Posting inspirational quotes on LinkedIn can be an effective way to engage your connections, share ideas and insights, and establish your brand. However, there are some best practices to keep in mind when sharing inspirational quotes on LinkedIn. In this article, we’ll explore whether you can post inspirational quotes on LinkedIn, the benefits and drawbacks, tips for posting effectively, and some inspirational quotes you can share.
Can You Legally Post Inspirational Quotes on LinkedIn?
Yes, in most cases it is perfectly legal to post inspirational quotes on LinkedIn, provided you follow some basic guidelines:
- Properly attribute the quote to its original author. This gives them credit and avoids plagiarism.
- Only post short quotes or excerpts that fall under fair use copyright principles. Don’t post full poems, songs, monologues, etc. without permission.
- Avoid posting quotes from copyrighted publications without permission from the publisher.
- Do not use quotes or images with trademarks or that imply endorsement without explicit permission.
- Make sure the quotes you post align with LinkedIn’s user guidelines and professional environment.
As long as you follow these best practices, sharing an inspiring quote on occasion is well within LinkedIn’s terms of service and copyright law. However, frequent posting of unattributed or copyrighted material could result in your account being flagged or restricted. When in doubt, play it safe and stick to common sayings and anonymous proverbs.
Benefits of Posting Inspirational Quotes on LinkedIn
Posting a well-chosen inspirational quote on LinkedIn can provide many benefits:
Share your values and beliefs
Quotes allow you to share a bit of your perspective and what inspires you with your connections. It helps showcase your interests, passions, and beliefs.
Establish your brand
Quotes that align with your brand help reinforce what you and your company stand for. It allows you to embed bits of your brand messaging into inspirational quotes.
Engage your audience
Thought-provoking or motivational quotes spark discussion and reactions from your audience. They can be an easy way to increase engagement.
Inspire and empower others
Quotes can spread positivity, wisdom, and encouragement through your network. Uplifting quotes remind people of their strengths.
Demonstrate leadership
Leadership quotes and advice inspire your connections to strive for greatness and align with your company’s vision.
Drive traffic to your profile
Quotes boost visibility and may attract new visitors if shared widely. They can be a content marketing tactic to draw traffic.
Position yourself as an industry thought leader
Relevant quotes help build your reputation as a trusted source of expertise in your field.
Potential Drawbacks of Quotes on LinkedIn
While inspirational quotes can greatly enhance your LinkedIn presence, there are a few potential drawbacks to be aware of:
May come across as cliché or trite
Generic or overused quotes can feel disingenuous, especially if posted too frequently. Strive for originality.
Can be perceived as self-promotional
If taken too far, constant inspirational messaging may feel inauthentic or like a sales/marketing ploy.
Quotes alone lack context or substance
Quotes should supplement your own substantive insights, not serve as your sole content.
May not align with your goals or industry
Don’t force quotes that don’t fit your brand or audience. Make sure they resonate.
Risk of over-saturation if overdone
Quote posts should be balanced with other types of content. Too many motivational quotes may dilute their impact.
Attribution errors or copyright issues
Research quotes to ensure proper attribution. Avoid copyrighted material without permission.
The key is sharing meaningful quotes sparingly to complement your other content, not dominate it. With the right balance, quotes can be quite powerful on LinkedIn.
Tips for Posting Inspirational Quotes on LinkedIn
Follow these tips for using inspirational quotes effectively on LinkedIn:
1. Choose themes relevant to your industry
Curate quotes about leadership, success, communication, teamwork, etc. Choose topics meaningful to your audience.
2. Vary the tone and message
Balance motivational quotes with some that are humorous, insightful, or discussion-provoking.
3. Properly attribute quotes
Cite the original author/source if known. This avoids plagiarism and provides helpful context.
4. Set quotes off visually
Place quotation marks or use visual styling like images to make them stand out. This improves readability.
5. Add your own commentary
Elaborate on why the quote resonates with you or how it applies to your industry. Tie it back to your own insights.
6. Use multimedia for impact
Pair engaging photos, illustrations or videos with quote posts to make them more eye-catching.
7. Quote influencers strategically
Quoting industry thought leaders or partners may help attract their network to engage with the post.
8. Post consistently but not excessively
Schedule inspirational quotes as part of your regular content mix, but do not make them the sole focus.
9. Monitor engagement and optimize
Track which types of inspirational quotes garner the most reactions and comments. Tailor future posts accordingly.
