Quick Answer
Yes, you should include an image with your LinkedIn posts whenever possible. Images help catch the viewer’s attention, make your posts more visually appealing, and can reinforce or enhance your message. Some key benefits of using images in LinkedIn posts include:
- Increased engagement – Posts with images receive up to 98% more views and comments than text-only posts.
- Faster communication – Images convey information and emotion more quickly than text alone.
- Improved memory – Visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text and are remembered for longer by viewers.
- Reinforce messaging – Images complement and strengthen the message you are trying to convey in your post.
- Brand building – Images help showcase your brand, products, services, and company culture.
When choosing images for your LinkedIn posts, opt for high-quality, relevant photos that align with your post content. Engaging images of people, infographics, product shots, and quotes work particularly well. Just be sure to avoid generic stock images that feel disconnected from your message. With strategic image selection, you can create more memorable, shareable LinkedIn posts.
Why You Should Use Images in Your LinkedIn Posts
Here are some of the top reasons why incorporating visuals into your LinkedIn content can have a big impact:
1. Increased Engagement
Multiple studies have found that social media posts with images receive substantially higher engagement than text-alone updates. For example, TrackMaven analyzed over 1 million posts and found that tweets with images receive 150% more retweets on average.
The stats are even more dramatic on LinkedIn. According to research by HubSpot, LinkedIn posts with images generate:
- 98% more views
- 194% more likes
- 128% more comments
Clearly, images catch viewers’ attention and entice them to interact. Including a strong visual gives people another reason to stop scrolling and check out your post.
2. Faster Communication
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Images convey information, emotion, and stories much more quickly than text. Viewers can absorb and understand an image almost instantaneously.
In just a fraction of a second, well-selected images in your LinkedIn posts can:
- Set the tone
- Spark interest
- Build connections
- Inspire or motivate
Words alone would take much longer to achieve the same impact. Visually striking images act as a shortcut to engage your audience right off the bat.
3. Improved Memorability
Human brains are wired to better remember visual information. In fact, studies show that people retain 80% of what they see and do, compared to only 20% of what they read.
When you augment your LinkedIn posts with images, it leaves a stronger imprint in the minds of viewers. An image etched into someone’s memory means your message is more likely to resurface and prompt further action, like re-engaging with your brand or sharing your post.
4. Reinforce Messaging
Rather than functioning independently, images work best when tightly aligned with the theme and content of your post.
Relevant images act as visual descriptors that complement and reinforce the point you are trying to get across in your text or caption. This creates a stickiness that helps cement the key takeaways you want your audience to remember.
For example, an image of a lightbulb going off can amplify a post about a new product innovation or creative solution.
5. Brand Building
Strategically selected images also provide an opportunity to visually represent your brand, products, services, and company culture.
Photos of team members in action, customer success stories, company events, and product shots help humanize your brand and give viewers a peek behind the scenes.
Vibrant, unique images that authentically convey your brand personality make your content instantly more recognizable on LinkedIn. It builds brand awareness and affinity with your target audience.
Tips for Choosing Impactful LinkedIn Post Images
To harness the power of visuals for your LinkedIn marketing, follow these best practices when selecting images:
Opt for High-Quality Photos
Low-resolution, pixelated images look unprofessional and reflect poorly on your brand. Always choose crisp, high-definition photos with good lighting. If needed, edit or touch up images using photo editing tools before uploading.
Use Relevant Images
Generic stock photos of smiling professionals or handshakes often have little connection to the post content. Find or create images that visually communicate your specific message or industry.
Show Real People
Human faces naturally grab our attention. Photos of real employees, customers, partners, or fans feel authentic and help build engagement.
Consider Infographics
Infographics simplify complex information into an easy-to-digest visual format. They work well for data-heavy topics or to turn stats into eye-catching graphics.
Leverage Quotes
Pair inspirational or thought-provoking quotes with appropriate imagery for added visual interest.
Showcase Products or Services
Give viewers a first-hand look at what your business offers with real-world images of products, services or solutions in action.
Use Videos When Appropriate
Short video clips can be even more impactful than images. But ensure they are relevant and kept short, around 1-2 minutes max.
Optimize for Mobile
Since many view LinkedIn on mobile, choose orientation and image sizes tailored for small screens. Horizontal images in 16:9 ratio work best.
Ideal Image Types for LinkedIn Posts
While any image accompanying your post should clearly align with the core message, some visual styles tend to outperform others.
Here are some of the top-performing image varieties to try in your LinkedIn content:
Behind-the-Scenes
Give viewers insider access to your company culture with candid behind-the-scenes photos of real employees, office spaces, events, or work rituals. These authentic peeks behind the curtain build trust and approachability.
Spotlights on Real Customers
Success stories and spotlight features on real customers using your product/service make the benefits more tangible. Show real customer faces, not stock models.
Event Recaps
Share key moments and highlights from conferences, webinars, and other events you organize or attend. Photos add visibility and FOMO.
Employee Highlights
Recognize achievements, milestones, and wins for standout employees. This attracts talent and shows your company culture in action.
