How to Add a Link to a LinkedIn Post

Sharing a link on LinkedIn should be a straightforward task, but choosing the best way to do it isn’t always obvious. Debates about the algorithm, user experience, and post formats can make you second-guess what should be a simple click of a button. This guide will walk you through every method for adding links to your LinkedIn posts, explaining the pros and cons of each so you can share your content with confidence and drive real traffic.

The Four Main Ways to Add a Link to a LinkedIn Post

While there are subtle variations, you really have four core methods for sharing a URL on LinkedIn. The best choice depends on your goal and the type of content you're sharing. Let’s break down each one, from the classic copy-paste to newer, more engaging options.

• The Direct Paste Method: Pasting a link directly into the post editor to generate a clickable preview.
• The Link Sticker Method: Adding a clickable link button directly onto an image or video.
• The Document Post (Carousel) Method: Embedding links within a PDF or PowerPoint document that users can click while scrolling.
• The "Link in Comments" Method: Publishing a post without a link and adding it yourself in the first comment.

Thinking through which one serves your audience best is the first step toward getting more attention on your valuable content.

Method 1: Pasting a Link Directly for a Link Preview

This is the most common and traditional way to share a link. You add the URL to the post composer, and LinkedIn automatically pulls information from the webpage to create a preview box with an image, title, and site name.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. On the LinkedIn homepage, click "Start a post."
2. Write the introductory copy for your post. This is the text that appears above the link preview - your hook to get people interested.
3. Copy the URL you want to share and paste it directly into the text box.
4. Wait a few seconds. LinkedIn will "scrape" the page and generate a link preview with a featured image and a headline.
5. Optional but Recommended: Once the preview box appears, you can delete the raw URL text from your post copy. This cleans up the look of your post significantly, making it less cluttered. The preview box itself remains clickable.
6. Click "Post" to publish.

Pros of the Direct Paste Method:

• Clear and Direct: It’s immediately obvious that you're sharing a link. The preview acts as a large, visual call-to-action that’s hard to miss.
• User-Friendly: Viewers can see where they are going before they click, which builds trust and improves the user experience. There’s no hunting for the link.
• Official Look: This is a standard feature, so it looks clean and professional, especially for sharing company news, blog articles, or industry reports.

Cons of the Direct Paste Method:

• The Algorithm Debate: For years, marketers believed that the LinkedIn algorithm suppressed posts with external links because it prefers to keep users on the platform. While LinkedIn officials have pushed back on this, text-only and visual posts often see higher initial reach. It's a trade-off between maximizing potential views and driving direct traffic.
• Limited Creative Control: You're stuck with the preview image and headline that LinkedIn pulls from the webpage's metadata (its Open Graph tags). If the page isn't optimized for social sharing, you might get a weirdly cropped image or a truncated headline.

Pro Tip: Before sharing, you can check and optimize your webpage’s Open Graph (OG) tags. Set a high-quality OG image (ideally 1200x627 pixels) and a compelling OG title to control how your link preview appears on LinkedIn and other social platforms.

Method 2: Adding a Clickable Link Sticker to an Image or Video

This method brilliantly combines the high engagement of visual content with the directness of a clickable link. Instead of relying on a link preview, you add a clickable "link sticker" overlay directly onto your photo or video.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Start a new post and click the "Add media" icon to upload an image or a video.
2. Once your media preps and loads, look for a small chain link icon that says "Add a link." Click it.
3. A box will appear prompting you to paste your URL. Enter the link here.
4. You'll then have the option to add "Custom link text." This text becomes your button's call-to-action (CTA). Instead of just the URL, you can write something like "Read the Full Guide" or "Learn More."
5. Click "Done." A clickable sticker with your custom text will now appear over your image or video.
6. Write the rest of your post copy and publish it. Your followers can now click the sticker to visit your page.

Pros of the Link Sticker Method:

• Best of Both Worlds: You get the increased reach and engagement that often comes with native visual content plus a clear, direct path for your audience to click through.
• Improved User Experience: It's interactive, native, and obvious. There's no performance penalty from the algorithm because you're using a feature LinkedIn built for this purpose.
• Stronger Call-to-Action: The customizable button text allows you to use stronger, action-oriented phrases, which can significantly improve your click-through rate (CTR).

