How to Make a Post on LinkedIn That Gets Noticed

Ever hit 'post' on LinkedIn only to be met with silence? It's a common frustration. You spend time crafting what you think is a great update, and then... nothing. It feels like you’re just talking to yourself.

LinkedIn isn't just a digital resume anymore. It's become a massive hub for real conversations that lead to real opportunities, whether that's a new job, a client, or a valuable connection. Knowing how to create a post that actually gets noticed is a non-negotiable skill today.

So, Why Are Your Posts Falling Flat?

If your content isn't getting any traction, the problem usually isn't what you're sharing, but how you're sharing it. Many people make the mistake of treating LinkedIn like a one-way broadcast, pushing out generic company news or updates filled with corporate speak. That kind of content just doesn't land anymore.

The platform has grown like crazy, recently flying past the 1 billion member mark. And who are these members? Well, a whopping 76% are Millennials and Gen Z. This audience is looking for genuine connection and value, not sterile press releases. Your content has to be more than just professional—it needs to be personal and engaging to stop their scroll.

The big shift is from simply sharing updates to starting meaningful conversations. That's what builds your reputation and grows your network.

Getting this right means moving from random posting to posting with a clear strategy. To really dig into the nuts and bolts of creating content that works, a detailed guide on how to post on LinkedIn for maximum impact can help you completely rethink your approach and start seeing genuine results.

Crafting a Message That Stops the Scroll

Let's be honest, the heart of any great LinkedIn post isn't a slick graphic or a perfectly curated hashtag—it's the message. If your words don't grab people, nothing else will. The first one or two lines, what we call the hook, are everything. They are your one shot to earn a reader's attention in a feed that's moving a mile a minute.

Think about it from your own experience. You're scrolling, and your post is just one of hundreds. What makes you stop? It's usually a bold claim, a relatable story starter, or a question that genuinely piques your curiosity.

So, instead of a flat opening like, "Here are my tips for better productivity," try framing it with a personal pain point: "I wasted 10 hours last week on pointless meetings. Here's the 3-step framework I'm using to get that time back." See the difference? The second version is personal, specific, and creates an immediate need to know more.

How to Write a Compelling Hook

That opening line is so critical, it's worth spending a little extra time on. The goal is to create curiosity and give the reader a reason to click that "...see more" link.

Here are a few proven formulas I’ve seen work time and time again.

LinkedIn Post Hook Formulas

Play around with these. You'll find that having a few go-to structures makes writing that crucial first line much faster and more effective.

Structuring Your Post for Readability

Once you've hooked them, you have to keep them reading. The single biggest mistake I see people make is writing a dense wall of text. Nobody has the time or patience to read an essay on their phone during a coffee break.

Your job is to make the content feel effortless to consume.

• Keep paragraphs short. Seriously short. One or two sentences, max. This creates precious white space and makes the post look less intimidating.

• Tell a simple story. Your post should have a clear beginning (the hook), a middle (the core insight or lesson), and an end (the takeaway or call to action).

• Use lists and bullets. When you need to break down a concept into a few key points, bullet points are your best friend. They make information scannable and digestible.

Your authentic voice is your greatest asset on LinkedIn. People want to connect with other people, not a corporate robot. Don't be afraid to share a real struggle or a hard-won lesson—that's what makes your content stick.

Finding Your Authentic Voice

Being professional on LinkedIn doesn't mean you have to sound stiff and formal. The creators who truly stand out are the ones who sound like themselves. If you're naturally analytical, let that data-driven personality shine through. If you're more of a storyteller, lean into that.

The trick is to write like you talk. Imagine you're explaining an idea to a colleague over coffee. This simple shift in mindset helps build trust and makes your content far more relatable.

For a masterclass in what this looks like, I highly recommend looking at some great examples of LinkedIn posts from top creators. Seeing how they structure their stories and hooks can give you a ton of inspiration for your own content.

