Does LinkedIn support HTML5?

Yes, LinkedIn does support HTML5 for formatting content in various areas of the platform. HTML5 allows for more interactive and engaging content on LinkedIn pages and posts. Some key areas where HTML5 can be used on LinkedIn include:

LinkedIn Publisher Articles

LinkedIn Publisher articles support HTML5 markup. You can include HTML headings, formatted text, images, videos, tables, and more in your articles. This allows you to customize the look and formatting of your articles beyond the default LinkedIn styles. HTML5 gives you more control over the reading experience.

Supported HTML5 Tags

Some commonly used HTML5 tags that are supported in LinkedIn Publisher articles include:

Using these tags allows you to structure and format your articles for an optimal reading experience.

Improved Readability

With HTML5, you can format articles into logical sections with headings and subheadings. You can emphasize important text with bold or italic styling. Lists and tables allow you to present information in easy-to-digest visual formats. Overall, HTML5 enables better readability for your audience.

LinkedIn Page Content

LinkedIn Company Pages, School Pages, and Showcase Pages can all include HTML5 markup in the various content modules. For example, on a Company Page you can use HTML5 in the Overview, Life, Products & Services, Careers, and other tabs. Some specific content sections that support HTML5 include:

• Overview tab description
• Life tab images, videos, SlideShare presentations
• Products & Services tab descriptions
• Careers tab content

Using HTML5 allows you to format headers, text, lists, images, tables, etc. This gives you more control over the design and layout of your Page content beyond the out-of-the-box LinkedIn styles.

Engaging Multimedia

The HTML5 <iframe> tag is particularly useful on Company Pages. It allows you to embed interactive content like videos, presentations, quizzes, calculators and more. This multimedia content can increase engagement from your LinkedIn visitors.

LinkedIn Group Discussions

Within LinkedIn Groups, members can format their discussion posts using HTML5 markup. The main benefit is the ability to emphasize important points with headings, lists, and bold or italic text. Tables can also be used to layout information in a clear visual format.

However, Group managers can restrict the use of HTML in posts if they want to maintain a uniform discussion format. So the ability to use HTML5 depends on the preferences of each Group.

LinkedIn Job Postings

LinkedIn Job posts support plain text only. HTML markup cannot be used when creating or editing a job post on LinkedIn.

This maintains a consistent job posting format across the platform. It also ensures recruiters can focus on the actual job content without worrying about design and formatting.

LinkedIn Sponsored Content

LinkedIn’s various paid advertising options, such as Sponsored Content, Sponsored InMail, and Text Ads do not allow HTML formatting. These ads follow a standardized template and style defined by LinkedIn.

The focus is on the written content, such as the headline, body text, and call-to-action. Using HTML could potentially enable clickbait-style formatting, which LinkedIn avoids in sponsored posts.

LinkedIn Messaging

HTML is not supported when sending messages between LinkedIn members. Regular text-based messaging is used instead.

This includes InMail messages sent as part of LinkedIn Recruiter or Sales Navigator accounts. All messages follow LinkedIn’s default messaging styles and do not allow custom HTML formatting.

Conclusion

In summary, LinkedIn supports HTML5 for formatting content in Company Pages, Publisher posts, and Group discussions. This allows for greater customization and interactivity in these key areas. But standardized formatting without HTML is used for job posts, sponsored content, and messaging between members.

LinkedIn strikes a balance between enabling HTML5 formatting where beneficial, while restricting it where uniformity is preferred. The choice ultimately depends on the nature and intended use of each content type. But overall, LinkedIn provides ample opportunities to leverage HTML5 to engage your audience.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Use HTML5 for Company Pages to customize content modules
• Format Publisher articles with HTML5 for better structure and readability
• Add multimedia to Pages through embedded HTML5 video and presentations
• Format Group discussions with HTML5 for visual impact
• Custom HTML5 is not supported in job posts, ads, or messaging

With some strategic use of HTML5 in your LinkedIn content, you can create more appealing and effective content to reach your target audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use HTML code in my LinkedIn profile?

No, LinkedIn does not allow HTML coding within member profiles. Profiles have a standardized template that cannot be customized with HTML or CSS code. You can only use the default text formatting options like bold, italics, lists, etc.