Cons of the Link Sticker Method:

• Format Limitations: This feature currently works only for single-image or single-video posts. It isn't available for multi-image posts or document uploads (carousels).
• Visual Composition: The sticker takes up a piece of your visual real estate. You need to compose your image or video with the sticker in mind to ensure it doesn't cover anything important.

This is quickly becoming the new best practice for any post where a visual element is central to your message.

Method 3: Linking Within a Document Post (Carousel)

Document posts, often called carousels, are a highly engaging format on LinkedIn. You upload a PDF or PowerPoint file, and it's displayed as a swipeable, multi-page document. You can easily add clickable links inside this document.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create a document (e.g., in Canva, Google Slides, or PowerPoint). This is typically a series of pages or slides designed to tell a story or share information.
2. On any page of your document, add the hyperlinks you want to share. For instance, you could add a "Read more on our blog" link on the final slide.
3. Export the file as a PDF. Make sure your design software preserves the active hyperlinks during export.
4. On LinkedIn, start a new post and click the three dots to show more options, then select the "Add a document" icon (it looks like a piece of paper).
5. Upload your PDF file.
6. Give your document a descriptive title and write your post copy to encourage people to swipe through it.
7. Publish the post. Users who scroll through your document can click the embedded links to visit your webpage.

This method is fantastic for telling a longer-form story and driving highly qualified traffic, as anyone who clicks through is already deeply engaged with your content.

Method 4: The Outdated "Link in the First Comment" Strategy

For a long time, this was the go-to "hack" for people trying to beat the algorithm. The logic was that since the main post itself contained no link, LinkedIn would show it to more people initially. The creator would then immediately post the link in the comments.

Is this still a good idea? Generally, no.

Here’s why this method has fallen out of favor:

• Negative User Experience: It creates friction. You're making your audience do extra work to find what you promised them. For every person willing to hunt for the comment, many more will simply scroll past. This lost interest almost certainly outweighs any minor bump in initial algorithmic reach.
• Looks Spammy: This tactic has become associated with overly aggressive growth hacking and can sometimes make your content feel less professional or trustworthy.

The only exception might be if you are trying to spark a purely text-based conversation and the link is secondary and optional. But if your goal is to drive traffic, it's better to use one of the native, user-friendly options above.

How to Get More Clicks: Strategies That Actually Work

Simply posting a link is only half the battle. To truly get results, you need to convince people to click it. Here's how to optimize your LinkedIn posts for engagement.

1. Write Compelling Copy that gives Context

Don’t just say, "Read my new article." Your post copy is your sales pitch for the click. Tell a story, pose a thought-provoking question, or share a surprising statistic from the article. Give people a strong reason why they should invest their time in your content. Focus on the benefit to them: what will they learn? What problem will you solve?

2. Create an Irresistible Visual

Whether it’s a stunning graphic for a link sticker post, an engaging carousel, or a perfectly optimized preview image for a direct link, the visual element stops the scroll. A generic stock photo won't cut it. Your visual should be relevant, on-brand, and ideally contain some text that creates intrigue.

3. Use a Strong, Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Tell people exactly what you want them to do next. Use action-oriented language. Instead of a passive "Link below," try something more compelling like:

• "Get the full breakdown in the article."
• "Download your free checklist here."
• "See the exclusive data in our new report."

4. Engage with Your Community

When someone takes the time to comment on your post, reply to them. Not only is this great for community building, but every interaction also signals to LinkedIn that your post is valuable, which can help it reach a wider audience. To further understand the impact of your efforts, learn how to analyze LinkedIn post performance.

Final Thoughts

There is no single "correct" way to add a link to a LinkedIn post. For sharing articles, the direct paste method is fast and effective. For visual-led content, the link sticker is hard to beat. And for deep, narrative posts, carousels provide an unparalleled experience. By moving past outdated tricks like hiding the link in the comments, you can serve your audience better and achieve your traffic goals with more clicks.

Choosing the right method matters, but consistent scheduling and careful planning will truly build momentum. We designed Postbase to streamline this entire process. With our visual content calendar, you can see your whole strategy across all platforms, including LinkedIn. You can plan your weekly links, schedule your visual posts, and customize your copy from one clean dashboard, freeing you up to focus on creating great content that connects, instead of just wrestling with your tools.