How to Add Clickable Links in LinkedIn Posts

Adding a clickable link to your LinkedIn post seems simple, but getting people to actually click it while also pleasing the LinkedIn algorithm is a bit of an art. In this guide, we'll walk through every effective method for sharing links, from the straightforward copy-paste to more strategic approaches that can boost your reach and engagement. You'll learn the pros and cons of each tactic and see how to best use them for your content.

The Different Ways to Add Links to Your LinkedIn Posts

There isn't a single "best" way to share a link on LinkedIn. The right method often depends on your goal. Are you trying to drive immediate traffic to a blog post, or are you focused on maximizing the engagement of the post itself? Let's break down the most popular and effective strategies.

Method 1: The Standard Link in Post (With a Preview)

This is the most direct way to share a link. You simply write your post and paste the URL directly into the text editor. LinkedIn automatically detects the link and generates a clickable preview box, usually pulling the headline, a brief description, and a featured image from the destination page.

How to Do It Step-by-Step:

1. Start creating a new post from your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Write your post copy, providing context for the link you're about to share. Tell your audience why they should click. What value will they get?
3. Paste your full URL (e.g., https://www.yourwebsite.com/blog-post) directly into the text box.
4. Wait a few seconds for LinkedIn to generate the link preview. It will appear below your text.
5. Once the preview box appears, you can delete the raw URL from your text for a cleaner look. The preview box itself is the clickable link.
6. Click "Post" to publish.

Pros:

• Simple and Direct: It’s the fastest way to get a link in front of your audience. There's no extra step for the user, they just see the link and click.
• Visual Appeal: The link preview thumbnail can be eye-catching and add context to your post if it has a high-quality, relevant image.

Cons:

• Potential for Lower Reach: This is the big one. Social media platforms, including LinkedIn, generally prefer to keep users on their site. Posts containing external links can sometimes see reduced reach in the algorithm compared to posts without them. LinkedIn's algorithm prioritizes content that sparks discussion and engagement on the platform, so sending users away can be a negative signal.
• Limited Customization: You're often stuck with the image and text that LinkedIn automatically scrapes from the URL. While you used to be able to customize this, LinkedIn has removed that feature for most users to combat misinformation. If you have control over a website, you can use Open Graph (OG) tags in your site's HTML to specify the title, image, and description you'd prefer LinkedIn to show.

Method 2: The "Link in the Comments" Strategy

This popular workaround is designed to bypass the algorithm's potential suppression of posts with external links. The idea is simple: you create your post without a link in the main body and then add the link as the very first comment immediately after publishing.

How to Do It Step-by-Step:

1. Create your post as usual, focusing on engaging copy, an image, or a video.
2. Within your post copy, include a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) telling people where to find the link. Common phrases include: "Link in the first comment," "I'll drop the link in the comments below," or a simple "Link in comments 👇".
3. Publish the post.
4. Immediately after it goes live, navigate to your post and click the "Comment" button.
5. Paste your URL into the comment box and submit it. To make your comment easier to find as more people reply, you can click the three dots (...) next to your comment and select "Pin comment."

Pros:

• Potentially Higher Reach: The theory is that LinkedIn’s algorithm treats the post as native content (like a text or image post), which often results in broader initial visibility and greater organic reach.
• Encourages Engagement: Having users navigate to the comments is an engagement in itself. This action starts a conversation thread, which is a powerful positive signal to the algorithm.

Cons:

• Adds Friction for Users: You're asking your audience to do extra work. They have to read your post, then find the right comment section, and then find your link among any other comments. This extra step can cause some people to drop off and not click at all.
• Can Be Seen as a "Gimmick": As more people use this tactic, some users have become annoyed by it, seeing it as a cheap trick to "game the system." It's best used when the post itself provides standalone value.
• Comments Can Get Buried: If your post becomes very popular and you don't pin your comment, your link can get lost in a sea of other replies, making it hard for users to find.

Method 3: Image, Carousel, or Video Posts with a CTA

A highly effective strategy involves creating visually compelling content - like a custom graphic, a multi-slide carousel, or a short video - and using the post's text to point to a link elsewhere.

You can then use the "Link in Comments" method discussed above or, alternatively, point people to a permanent link that's easy to find.

How to Do It Step-by-Step:

1. Create Your Visual Content: Design an informational image, a slideshow carousel (by uploading a PDF), or edit a short video that tells a story or provides value on its own.
2. Craft a Compelling Caption: Write your text caption to supplement the visual.
3. Add a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): In your text, tell people exactly where to go for more information. Instead of just the comments, you might direct them to the link in your profile's "Featured" section or your Custom Button. For example: "For the complete playbook, click the link in my profile's Featured section!"
4. Publish your post and put the link where you promised you would.

Pros:

• Highest Engagement Potential: Carousels (PDF documents) and videos perform exceptionally well on LinkedIn. They keep people on your post longer, which is a huge positive signal to the algorithm. This boosts your overall reach, increasing the number of people who see your CTA.
• Positions You as an Expert: Providing value upfront in a visual format builds credibility. You're teaching or entertaining first, and then offering the link as a way to get *even more* value.

Cons:

• More Time-Consuming: Creating high-quality visual content takes more effort than writing a simple text post.
• Indirect Link: As with the comments method, you're still adding a step for the user. They must navigate from your post to your profile page to find the link.

Beyond Individual Posts: Adding Links to Your Profile

Don't forget that your LinkedIn profile itself is a powerful hub for clickable links. By optimizing your profile, you can create a passive source of traffic around the clock.

Add a Custom Button to Your Profile Header

LinkedIn now allows all users (with Creator Mode turned on) to add a custom button right below their name and headline. This is prime real estate!

• How: Go to your profile, click the pencil icon to edit your intro, and scroll down to "Custom button." You can link it to your website, landing page, or newsletter and customize the button text (e.g., "Visit my website," "Subscribe now").

Use the "Featured" Section

The "Featured" section is an eye-level pinboard on your profile. You can showcase posts, articles, and - most importantly - external links with large, clickable visual previews.

• How: On your profile, click "Add profile section" and select "Featured." From there, you can add links to your most important content, like your portfolio, a top-performing blog post, or a product page.

Best Practices for Sharing Links on LinkedIn

Regardless of the method you choose, a few universal principles will improve your results.

Always Provide Context

Never just drop a link and expect people to click. Your post copy should frame the link. Tell a story, ask a question, or share a surprising statistic related to the linked content. Give people a compelling reason to divert their attention and click away from LinkedIn.

Use Branded Link Shorteners

Long, messy URLs with tracking parameters look clunky. Use a service like Bitly to create clean, shortened links. If you have a custom branded shortener (e.g., yourbrand.co/link), that's even better, as it looks professional and reinforces your brand.

Test What Works for Your Audience

The LinkedIn algorithm is always changing, and different audiences behave differently. Don't be afraid to experiment.

• For one campaign, try pasting the link directly in the post. Track your views, engagement, and clicks.
• For the next campaign, try the "link in comments" method. Compare your results.
• Notice what types of content - image, video, or text - get your posts the most visibility. Double down on what's working best for you.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to share links on LinkedIn is about balancing a direct call-to-action with the preferences of the platform's algorithm. By diversifying your approach - using direct links, placing them in comments for high-priority posts, and creating engaging carousels - you can effectively drive traffic without sacrificing reach.

We built Postbase to simplify these exact workflows for modern social media. When you're managing content across multiple platforms, you can use our visual calendar to plan out your LinkedIn strategy, see where a carousel post might fit best, and schedule different post types seamlessly - all without the clunkiness of older tools. It lets us focus on creating great content rather than fighting with the software.