Tagging someone in a photo you’ve already posted on LinkedIn can be a great way to give them recognition and exposure. However, LinkedIn doesn’t have a built-in option to add tags after posting a photo. In this article, we’ll walk through a simple workaround that allows you to tag connections in a LinkedIn photo after you’ve already posted it.
Why Tag Connections in LinkedIn Photos?
Here are some of the benefits of tagging connections in LinkedIn photos:
- Increases visibility – Getting tagged in a photo generates a notification for that connection, bringing them back to your post.
- Shows appreciation – Tagging is a public way to recognize someone and thank them for their contribution.
- Sparks engagement – People often like and comment on photos they’re tagged in, boosting overall engagement.
- Improves reach – Any comments on your post from a tagged connection may also be seen by their network.
Overall, tagging relevant connections is a great way to expand the reach of your LinkedIn photos and posts.
How to Tag Someone in a LinkedIn Photo After Posting
Unfortunately LinkedIn doesn’t allow users to add tags to a photo retroactively. However, with a simple copy and paste trick, you can recreate the effect of tagging someone after publishing a post.
Here are the steps:
- Copy and paste the original photo post into a new post.
- Delete the photo from the new post.
- Repost the same photo and add tags as you normally would.
- Delete the original post without tags.
Once you delete the original, the new duplicate post with tags will function just like a normally tagged photo. People you tag will get notifications and anyone who engages with your reposted photo will be interacting in a public space visible to their connections.
Let’s break down each of these steps in more detail:
Step 1: Copy and Paste the Original Post
First, go to your original LinkedIn photo post that you want to add tags to. Click the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Copy link to post”:
Next, start a new LinkedIn post. Paste the complete copied post into your new post draft. This will include the same text, hashtags, etc. that were in your original post.
The only thing missing will be the photo.
Step 2: Delete the Photo from the New Post
Since you want to re-upload the same photo in order to tag people, the next step is to delete the photo from the copied post.
Click the “X” icon on the photo preview to remove the image:
You should now have a new post with all of the text and details of your original post, minus the photo.
Step 3: Repost the Photo and Add Tags
Now comes the key step – reposting the photo with tags.
Click the photo icon to re-upload the same photo you want to tag:
Once your photo is uploaded, tag people just like you normally would when first posting:
You can tag people by clicking on their faces in the photo or by typing @ and their name. This will finally allow you to add the tags that LinkedIn doesn’t normally make possible after posting.
Step 4: Delete the Original Post
Finally, with your new post ready to go with tags, you can delete the original post without tags.
Go back to the original post and click the three dots > Delete post:
Once this original post is deleted, the new duplicate will function just like a natively tagged photo!
Pro Tips for Tagging on LinkedIn
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when tagging connections in LinkedIn photos:
- Only tag people who are relevant – Refrain from tagging connections who aren’t actually pictured or involved.
- Ask permission if necessary – If you want to tag someone who hasn’t expressly consented to being in the photo, check with them first.
- Tag strategically – Focus on tagging connections who have large followings to maximize the reach of your posts.
- Add a caption – When tagging, take the opportunity to write a caption that gives context and thanks people for their participation.
- Use hashtags – Hashtags related to the photo topic can help people discover your posts.
Following these best practices helps ensure your tags are additive, consensual, and maximally impactful.
Limitations of Tagging on LinkedIn
While the copy and paste workaround enables post-publishing tagging, there are still some limitations to be aware of:
- Only works for public posts – Tagged connections won’t be notified if the post visibility is limited.
- No notifications in feed – Your connections’ feeds won’t show when they’re tagged, only your activity feed.
- Extra steps required – The copy/delete process takes more effort than native tagging.
- Only one chance – You can’t repeat the process multiple times to add more tags.
Due to these restrictions, native tagging during the initial post creation is still optimal. But the workaround provides an option if you need to add tags retroactively.
Why Doesn’t LinkedIn Allow Retroactive Tagging?
LinkedIn likely doesn’t allow users to add tags after posting as a way to encourage more intentionality in the platform’s use. Here are some of the reasons why retroactive tagging may be restricted:
- Prevents spamming – Stops users from bombarding connections with notifications by tagging them in old posts.
- Quality over quantity – Encourages thoughtful tagging relevant to each specific post, rather than blanket tagging.
- Context control – Allows tagged users to consent to and be aware of the context in which they’ll appear.
- Technical constraints – Adding notifications after posting introduces complexity to LinkedIn’s feed and algorithms.
Overall, while the ability to add tags retroactively would be convenient in some cases, LinkedIn likely sees more value in promoting mindful posting habits on the platform.
Other Ways to Tag Connections on LinkedIn
Although you can’t natively add tags to an already published photo, there are a few other ways to tag your LinkedIn connections:
Tag in the initial post caption
When creating your original post, you can tag connections in the caption text, even if they’re not tagged in the photo itself. This generates notifications.
Mention in a new comment
On your existing post, you can add a new comment and tag people using @ mentions. They’ll be notified of the mention.
Share to a connection’s profile
The LinkedIn post sharing tool lets you share a post directly to another connection’s profile. This posts the content on their profile and notifies them.
Send a direct message
You can message connections privately and include a link to your post, asking them to check it out.
So if you’re unable to tag someone directly in a photo, these are some alternative ways to share your post with them!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about tagging connections on LinkedIn:
Do tagged connections have to approve tags?
No, LinkedIn doesn’t require pre-approval for tagging. The tag will show up immediately. But it’s courteous to only tag people who you know want to be included.
Can I tag myself in my own photo?
Yes, LinkedIn does allow you to tag your own account in photos you post. This can help increase your profile’s visibility.
Does tagging work in private LinkedIn groups?
Tagging group members only generates notifications and visibility within that private group – the tags don’t appear on your main profile or feed.
Do tags appear on LinkedIn mobile app feeds?
Currently, any tags you add on desktop do not transfer over or display in the LinkedIn mobile app feeds. Tags only show on the desktop experience.
Can I tag someone who isn’t a direct connection?
No, you can only tag first-degree connections on LinkedIn. To tag anyone else, you must first add them as a connection.
Conclusion
Tagging connections is a great way to increase engagement, reach, and visibility of your LinkedIn content. While native retroactive tagging isn’t possible, using the copy/paste workaround lets you add tags after posting. This gives you flexibility if you need to add tags later to maximize impact.
Keep in mind that intentional, relevant tagging provides the most value. Avoid spamming your network with unnecessary tags. And always tag thoughtfully and with consent.
With strategic, selective use of tags, you can get more eyes on your LinkedIn posts and photos. So go forth and tag your connections – with this guide, you can now do so even after publishing your posts.