Yes, you can include links in your LinkedIn posts. LinkedIn allows you to insert hyperlinks in your posts that will take readers to other websites, landing pages, blog posts, and more. Using links strategically in your LinkedIn posts can help drive traffic, boost engagement, and add value for your connections.
What types of links can you include in a LinkedIn post?
You have a lot of flexibility with the types of links you can include in your LinkedIn posts. Here are some of the main options:
- Links to your own content – Send readers to your company website, blog, landing pages, online portfolios, and any other content you have published online.
- Links to third-party content – Share links to articles, research, videos, podcasts, and other relevant third-party content.
- Links to events/registration pages – Promote upcoming webinars, conferences, and other events you are affiliated with.
- Links to job postings – If you have open roles at your company, you can link directly to the job descriptions.
- Links to your LinkedIn profile – Ask readers to connect with you directly by linking to your profile.
How to add a link in your LinkedIn post
Including a link in your LinkedIn posts is easy. Here are the steps:
- When writing your post, highlight the text you want to make clickable.
- Click the link icon in the editor toolbar (it looks like interlocking rings).
- In the pop-up window, paste the URL you want the text to link to.
- Click “Apply.” The text will now appear as a hyperlink.
And that’s it! The text will now be clickable and take anyone who clicks on it directly to the linked URL.
Best practices for using links in LinkedIn posts
To get the most out of your LinkedIn link sharing strategy, keep these best practices in mind:
- Place links strategically – Put your links in logical places related to the flow and context of your posts.
- Use relevant anchor text – Your anchor text (the clickable part) should briefly describe what readers will find at the destination URL.
- Link to authoritative, trustworthy sites – Only link to high-quality external sites to maintain your professional brand.
- Vary your linked content – Don’t just link to your own content. Share a diverse mix of outside articles, research, and perspectives.
- Track your links – Use link tracking software to see which links get the most clicks so you can refine your strategy.
Why add links to your LinkedIn content?
Incorporating hyperlinks into your LinkedIn posts provides many benefits, including:
- Driving traffic: Links allow you to direct LinkedIn users to your website, blog, offers, and other media, potentially increasing your site’s traffic and visibility.
- Showcasing expertise: By linking to authoritative sources and thought leader content, you can reinforce your own subject matter expertise.
- Supporting arguments: Linking to data, articles, and other evidence gives your perspectives and claims more credibility.
- Adding value: Sharing links demonstrates that you want to provide value to your connections through useful resources.
- Generating engagement: Posts with links tend to get more clicks, shares, comments, and overall engagement.
Drawbacks of overusing links
While links can be very beneficial in your LinkedIn content, there are a few caveats to keep in mind:
- Excessive links look spammy – Too many can damage your professional brand.
- Links can be distracting – Readers may click away without finishing your post.
- Links add clutter – They can make text hard to read if overused.
- Broken links frustrate readers – Always double check that your URLs work.
- Some platforms don’t allow links – You may need different strategies for external sites.
The key is using links strategically and sparingly to enhance — not detract from — the value of your content.
Examples of great LinkedIn posts with links
To inspire you, here are a few examples of stellar LinkedIn posts that effectively incorporate hyperlinks:
Example 1: Share a how-to guide
Sharing a useful how-to guide or tutorial is a great way to add value with your LinkedIn links. For example:
“Looking to refresh your professional headshots? We asked pro photographers for their top tips for taking your own high-quality, affordable headshot at home: [link to guide]”
Example 2: Commentary on relevant news
Linking to a current news article allows you to quickly provide context and analysis for your industry connections. For instance:
“Big news that [Company] just acquired [Company 2] for $5 billion. Here’s my take on how the acquisition stands to shake up the [industry]: [link to your blog commentary]”
Example 3: Promote your recent success
Did your company just release a new ebook, get featured in a major publication, or win an award? Share your success through a link:
“We’re thrilled that [publication] just featured our team in their special issue on the [industry]: [link to article]”
Example 4: Comment on LinkedIn content
Engage with other LinkedIn users by leaving comments that incorporate links. This helps continue the conversation:
“Thanks for sharing this data on [topic], [name]. Here’s some more recent research from [university] that supports your analysis: [link to study]”
5 creative ways to use links in LinkedIn posts
Beyond just including basic links in your posts, here are some creative ways to take your LinkedIn link sharing strategy to the next level:
- Link to a giveaway or promotion to generate more traffic.
- Link to a video for more dynamic and engaging content.
- Usebitly or another tool to shorten lengthy links.
- Leverage clickable images that send users to your links.
- Create LinkedIn posts that are essentially a list of curated links.
Should you include many links in one LinkedIn post?
Using just one or two highly relevant and strategically placed links per post is best. Avoid including too many links in a single post, which can look spammy.
If you have a lot of varied content you want to share, break it up into multiple LinkedIn posts with one or several related links in each post. This will keep your posts focused instead of overloaded.
You can also create a LinkedIn post that is essentially a “roundup” of curated links on a particular topic as a way to share a lot of links at once. Just make sure to frame this properly in the text so it provides value for your audience rather than coming across as self-promotional.
Can I link to my own website in a LinkedIn post?
Yes, you can absolutely include links to your own website, blog, landing pages, case studies, and other content you have created in your LinkedIn posts.
This is a great way to use LinkedIn as a traffic driver to boost visitors to your online content and resources. Just make sure your website content offers true value so your connections have a reason to click through.
It’s also wise to balance self-promotional links with other educational links to avoid looking spammy. For every link back to your own content, try sharing 2-3 links to authoritative third-party sites.
Can I link to a specific part of a webpage?
LinkedIn does allow you to link to specific sections within a webpage, rather than just the page’s main URL.
To do this, you’ll need to identify the HTML anchor link for your desired webpage section. For example, to link to the paragraph with the HTML anchor #paragraph3, your link would be:
www.example.com/page.html#paragraph3
When readers click this link from LinkedIn, it will take them directly to that paragraph instead of the top of the full page.
This can be a helpful way to direct your LinkedIn connections straight to the most relevant information within long articles, reports, how-to guides, and other online content.
Conclusion
Using hyperlinks strategically within your LinkedIn posts can significantly expand their value for your professional network. Links allow you to drive traffic, demonstrate expertise, contribute to discussions, and showcase relevant content.
Just be careful not to go overboard with too many self-promotional or unnecessary links in a single post. Stick to high-quality websites and be selective with your linked anchor text and placement. With the right linking approach, you can captivate audiences and give your brand a boost on LinkedIn.