Scheduling LinkedIn posts on Buffer is a great way to manage your social media marketing efforts. Buffer allows you to easily create content and schedule it to automatically post to LinkedIn at optimal times throughout the day. This saves you time while ensuring your LinkedIn network sees your posts when they are most likely to engage.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through everything you need to know to successfully schedule LinkedIn posts on Buffer. We will cover how to connect your LinkedIn account to Buffer, tips for creating engaging LinkedIn content, and step-by-step instructions for scheduling your posts. Whether you are new to Buffer or are looking to optimize an existing LinkedIn social media strategy, this guide has you covered.
Benefits of Scheduling LinkedIn Posts with Buffer
Before we dive into the specifics on how to connect Buffer and LinkedIn, let’s first look at why scheduling your LinkedIn posts is so valuable:
Saves You Time
Manually posting content to LinkedIn throughout the day takes a lot of effort. With Buffer, you can craft your posts when it’s convenient for you and schedule them to post automatically at optimal times. This frees up your time for other important business tasks.
Post at the Best Times
Buffer uses data and analytics to recommend the best times to post your LinkedIn content when your audience is most engaged. This increases your reach and engagement.
Analyze Performance
Buffer provides data and insights on how your posts are performing. You can see what types of content do best and identify ways to improve.
Consistency
Scheduling your posts ahead of time makes it easy to maintain a consistent presence on LinkedIn, so your audience hears from you regularly.
Edit and Rearrange
With Buffer, it’s simple to edit, reschedule, or remove posts before they go live. You have flexibility to tweak your queue as needed.
Now that we’ve covered the key advantages of using Buffer for LinkedIn, let’s look at how to connect your accounts.
How to Connect Your LinkedIn Account to Buffer
To start scheduling LinkedIn posts on Buffer, you first need to connect your LinkedIn account. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Sign up for a Buffer Account
If you don’t already have a Buffer account, go to buffer.com and sign up. The free plan allows you to connect up to 3 social accounts. Paid plans unlock more features and connections.
Step 2: Install the Buffer Browser Extension
Add the Buffer extension to your Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browser. This will allow you to easily schedule posts as you browse content on LinkedIn and other sites.
Step 3: Connect LinkedIn to Buffer
In Buffer, click the “+” icon to add a new social media account connection. Select LinkedIn from the list. You will be redirected to LinkedIn to authorize Buffer.
Step 4: Select a LinkedIn Profile
Buffer will pull up a list of your LinkedIn profiles. Select the profile you want to connect. And you’re done – LinkedIn is now connected to your Buffer account!
Step 5: Select Posting Preferences
In Buffer, you can customize your LinkedIn posting preferences:
– Posting times – When do you want posts scheduled?
– Posting frequency – How often should Buffer add posts to your queue?
– Social accounts – Which additional LinkedIn profiles do you want to post to?
Configure your preferences to match your goals. You’re now ready to start scheduling posts!
Crafting Compelling LinkedIn Content
Now that your accounts are connected, let’s focus on creating stellar content that will resonate with your LinkedIn connections.
Types of Content
Consider using a mix of these top-performing LinkedIn post types:
– Industry articles and analysis
– Company/product updates
– Expert tips and how-to advice
– Slideshares and presentations
– Job openings
– Links to your latest blog posts
– Thought leadership pieces
– Videos and visual content
Optimize for LinkedIn
Tailor your content for success on LinkedIn:
– Write longer posts (1200+ words recommended)
– Add images, stats, bullet points, and formatting
– Use keywords professionals search for
– Provide value and education
– Promote products/services subtly
– Use an authoritative and industry-focused voice
– Include links to resources
– Leverage hashtags strategically
Repurpose Content
One shortcut is to repurpose content you’ve already created, like:
– Blog posts
– Sections of ebooks/whitepapers
– Webinars and presentations
– Infographics and visuals
Repurposing existing assets saves time while allowing you to get more mileage from your top-performing content.
Scheduling Your LinkedIn Posts in Buffer
You’ve connected your accounts and prepared engaging content. Now let’s walk through how to schedule LinkedIn posts in Buffer.
Add Content to Your Buffer Queue
In Buffer, click “Compose” to add a new post. You can:
– Write a new post from scratch
– Link to a blog post or other content
– Upload an image or video
– Repurpose existing social posts
Copy and paste or upload your pre-written content. Add any images, hashtags, or captions.
Schedule the Post
Once your post is added to Buffer, click the calendar icon to schedule it. Here you can:
– Choose a date and time for the post
– Select which connected social accounts to post to
– Repeat/recycle posts across a custom schedule
– Manage the full post queue
Buffer will default to recommending the best posting times, but you can customize as needed.
Analyze and Optimize
In Buffer, you can view analytics on how your LinkedIn posts are performing such as:
– Clicks
– Reactions
– Comments
– Shares
– Top performing posts and times
Use these insights to refine your strategy. Double down on what’s working well. Try new content formats and schedules that could boost engagement.
Additional Buffer Tips for LinkedIn
Here are some extra pro tips for getting the most out of Buffer for LinkedIn:
Tag Companies and Influencers
This can expand your reach and trigger notifications to key contacts.
Join Group Conversations
Share your queued posts in relevant LinkedIn Groups to participate in discussions.
Promote with Sponsored Content
Boost the visibility of your posts with LinkedIn’s sponsored content advertising.
Integrate with Other Tools
Connect Buffer to tools like Hootsuite, Zapier, and IFTTT to supercharge your workflow.
Analyze Competitors
See when your competitors are posting to get additional data on the best times to post.
Use a Consistent Brand Voice
Draft all posts in Buffer to maintain the same tone and voice across your LinkedIn presence and other networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s wrap up by answering some commonly asked questions about scheduling LinkedIn posts with Buffer:
Is Buffer free to use for LinkedIn?
Yes, Buffer offers a free plan that allows you to connect up to 3 social accounts. Paid plans unlock additional features.
How far in advance can I schedule LinkedIn posts in Buffer?
You can schedule posts months in advance in Buffer! Plan out your LinkedIn content calendar well ahead of time.
Can I schedule the same post across multiple LinkedIn Pages?
Absolutely! When composing a post in Buffer, just check off each LinkedIn Page you want to schedule it to post to.
What’s the best time to post on LinkedIn via Buffer?
Posting at mid-week between 8-10 AM tends to see high engagement. But be sure to test different times as well.
Can I edit a scheduled post in Buffer before it goes live?
Yes, any post can be edited or deleted at any time up until the post is published.
Conclusion
Scheduling your LinkedIn posts with Buffer is an excellent way to save time, maintain consistency, and measure your performance. Follow the steps in this guide to connect your accounts and begin planning your queue.
Focus on repurposing high-quality content tailored for the LinkedIn audience. Analyze your post analytics to optimize your strategy over time. With the power of buffer, your LinkedIn marketing will become more streamlined and effective.