Choosing the Right Format for Your Content

Even the most powerful message can get lost if it’s in the wrong package. When you're figuring out how to post on LinkedIn, picking the right format is just as crucial as the words you write. Each option has a different job to do, and matching your format to your goal is the secret to stopping the scroll.

Think about it. A simple text-only post feels raw and personal—perfect for sharing a quick thought or a compelling story. It’s direct. But if you're trying to explain a complex idea or show off some impressive data, a wall of text just won't cut it.

That's where visuals come in. They aren't just there to look pretty; they make your content easier to understand and far more engaging.

Matching Your Goal to the Format

The format you land on should be a direct line to what you want to accomplish. Are you trying to teach something new, start a debate, or build up your personal brand? Each of these goals has a format that works best.

• Text-Only Posts: These are your go-to for telling stories, sharing a bold opinion, or asking your network a direct question. Sometimes, their simplicity is what makes them stand out.

• Single Image Posts: Perfect for adding a visual punch to an announcement, a quick case study, or celebrating a client win. Pro tip: images with human faces almost always perform better. They build a connection.

• Native Video: If you want to put a face to your brand, video is the way to go. Keep them short—under 90 seconds is a good rule of thumb—for sharing quick tips, behind-the-scenes content, or a personal message.

• Polls: Hands down the best way to get instant engagement and feedback. They’re super easy for your audience to interact with and can give you some surprisingly useful insights.

Your format is the first impression your post makes. Get it right, and your audience will be ready for your message before they’ve even read a single word.

The Power of Carousels

One format, in particular, has become a real powerhouse for combining deep-dive information with strong visuals: the document post, which everyone just calls a carousel.

These slide-based posts are fantastic for breaking down complicated topics into small, easy-to-digest pieces. Their swipeable design keeps people on your post longer, actively engaging with your content slide by slide. I’ve seen them work wonders for tutorials, listicles, and data-heavy reports.

If you have a multi-step process to explain or want to share key takeaways from an article, a carousel is probably your best bet. For a complete walkthrough, check out our guide on how to create a standout LinkedIn carousel post.

How to Optimize Your Post for Maximum Reach

Creating a great post is only half the battle. If no one sees it, it doesn't matter how brilliant it is. The real magic happens when you optimize your content to get in front of the right people—and a lot of them.

This starts with making your post discoverable. Think of hashtags as the keywords people search for. The sweet spot is usually 3-5 relevant tags. I've found the best approach is to blend broad, popular tags with more specific, niche ones.

For instance, if you're writing about marketing, #marketing is way too broad. A better mix would be something like #digitalmarketing (still broad but more focused), #contentstrategy (specific), and #b2bmarketingtrends (niche). This combination helps you show up in wider searches while also attracting specialists who are really interested in what you have to say.

Using Tags and CTAs to Drive Engagement

Hashtags are for topics, but what about people? You can significantly expand your reach by strategically tagging relevant people and companies.

Did you quote an expert? Tag them. Are you talking about a successful project? Tag your teammates and the client's company page. This pulls your post into their networks, but a word of caution: only do this when it's genuine and adds value. Tagging someone just for the sake of it comes across as spammy.

Here's a simple visual that breaks down how all these pieces fit together.

As you can see, it's a flow: nail down your topic, pick smart hashtags, and loop in the right people to give your message a serious boost.

Finally, every single post needs a Call to Action (CTA). You have to tell your audience what you want them to do next. This is how you turn passive scrollers into an engaged community.

The best CTAs don't just ask for a like; they invite conversation. When a post sparks comments, it signals to the LinkedIn algorithm that your content is valuable, and it will show it to more people.

Instead of a tired "What do you think?", get specific and make it easy for people to respond. Try one of these:

• "What's one tool you'd add to this list?"

• "Share your biggest challenge with X in the comments below."

• "Tag a colleague who needs to see this."

