LinkedIn is one of the most popular social media platforms for professionals to network, build their personal brand, and engage with industry experts. With over 810 million members worldwide, LinkedIn provides a great opportunity for users to share content, insights, and ideas through posts.
LinkedIn Post Types
There are different types of posts that users can publish on LinkedIn:
- Articles – Long-form posts that are typically 500+ words.
- Images – Photos, infographics, illustrations, etc.
- Videos – Recorded footage and live videos.
- Documents – PDFs, presentations, whitepapers, etc.
- Text updates – Short written posts with up to 700 characters.
- Polls – Interactive polls to survey your connections.
- Events – Promote upcoming events.
The post type determines the ideal length and format. For example, articles allow more in-depth content, while text updates are best for brief announcements or commentary.
LinkedIn Text Update Post Size
For text-based posts without images or videos, LinkedIn has a limit of 700 characters. This equates to around 120 words or 1-2 paragraphs of content. Some key things to know about LinkedIn text update posts:
- The 700 character count includes spaces and punctuation.
- You can include up to 4 hashtags in the post text.
- HTML tags and formatting are not supported.
- URLs and @mentions count towards the limit.
- Text over the limit will be truncated with an ellipse.
Writing concisely is key for short text updates. You need to communicate ideas and value for your connections without exceeding 700 characters. Clear and succinct writing helps convey the message within the tight length constraints.
LinkedIn Article Post Length
LinkedIn articles allow writers to cover topics more comprehensively. The recommended length for LinkedIn articles is between 500-1000 words. However, some flexibility exists:
- The absolute minimum is 150 words.
- Posts over 1000 words are acceptable, but may impact engagement.
- Ultra-long posts over 3000 words are discouraged.
500-1000 words is the sweet spot for maximizing engagement. This gives enough room to develop ideas and analysis meaningfully without overwhelming readers with a dense, lengthy piece. Key tips for LinkedIn articles include:
- Aim for skimmable paragraphs 3-5 sentences long.
- Use formatting like bullets, numbers, and bolding for scannability.
- Include relevant images and multimedia.
- Structure content with clear section headings.
- Link to sources for further reading.
Ideal LinkedIn Post Length by Goal
The best post length also depends on your goals with the content. Here are recommended word counts by objective:
Goal | Ideal Word Count |
---|---|
Promote an upcoming event | 50-150 words |
Share industry news or commentary | 100-250 words |
Educate with a how-to or list post | 250-500 words |
Curate content with an article summary | 150-300 words |
Present data or research | 500-1000 words |
Establish thought leadership | 800-2000 words |
Brief event promotions and news updates call for shorter posts around 100-200 words. Instructional and curated content lend well to medium lengths from 250-500 words. In-depth thought leadership articles may run longer from 800-2000 words.
Tips for Optimizing LinkedIn Post Length
Follow these best practices to optimize your post length on LinkedIn:
- Know the limits. Text updates max out at 700 characters. Articles can vary from 150 to 3000+ words.
- Match length to goals. Promotional posts can be short and snappy. In-depth thought leadership needs more length.
- Be scannable. Use bullet points, formatting, images, and headers to break up long walls of text.
- Front-load value. Share key information early before diving into details.
- Link to external resources. For highly detailed content, link out to your website or other sources.
- Test and iterate. Experiment with different lengths and formats to see what resonates best with your audience.
Conclusion
LinkedIn offers flexibility with post length, within reasonable limits. While text updates max out at 700 characters, articles can range from short snippets to multi-thousand word manifestos. Matching post length to your goals – whether that’s promoting an event, establishing thought leadership, or curating content – ensures your posts effectively connect with your professional audience.