improves reposting etiquette.
While a repost does count as sharing in the sense of exposing your connections to content, it differs from traditional sharing by explicitly republishing the post on your own profile. Following LinkedIn’s guidelines and best practices for reposting can help maximize the benefits while minimizing any drawbacks.
Post Type | Reposts to Your Profile? |
---|---|
Original Post | Yes |
Share | No |
Comment | No |
Like | No |
Repost | Yes |
This table summarizes whether different types of LinkedIn posts republish content to your own profile or not. As shown, reposting is the only type that republishes third-party content on your profile.
In conclusion, reposting on LinkedIn essentially means resharing someone else’s content as your own, with proper attribution. It can be an effective strategy, but should be done thoughtfully and in moderation as part of a broader approach to providing value via both original and curated content.
Following LinkedIn’s guidelines, seeking permission when possible, tagging connections, and adding your perspective helps make reposting valuable for your network rather than just a lazy content grab. With a strategic, selective approach focused on quality over quantity, reposting can be an impactful part of your LinkedIn content marketing.
But it generally should not completely replace posting your own unique content and insights if you want to build a credible, distinguished professional brand on the platform. Finding the right balance is key to maximizing the upside of reposting while avoiding potential downsides.
Some additional tips and strategies related to reposting on LinkedIn include:
Tips for Reposting Effectively
- Repost content aligned with your industry or niche. Stay on topic.
- Look for content that provokes discussion and engagement.
- Time reposts to coincide with relevant events and conversations.
- Consider reposting colleagues’ content to support them.
- Test different post formats like articles, images, polls, etc.
- Analyze what types of reposts get the best response.
- Repost at optimal times when your audience is most active.
Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don’t overdo it – reposting too frequently looks unprofessional.
- Don’t repost clickbait or low-quality articles.
- Don’t repost competitors’ content excessively.
- Don’t neglect posting original content.
- Don’t repost without adding your own thoughts.
- Don’t just copy others’ posts word-for-word.
Alternatives to Reposting
- Write comments on posts instead to provide your perspective.
- Publish your own related content as a counterpoint.
- Share content occasionally rather than reposting.
- Guest post on authority sites to expand your reach.
- Host webcasts, podcasts or other original content.
- Interview influencers in your industry.
- Link to relevant articles from your profile.
Experimenting with different posting strategies and analyzing performance metrics can help you find the right mix to achieve your LinkedIn goals.
The key is to ensure you’re providing enough value through original insights, not just repurposed content. But integrated thoughtfully as part of your content strategy, reposting can be an efficient way to engage your professional network.