Infographics
Display statistics, facts, trends, and how-tos through creative infographic-style images. Information paired with strong visuals performs well.
Quote Images
Share inspirational or thought-provoking quotes overlaid on appropriate background images. This easily grabs attention.
Industry or Product Specific
Show your expertise with imagery highly specific to your particular niche, industry, or products/services. Choose photos your audience will instantly recognize and relate to.
Data Visualizations
Present data or research findings through charts, graphs, diagrams, or other data visualization formats. This makes stats more digestible.
Ideal Image Dimensions for LinkedIn
LinkedIn displays content differently across desktop and mobile. Image sizes tailored for each platform ensures proper rendering:
Desktop Post Image Dimensions
- Newsfeed width: 504px
- Maximum width: 1128px
- Newsfeed height: Variable
- Maximum height: 512px
- Aspect ratio: 1.91:1 recommended
Mobile Post Image Dimensions
- Width: 100% full screen
- Height: Variable
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 9:16 recommended
For best results, create horizontal rectangular images sized around 1200 x 628 pixels. This provides enough resolution for crisp image quality across platforms.
Also optimize your image file size. Keep JPGs under 2MB and GIFs under 5MB whenever possible for fastest load times.
Where to Source Great LinkedIn Post Images
Finding the perfect visuals to accompany your LinkedIn posts has never been easier. Here are some top image sources to tap into:
Custom Photos
Images shot in-house specifically for your brand and content needs give you full creative control. Leverage your visual marketing or design teams.
User-Generated Content
Consumer photos of your products or services in real-world use cases. Feature customer content with permission.
Employees
Encourage employees to snap and share photos from work events, office spaces, behind the scenes, headshots, etc.
Stock Photos
Affordable stock photography sites like Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock offer a wide range of professional images.
Image Creation Tools
Design custom branded graphics and images using Canva, Creative Market, or other graphic design tools.
Image Databases
Search free image databases like Unsplash, Pixabay, and Pexels for unique royalty-free images.
Scanning Older Photos
Digitize print photos using a scanner or smartphone photo scanning apps.
Original Illustrations
Hire an illustrator to create custom drawings and graphics specifically for your brand.
Public Domain Sources
Museums, libraries, and government agencies offer public domain images you can freely use.
Caption Best Practices
Well-written image captions optimize visual assets in your LinkedIn posts. Follow these caption writing tips:
- Concisely explain what the image shows
- Tie the image back to the broader post theme
- Use keywords when relevant
- Add context or background
- Ask an open-ended question
- Include a clear call-to-action
- Use conversational language
- Keep captions under 125 characters
Also remember to properly attribute other creators if using their photos and comply with any required copyright or legal notices associated with the image.
Turning Data Into Tables
Displaying data or statistics in visual table format can make the information easier to digest than raw text. When creating tables for your LinkedIn posts, follow these formatting best practices:
Use HTML Table Formatting
Build tables using proper HTML table structure and elements:
| HTML Element | Description |
|---|---|
| <table></table> | Defines overall table |
| <tr></tr> | Table row |
| <td></td> | Table column/data cell |
| <th></th> | Table header cell |
Keep It Simple
Avoid overcomplicated tables with too many columns/rows. Keep tables straightforward with only essential data included.
Make It Scannable
Use good visual hierarchy and formatting. Highlight headers/footers, use white space, and align text to improve readability.
Mobile Optimization
Optimize table widths and layouts to fit neatly on small screens. Stacked vertical formatting often works better for mobile.
Include Relevant Images
Consider adding charts, graphs, or supporting imagery to aid understanding and give visual interest.
Link to Original Data Sources
If discussing 3rd party research or data, link back to original sources for credibility.
Examples of LinkedIn Posts with Tables
Here are a few sample LinkedIn posts that illustrate how to effectively incorporate stats and data into table format:
Post Example A
Check out the top skills that’ll be most in-demand in 2023 according to LinkedIn’s latest research:
| Skill | Demand Growth |
|---|---|
| People Management | +32% |
| UX Design | +31% |
| Customer Service | +28% |
| Sales Leadership | +25% |
Looking for ways to get ahead of the curve with the right skills and training? Let’s connect!
Post Example B
Our 2022 company revenue growth has exceeded projections! Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Revenue | 2022 Actual | 2022 Projected |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $1.76M | $1.5M |
| Q2 | $2.01M | $1.8M |
| Q3 | $2.32M | $2.1M |
| Q4 | $2.91M | $2.5M |
Thanks to all our clients and partners for making this growth possible! If you’d like to work with our fast-scaling company, let’s connect.
Conclusion
In summary, images and visuals provide a vital value-add for your LinkedIn content. Purposeful incorporation of compelling photos, infographics, illustrations, and data visualizations into your posts can significantly boost engagement and results. Just be sure your visual elements directly align with and enhance the core messaging. With strategic and creative use of imagery, you can transform your LinkedIn presence and strengthen your brand’s connection with the professional community.