What HTML tags are banned from LinkedIn?

Some HTML tags are specifically blocked from use on LinkedIn, even in areas where HTML5 is supported. This includes tags that could compromise security, spam users, or enable malicious redirects. Some banned tags include <script>, <object>, <meta>, and <link>.

Can I embed YouTube videos on LinkedIn with HTML5?

Yes, you can embed a YouTube video on a Company or Showcase Page using the HTML5 <iframe> tag. This allows you to add engaging video content without having viewers leave the LinkedIn platform. However, YouTube videos are not supported on member profiles.

Is there a character limit when using HTML5 on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn does enforce maximum character limits in different sections of pages and posts even when using HTML5. The limits help content remain tightly focused. For example, Publisher articles have a maximum of 35,000 characters. Overview tabs on Company Pages have a 10,000 character limit.

Can I customize fonts and styles using CSS code on LinkedIn?

No, while LinkedIn supports some common HTML5 tags, it does not allow custom CSS styling in content. All fonts, colors, and styles follow LinkedIn’s brand guidelines and cannot be modified with CSS.

This maintains consistency across the platform and focuses content on quality writing rather than design customizations.

Best Practices for Using HTML5 on LinkedIn

When using HTML5 to format LinkedIn content, keep these best practices in mind:

• Use headings judiciously to structure long articles and page sections.
• Avoid excessive formatting with multiple styles like bold, italic, underline.
• Use lists and tables to present information in scannable formats.
• Ensure embedded multimedia loads quickly and is relevant to your content.
• Check that content renders well on both desktop and mobile screens.
• Write descriptive image alt text for accessibility.
• Avoid overuse of HTML5 for the sake of formatting alone.
• Focus on quality content that engages your audience.

Tools for Converting Documents to LinkedIn-Compatible HTML

When authoring content for LinkedIn in an external editor, you may want to convert documents like Word or Google Docs files into HTML5 before copying into LinkedIn. Here are some helpful conversion tools:

Google Docs to HTML

To convert a Google Doc:

1. Open the Google Doc
2. Go to File > Download > Web Page (.html, zipped)
3. The document will download as an .html file
4. Copy and paste the HTML content into your LinkedIn post or page

Microsoft Word to HTML

To convert a Word document:

1. With the document open, go to Save As > Web Page
2. Adjust any options and click Save
3. Copy and paste the HTML into LinkedIn

Online Conversion Tools

Another option is to use an online file conversion tool to convert Word or Google Docs to HTML:

• CloudConvert
• Zamzar
• Online-Convert

These tools allow you to upload your document and download the converted HTML file.

Limitations of HTML5 on LinkedIn

While HTML5 support on LinkedIn provides more formatting options, there are some limitations to be aware of:

• No custom CSS styling allowed
• Restricted use of certain tags like <script>
• HTML5 not supported on profiles or job posts
• Character limits still enforced on content
• May require trial-and-error when copying code from external editors

So while HTML5 enables greater customization, you still need to work within LinkedIn’s content guidelines. Focus on quality engaging content rather than over-formatting.

Should You Use HTML5 or LinkedIn’s Default Editor?

LinkedIn provides a default editor with basic formatting options when creating content. So is it necessary to use customized HTML5?

It depends on your specific needs:

• The default editor is likely sufficient for simple short posts and updates.
• HTML5 gives you more control for lengthy articles, structured pages, multimedia content.
• Try both and see which workflow you prefer.
• Leverage HTML5 for more polished, professional content formatting.

In general, becoming familiar with basic HTML5 markup can expand your formatting options on the LinkedIn platform.

Summary

Here are some key points to remember about using HTML5 on LinkedIn:

• Supported in Publisher articles, Company Pages, Group posts
• Allows greater customization and interactivity
• Commonly used tags include headings, text formatting, images, tables, video embeds
• Improves readability and engagement for visitors
• Not supported in member profiles or job postings
• Follow best practices like good content structure and avoiding over-formatting

Leveraging HTML5 can help optimize your LinkedIn content and make an impact on your audience. With a balance of strategic formatting and compelling content, you can craft engaging LinkedIn posts and pages.