Yes, research shows that LinkedIn posts with photos generally get more views and engagement than posts without visuals. The reason is that photos make posts more eye-catching and interesting for viewers scrolling through their feeds.
Why Photos Increase Engagement
There are several key reasons why including photos tends to boost LinkedIn post performance:
- Photos make posts stand out visually in people’s feeds, increasing the chances they will stop scrolling to take a look.
- Humans are visual creatures—our brains process images faster than text. Photos catch our attention more readily.
- When used well, images reinforce or enhance the post content, making it easier to digest.
- Photos add visual variety to breaks up blocks of dense text, making posts more scannable.
- Images bring posts to life and make them feel less generic or promotional.
- Visuals give viewers something to connect with on an emotional level beyond just words.
In short, quality images make LinkedIn posts more eye-catching, appealing, scannable and engaging. This translates into higher view counts and interaction metrics like likes, comments and shares.
Image Types That Boost Engagement
Not all images have the same effect. Certain types of photos tend to perform better than others on LinkedIn:
- Authentic Photos: Candid, user-generated photos often connect better than stock shots. They feel more real and help humanize your brand.
- Behind-the-Scenes: Offering a glimpse “behind the curtain” feels exclusive and interesting to viewers.
- Infographics: Visual data presentations appeal to LinkedIn’s informative nature.
- Quotes: Overlaying text on photos is very engaging. Pick inspiring or thought-provoking quotes.
- Photos of People: Human faces naturally grab our attention. Show real members of your team or community.
- Relevant Imagery: Images should closely support your post content, not feel random. Relevance is key.
Leverage these highly shareable image formats to maximize the impact and reach of your LinkedIn posts.
Ideal Photo Dimensions
For best results, use high-quality photos sized specifically for LinkedIn:
- Header Image: 1584 x 396 pixels
- Share Image: 1200 x 627 pixels
- Profile Picture: 400 x 400 pixels
- Post Image: 1024 x 512 pixels
These dimensions ensure your images display crisply on both desktop and mobile. Avoid blurry, pixelated or distorted looking photos.
Tips for Choosing Great Photos
Not all photos are created equal. To maximize impact, carefully select images using these tips:
- Pick eye-catching photos using vibrant colors, interesting lighting, angles or negative space.
- Choose authentic over staged-looking shots.
- Use original images, not generic stock photos, whenever possible.
- Check that your photo’s subject is clear and lighting is sufficient.
- Select horizontal images that span the width of the post.
- Make sure photos are relevant to your content and industry.
- For text overlays, choose contrasting fonts/colors for readability.
Investing time in high-quality, custom images is worth the effort. LinkedIn rewards great visual content.
Ideal Number of Images
How many photos should you include in a LinkedIn post? Here are some best practices:
- 1-2 photos for most regular posts. Avoid overloading readers.
- 1-5 images for visual-focused posts like photo albums or galleries.
- 1 photo for company page updates, which tend to be shorter.
- No more than 20% text overlay on photos.
In general, err on the side of fewer quality images versus many low-quality ones. Aim for visual variety but don’t go overboard.
Improving Engagement Over Time
It takes testing and optimization over many posts to maximally improve your engagement and views with photos. Here are some tips:
- Analyze top-performing posts to spot visual trends to replicate.
- A/B test image styles and formats to learn what resonates most.
- Leverage insights from LinkedIn’s analytics to refine approaches.
- Check which image sizes and ratios perform best.
- Experiment with editing styles and filters for visual flair.
- Personalize images for your brand, community and audience.
Consistently publish a variety of optimized, high-quality photos over time. Pay attention to lessons learned and engagement will compound.
Ideal Image Sources
Where can you source great photos for LinkedIn? Some top options include:
- Custom brand photos from photoshoots
- Unique user-generated content from customers/employees
- Free stock photos from sites like Unsplash or Pexels
- Paid stock photos from Shutterstock, Getty Images, etc.
- Screenshots from webinars, videos, presentations
- Infographics or visual data built using tools like Canva
Blend photos from professional shoots with authentic user content. Stock photos work but custom images are much more distinctive.
Top Photo Subjects/Themes
What should you actually put in the photos? Some proven ides include:
- Headshots of employees, leadership, team members
- Industry events, conferences, and tradeshows
- Office culture and workplace environment
- Customers engaging with products/services
- Behind-the-scenes look at operations
- Company values and community impact
- Educational processes and industry expertise
Connect with viewers on a human level. Show real people, settings and moments that exemplify your brand story.
Optimizing Photos for LinkedIn
To make photos look their best on LinkedIn:
- Edit and filter images to refine aesthetic, colors and mood.
- Add text/graphic overlays using Canva, Adobe Spark, etc.
- Crop images to key points of focus.
- Resize/compress images to recommended dimensions.
- Save files in web-friendly formats (JPG, PNG).
- Optimize and compress final images to reduce file size.
Well-composed, edited photography engages viewers much more than raw, unoptimized images.
Tools to Create Great Visuals
If you need help creating and designing compelling LinkedIn graphics and images, useful tools include:
- Canva – Design everything from posts to banners
- Adobe Creative Cloud – Premium photo and graphics suite
- Unsplash – Free high-quality stock photography
- Snappa – Resize and edit images
- PicMonkey – Image design and editing features
- Over – Add typography and text over photos
- Infogram – Build infographics and charts
With the right tools, creating engaging, professional-grade visual content for LinkedIn is simple.
Measuring Image Performance
To gauge how your images impact LinkedIn post performance:
- A/B test posts with and without photos.
- Review LinkedIn’s post analytics for views and engagement.
- Compare performance of different image types/styles.
- Ask followers for feedback on your visual content.
- Use free tools like Google Analytics to track clicks.
Pay attention to metrics to guide your visual content strategy and improve over time.
Common LinkedIn Post Image Mistakes to Avoid
Some common image-related mistakes that hurt LinkedIn post performance include:
- Low-quality, blurry, pixelated images.
- Using excessive text overlay on photos.
- Images that appear too cluttered or busy.
- Stock photos that look generic or inauthentic.
- Photos irrelevant to your post’s topic.
- Images that are too small and get cropped oddly.
- Visually boring, static images that all look similar.
Carefully check images before publishing to dodge these engagement-killing issues.
The Takeaway
Quality images greatly boost LinkedIn post reach and engagement. Photos catch viewers’ attention, reinforce messaging, and bring posts to life. To maximize impact:
- Use authentic images over generic stock photos.
- Pick compelling photo subjects and themes.
- Optimize images for LinkedIn’s recommended sizes.
- Show real people and behind-the-scenes moments.
- Leverage visual tools and apps to create great graphics.
- A/B test different image types and styles.
Sharing great visual content alongside insightful text is key to connecting with your audience on LinkedIn.