These prompts are direct and encourage the kind of meaningful interaction that gets your post noticed. If you want to go even deeper on this, there are some great advanced strategies for boosting your LinkedIn post visibility.

What to Do After You Hit “Publish”

So you’ve published your post. Great. But your work isn't done—in fact, it's just getting started. What you do in the first hour after your content goes live is absolutely critical. This is what many of us call the "golden hour", and it can make or break your post's reach.

Think of it this way: your immediate engagement signals to the LinkedIn algorithm that you've shared something worth talking about. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get a conversation started right away. That means sticking around and being part of it.

Kickstart the Conversation in the First 60 Minutes

When comments start appearing, don’t just hit the "like" button and move on. That's a missed opportunity. Your goal is to reply thoughtfully to keep the dialogue flowing, which builds community and tells the algorithm to show your post to more people.

Here’s how I handle it:

• Go beyond a simple "thanks": If someone leaves a thoughtful comment, ask a follow-up question. Something like, "That's a fantastic point. How did you first discover that approach?" works wonders.

• Acknowledge everyone: Even a quick, "Appreciate you sharing that, John!" shows you’re paying attention and makes people more likely to comment on future posts.

• Tag people when you reply: Tagging someone in your response ensures they get a notification. It’s a small touch that makes the interaction feel more personal and direct.

A LinkedIn post isn't a press release; it's a conversation starter. The more you treat it like a genuine discussion, the more the algorithm will reward you with visibility.

Getting this initial engagement is half the battle, but timing your post correctly in the first place sets you up for success. With 310 million monthly active users and the average user only spending about 17 minutes per month on the platform, the competition for attention is fierce.

This is why posting when your target audience is actually online is non-negotiable. General wisdom often suggests midweek mornings, but your mileage may vary. The best move is always to check your own analytics to see when your followers are most active. For a more detailed breakdown, check out our guide on the best time to post on LinkedIn.

Answering Your Top LinkedIn Posting Questions

Even seasoned pros have questions that pop up right before they hit that "Post" button. Let's walk through some of the most common ones I hear, so you can post with confidence every single time.

How Long Should My LinkedIn Post Be?

This is probably the number one question I get. While LinkedIn gives you a generous character count, you don't always need to use it. For most day-to-day posts, less is more.

Aim for the sweet spot: somewhere between 150 and 250 words. This gives you enough room to share a genuinely useful idea or story without asking your audience to read a novel on their coffee break. It's digestible, scannable, and perfect for the fast-paced nature of the feed.

Where Should I Put My Links?

Ah, the great link debate. It's true—LinkedIn's algorithm tends to favor posts that keep users on the platform. Dropping a link directly into the main body of your post can sometimes throttle its reach.

My go-to strategy: Publish your post without the link first. Immediately after, drop the link into the first comment. You can even edit your original post to add a quick "Link in the comments!" to guide people. This is a simple workaround that keeps the algorithm happy and still gets your audience where you want them to go.

What’s the Best Posting Frequency?

Forget trying to post multiple times a day. Quality and consistency will always beat sheer volume. For most people, posting 2-3 times per week is a fantastic goal.

Why does this schedule work so well?

• It keeps you visible in your network’s feed without being spammy.

• You'll have enough time to create thoughtful, high-value content instead of just posting for the sake of it.

• It gives you the bandwidth to actually engage with the conversations your posts start, which is just as important as the post itself.

Is It Okay to Edit a Post After Publishing?

Absolutely, but with a small caveat. If you spot a typo or need to fix a grammatical error right after posting, go for it. A quick fix won't hurt your post's performance.

However, try to avoid making major changes to the content or media after the post has started to get some engagement. Drastic edits can sometimes confuse the algorithm and reset your post's momentum in the feed. A quick proofread beforehand is always a good idea.

Ready to put all this into practice? Postline.ai is an AI assistant built to help you write, polish, and schedule your LinkedIn content in a fraction of the time. Start creating better posts in minutes with Postline.ai.