When sharing a link on LinkedIn, the thumbnail image that appears is automatically pulled from the metadata of the page you are sharing. However, LinkedIn does give you the ability to customize and change this thumbnail image if you wish.
Why Would You Want to Change the Thumbnail Image?
There are a few reasons why you may want to change the default thumbnail when sharing a link on LinkedIn:
- The automatic thumbnail may not accurately represent or capture the essence of the content you are sharing.
- You want an image that is more eye-catching than the default thumbnail.
- You want to use a specific image that is relevant to your audience or ties in with your branding.
- The default image contains text or busy elements that don’t make for a good thumbnail.
- You want consistency across your shares and custom thumbnails allow that.
Having a customized thumbnail can help your content stand out more in the LinkedIn feed and prompts viewers to engage more. It allows you to strategically present your content in a visual way.
How to Upload a Custom Thumbnail on LinkedIn
Uploading a custom thumbnail for your LinkedIn link shares is easy to do by following these steps:
- Click the “Share an article, photo, video or idea” box at the top of your LinkedIn feed.
- Paste or enter the URL of the page you want to share.
- LinkedIn will automatically pull the title, description, and thumbnail from the page. Click on the thumbnail image.
- This will open up the “Add image URL” box. Delete the current URL.
- Click on “Upload Image” and choose the image file you want to use from your computer.
- Crop the image if desired.
- Click “Apply.”
- Finish filling in the rest of the shared content details and click “Post.”
The custom thumbnail image you uploaded will now appear with your shared link on LinkedIn. You can repeat this process every time you want to override the default image.
Thumbnail Image Specifications
If you want to upload your own custom thumbnail image for LinkedIn, there are a few specs to keep in mind:
- The image should be high resolution, at least 600 x 314 pixels.
- Landscape orientation works best.
- JPEG or PNG format is recommended.
- Keep file size under 8MB.
- Visually engaging images will perform better.
- Ensure you have rights to use the image.
Following these thumbnail image best practices will allow your image to appear crisp and eye-catching on both desktop and mobile platforms.
Other Tips for Custom LinkedIn Thumbnails
Here are some additional tips for improving your use of custom thumbnails on LinkedIn:
- Test different variations of your thumbnail image to see what resonates most with your audience.
- Make your company, product, or brand the hero of your thumbnail when appropriate.
- Consider adding text overlays to emphasize key points.
- Leverage seasonal or trending visuals when relevant.
- Ensure the image accurately reflects the content it represents.
- Be consistent with your image style and branding.
- Use high-quality, original images whenever possible.
- Analyze performance data to optimize your approach over time.
Tools for Creating Share Thumbnails
If you don’t have a designer to create custom thumbnail images for your LinkedIn shares, there are some easy tools you can use:
- Canva – Provides professional templates and easy-to-use design tools to create great-looking share graphics quickly.
- Pablo by Buffer – Enables you to create engaging social media images by searching for background images and adding text overlays.
- Adobe Spark – Allows you to customize beautiful share graphics in minutes by remixing templates.
- Stencil – Offers a huge library of templates, photos, and illustrations to make thumbnail creation simple.
Many of these tools offer both free and paid plans to meet your needs. Take advantage of the pre-made templates and then customize them with your own brand elements.
Should You Use the Same Thumbnail for All Platforms?
When sharing content across multiple networks like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, using the same thumbnail everywhere can help provide a consistent, recognizable visual. However, you may also want to test tailored variations of your thumbnail for each platform.
For example, LinkedIn tends to prefer more professionally-designed, branded images given its business audience. While on Facebook, you may want something more informal, casual, or eye-catching for general consumers. So test what resonates best on each platform.
If optimizing your thumbnail for each platform individually feels too time-intensive, re-using the same image everywhere or creating slight variations on a theme can work well too.
Conclusion
Customizing the thumbnail image for your LinkedIn shares is an impactful way to increase visibility and engagement. Take the time to create or curate visuals that accurately represent your content while capturing attention. Analyze performance data to see which images drive the most clicks, reactions, and shares with your audience.
With the right thumbnail strategy, you can add some visual storytelling and branding to your LinkedIn content that makes it stand out. Just remember to use high-quality, relevant images and keep experimenting to see what resonates best.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a good image to use for my LinkedIn link share?
Look for high-quality, royalty-free images on stock photo sites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay. Or create your own branded images with Canva or other graphic design tools. The image should visually represent your content and capture attention.
What image types can I upload as a custom thumbnail on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn supports JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF image formats for custom thumbnails. JPG is recommended for photographs and PNG for logos or graphics with transparency.
How often should I change the custom thumbnail image?
You don’t need to change your thumbnail image for every single post. Consistency is good. But testing new variations periodically can help you determine if a visual refresh improves performance. Change it up when it feels stale or you have a great new image.
Can I upload multiple thumbnail options to split test?
Unfortunately, no. LinkedIn only allows you to select one thumbnail image per shared post. To compare different thumbnail options, you would need to create separate posts for each image variation.
What should I do if my thumbnail isn’t showing up properly?
Double check the resolution and file size meet LinkedIn’s requirements. Clear your browser cache and reupload the image. If it still doesn’t appear correctly, try a simpler image, re-save the file, or use a different image format like JPG instead of PNG.
Is changing the thumbnail worth the extra effort?
In most cases, yes! Custom thumbnails can increase your LinkedIn post reach and engagement significantly since they have higher visibility in the feed. Putting in the small effort to create or curate a great image is worth it.