10. Promote inspirational quotes widely
Share your quote posts on other platforms like Twitter and Facebook to extend their reach.
By following these tips, you can inspire your LinkedIn connections in an authentic, engaging way.
Examples of Inspirational Quotes to Share on LinkedIn
Here are some examples of inspirational quotes appropriate to post on LinkedIn:
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” -Peter Drucker
“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” -John C. Maxwell
“Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.” -Seth Godin
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” -Oprah Winfrey
“Great companies are built on great products.” -Elon Musk
“Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves.” -Tim Berners Lee
“Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” -Mattie Stepanek
“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” -Verna Myers
“If people like you they’ll listen to you, but if they trust you they’ll do business with you.” -Zig Ziglar
These motivational quotes can inspire your LinkedIn connections to dream big, take action, and buy into your vision. Just be sure to use them sparingly and share the wisdom in your own words as well.
Can You Post Famous Quotes Without Permission?
Posting the most famous and popular inspirational quotes typically does not require special permission, provided you follow some general copyright guidelines:
- The quote must be short – 1-2 sentences at most. Don’t post full poems, song lyrics, monologues, etc.
- Always credit/attribute the quote to its original creator if known.
- Public domain quotes from ancient sources are always permissible to post.
- Avoid quotes from copyrighted books/publications without publisher permission.
- Only post a quote if it aligns with LinkedIn’s terms of service.
- Do not imply endorsement or sponsorship of your company through the quote.
Quotes that meet these criteria fall under fair use copyright principles. However, if you plan to heavily promote or monetize a quote post, it’s safest to seek permission from the copyright holder first.
For lesser-known quotes, trace the source and contact the author/publisher if possible. If the original work is under copyright, quote requests may be denied or require a licensing fee.
When in doubt, consult LinkedIn’s guidelines and steer clear of copyrighted material without express permission. Short, attributed quotes from public speeches or social media posts are typically fine to share.
How Often Should You Post on LinkedIn?
While there are no hard rules, here are some general guidelines recommended by LinkedIn for post frequency:
Individual Profiles
– 1-2x daily maximum for active posters
– 2-3x a week minimum for active engagement
– Take breaks to avoid oversaturation
Company/Brand Pages
– 2-4x a week ideal for most companies
– 1x daily max for very active firms
– Vary content types (quotes, articles, multimedia, etc.)
Group Posts
– 2-5x a week to stay active in group conversations
– Monitor groups carefully to avoid spamming
Key takeaways:
– Active profiles/pages should post at least 2-3x a week
– Daily posts may be too frequent in many cases
– Monitor engagement and adjust frequency if needed
– Avoid posting just to post – focus on quality over quantity
Test different frequencies and post types to see what resonates best with your audience. Consistency is key, but overly saturating your network is counterproductive. Check LinkedIn Analytics to track engagement.
Do Inspirational Quotes Help You Go Viral on LinkedIn?
Inspirational quotes alone are usually not enough to “go viral” on LinkedIn, but they can certainly help if used strategically as part of a broader viral content approach. Some success factors include:
Choose quotes that evoke strong emotions
Controversial, funny, motivational or sentimental quotes spark high engagement.
Pair quotes with captivating images/video
Visuals boost overall viral potential. Canva templates make great quote graphics.
Leverage celebrity sources strategically
Well-known business leaders or influencers lend credibility.
Quote partners, clients, industry influencers
This helps attract their audiences to amplify reach.
Promote quote posts heavily
Share across your other social channels, groups, hashtags, etc. to gain velocity.
Monitor performance and double down on what resonates
Spot trends in your top performing content and refine your approach.
Sprinkle in controversial, funny or emotional quotes
These tend to get high engagement. But avoid polarizing your audience.
While inspirational quotes alone may not guarantee virality, they can serve as strong anchors for compelling, shareable multimedia posts. Test different quotes and styles to see what your audience responds to most.
Conclusion
Posting the occasional inspirational quote on LinkedIn can be an impactful way to engage your professional network. However, there are some best practices worth following:
– Properly attribute quotes to the original source
– Use them sparingly to complement your own insights
– Ensure quotes align with your brand and industry
– Follow copyright and fair use principles
– Monitor engagement levels and optimize based on performance
With the right balance, inspirational quotes allow you to share your vision, wisdom, and values with your connections on LinkedIn in an authentic way. Just be sure to bring your own commentary and perspective to truly connect with your audience.