There are a few potential reasons why links may not be working as expected on LinkedIn:
You haven’t published your post yet
If you add a link to your LinkedIn post but don’t actually publish it, the link won’t be clickable. Make sure you click the “Post” button to publish your update before trying to click on any links. Links in unpublished posts will appear plain text rather than as hyperlinks.
The link format is incorrect
LinkedIn requires links to be formatted properly in order to be clickable. Make sure your links start with “http://” or “https://”. Links without those prefixes may not work properly when posted on LinkedIn.
The link leads to a private or restricted page
If the link leads to a page that requires login credentials or is restricted in some other way, it may not be clickable for those viewing your post. Test the link yourself while logged out to see if public viewers can access it without barriers. If not, you may need to provide an alternative public link or summary of the content.
LinkedIn’s spam filters have caught the link
LinkedIn has automatic filters in place to prevent spam and malicious links. Sometimes these filters may inadvertently catch legitimate links and prevent them from working. If you suspect this is the case, try reposting the same link or reaching out to LinkedIn to request review of your post.
There is a technical issue
Like any website, LinkedIn may experience occasional technical glitches that cause links not to function as expected. If the issue persists across multiple links and posts, there may be a wider technical problem on LinkedIn’s end. Try posting again later or contact LinkedIn to see if they are aware of any bugs preventing links from working properly.
Common types of non-working links on LinkedIn
While any type of link can potentially fail to work as expected, some specific use cases are more prone to issues:
Affiliate links
Affiliate links often contain tracking codes and other extraneous parameters that may not format well on LinkedIn. Try stripping them down to the core URL without any extra variables.
Shortened links
URL shorteners like TinyURL and bit.ly compress links to make them more shareable. However, LinkedIn may not always properly recognize or render shortened links. Use the original full URL instead.
Secure links (HTTPS)
While HTTPS links are recommended for security, sometimes LinkedIn’s spam filters may block them if the domain is not recognized as trustworthy. Try converting secure links to standard HTTP to see if that fixes the issue.
Link shorteners for social media
Tools like Linktree are designed to create links optimized for platforms like Instagram and Twitter. But the parametrized URLs they generate do not always translate well to LinkedIn.
Links to file downloads
Direct links to files like PDFs and DOCs may get blocked or may not display clickable links, as LinkedIn is optimized for webpages. Try linking to a summary page instead of the file directly.
Troubleshooting non-working links
If you find a link in your LinkedIn post is not clickable, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take:
Verify the link works outside of LinkedIn
Copy and paste the link into a browser window while logged out of LinkedIn to test it. Click on it to confirm it navigates to the expected page. If it does not work outside of LinkedIn either, then there is likely an underlying issue with the link itself.
Check for incorrect formatting
Examine the link for any errors like missing prefixes, incorrect capitalization, extra characters, etc. Even minor issues can prevent LinkedIn from rendering it as a working link.
Try posting the link again
Reposting the same link, either within the same post or in new posts, may help resolve any transient glitches.
Shorten the link
Try running the link through Bitly or another URL shortener. Or simply remove any unnecessary query parameters if present. Lengthy links can potentially cause issues.
Switch from HTTPS to HTTP
Converting from a secure HTTPS URL to a standard HTTP link may allow it to pass through LinkedIn’s filters. Just be aware security will be downgraded.
Provide contextual clues
Adding text like “Click here for the link” or explaining where the link goes can give additional context to readers and LinkedIn’s algorithms.
Best practices for adding working links on LinkedIn
To avoid broken links on LinkedIn in the first place, keep these best practices in mind when including links in your posts:
Test links before publishing
Preview your post to confirm your links are clickable before publicly sharing them with your connections.
Use clean, direct links
Avoid URL shorteners, tracking codes, unnecessary parameters, and redirects. Use clean, minimal links.
Link to trustworthy sites
Links to known reputable sites are less likely to be flagged by LinkedIn’s spam filters compared to new or obscure domains.
Include relevant anchor text
Using descriptive text for the hyperlink helps provide context for readers. “Click here to visit the Anthropic homepage” is better than bare links.
Limit the number of links
Including too many links in a post can appear spammy to LinkedIn’s filters. Keep the links selective and relevant.
Use HTTP instead of HTTPS
Secure HTTPS links are ideal when possible, but standard HTTP may have better compatibility with LinkedIn.
Provide your own summaries
For restricted links, give a short summary of key information so readers still get value even if they can’t access the underlying page.
Link Type | Potential Issues | Solutions |
---|---|---|
Affiliate Links | Tracking codes may cause formatting problems | Remove extra parameters and use core URL |
Shortened Links | LinkedIn may not properly recognize or render them | Use the full original URL instead of shortened version |
HTTPS Links | LinkedIn spam filters may block unfamiliar secure domains | Try converting HTTPS to HTTP to allow link to work |
Social Media Link Shorteners | Optimized for other platforms like Twitter but not LinkedIn | Avoid using parametrized social media focused link shorteners |
File Download Links | Direct links to files like PDFs may not display properly | Link to a summary page about the file instead of the file directly |
Why LinkedIn Links May Break
Reason | Explanation |
---|---|
Post Not Published | Links in unpublished posts will not be clickable |
Incorrect Link Format | LinkedIn requires links to have “http://” or “https://” |
Private/Restricted Page | Links to pages requiring login will not work for public viewers |
Caught by Spam Filters | LinkedIn filters may inadvertently block legitimate links |
Technical Issues | Bugs or glitches may prevent links from working |
Conclusion
There are a variety of potential reasons links may not be working as expected on LinkedIn, including incorrect formatting, spam filter blocks, private pages, and technical errors. The best practices are to test links before posting, use clean direct URLs, limit links per post, and provide anchor text and context. Following troubleshooting steps like verifying the link outside of LinkedIn, reposting, shortening, and converting HTTPS can help diagnose and resolve non-working links. With proper care and testing, you can minimize link errors and provide a seamless experience for your LinkedIn connections.