How to Create a LinkedIn Post with Image and Text

Pairing a compelling image with thoughtfully crafted text can make your LinkedIn post unstoppable, stopping a feed-scroller in their tracks. This isn't just about adding a photo, it's about making your visual and your message work together to grab attention, tell a story, and drive real engagement. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do that, from picking the right kind of image to writing copy that pulls people in.

Why Images and Text Are LinkedIn's Power Duo

On a platform as busy as LinkedIn, you have about two seconds to earn someone's attention. A post that’s just a wall of text can easily get lost, while an image without context might be confusing. The combination, however, is potent. The image acts as the hook, it’s the visual interruption that stops the scroll. The text provides the payoff, it gives the context, the story, and the reason for your audience to care.

Think about how you use the platform. Your eyes naturally gravitate toward photos of people, interesting graphics, and professional visuals. Once your attention is captured by the image, what’s the first thing you do? You look to the accompanying text to understand what it’s all about. When you master this pairing, you move from just sharing updates to creating content that builds your personal brand, generates leads, and starts meaningful conversations.

Choosing the Right Image: The Art of Stopping the Scroll

The image is your first impression, so it has to count. Generic stock photos of people in business suits pointing at charts no longer cut it. Your audience craves authenticity and an actual connection. The goal is to choose an image that is both professional and human.

Image Types that Work on LinkedIn

Not all images are created equal. Different visuals serve different purposes. Here are a few types that consistently perform well:

• High-Quality Photos of People: This is the gold standard. Whether it’s a professional headshot, a photo of you speaking at an event, or a candid shot of your team collaborating, photos with faces connect on a personal level. People do business with people, and showing your human side builds trust. Example: A slightly behind-the-scenes photo from a company offsite often gets more engagement than a perfectly staged group picture because it feels more genuine.
• Branded Graphics with Text Overlays: These are custom graphics that use your brand colors and fonts to share a key piece of information. They're great for highlighting a powerful statistic, a motivational quote, or a key takeaway from one of your articles. Tools like Canva make creating these accessible for everyone.
• Infographics and Charts: If you have data to share, a simple, clean infographic or chart can be incredibly effective. The trick is to keep it uncluttered. Focus on one or two main data points that are easy to digest on a mobile screen. Save the full, complex version for your blog post or report.
• Screenshots and Product Shots: Demonstrating something in action is very powerful. A screenshot of a testimonial, a positive result from your work, or a sneak peek of a new feature can add credibility and generate interest.

Technical Specs and Best Practices

Getting the technical details right prevents weird cropping or blurry images that can make your post look unprofessional.

• Ideal Dimensions: While LinkedIn supports various sizes, certain dimensions perform better in the feed.
  • Square (1080 x 1080 pixels): This is a versatile and effective size that looks great on both desktop and mobile.
  • Portrait (1080 x 1350 pixels): This vertical orientation takes up more real estate on mobile screens, which can increase its chances of being noticed. LinkedIn will show the full format in the mobile feed.
  • Landscape (1200 x 627 pixels): This is the standard size for shared link previews, but you can also use it for a direct image upload if the horizontal format works best for your visual.
• File Type and Size: Use JPG or PNG files for the best quality. Try to keep your file size under 5 MB to avoid any upload issues.
• Add Alt Text: This is a non-negotiable step for accessibility and good practice. Alt text is a written description of your image that allows screen-reader software to describe it to visually impaired users. When you upload your image, LinkedIn prompts you to add it. Be descriptive! For example, instead of "graphic," write "A blue graphic with the text '85% of users prefer authentic visual content.'".

Crafting Compelling Text: The Story Behind the Image

Once your image has done its job of stopping the scroll, your text needs to hold that attention and deliver value. Good LinkedIn copy is clear, concise, and structured for easy reading.

The Anatomy of a High-Performing LinkedIn Post

LinkedIn posts generally follow a simple, three-part structure designed to draw the reader in and encourage a response.

1. The Hook (The First 1-2 Lines)

LinkedIn mobile feeds only show the first couple of lines of a post before hiding the rest behind a "...see more" link. Your single most important writing task is to make that hook so compelling that someone must click to read the rest. Start with something that sparks curiosity:

• A bold or contrarian statement: "The best career advice I ever got was to ignore my passion."
• A relatable observation: "Ever have one of those meetings that could have been an email?"
• An open-ended question: "What's the one skill you believe every marketer needs in 2024?"

2. The Body (The Narrative and Value)

This is where you provide the context for your image and deliver the main point of your post. Don't write a giant wall of text. Structure is everything.

• Tell a story: The image might be of you on stage, but the body of the text tells the story of the mistake you made that led to the lesson you shared from that stage.
• Use white space: Write in short paragraphs, sometimes just one sentence long. This makes your copy much easier to read and scan on a phone.
• Use emojis strategically: Emojis can add personality and break up text, making it feel more approachable. Use them to replace bullet points (✓, 👉) or to add a touch of emotion without being unprofessional.
• Provide value: Your audience is asking, "What's in it for me?" Make sure your post offers a lesson, a new perspective, actionable advice, or a useful insight.

3. The Call to Action (The Final Line)

Every good post should guide the reader on what to do next. A good call to action (CTA) turns passive readers into active participants. Invite engagement with a question:

• "What are your thoughts on this?"
• "Have you experienced something similar? Share your story below."
• "What's one tactic you'd add to this list?"

Strategic Hashtagging

Hashtags help your post get discovered by people outside your immediate network who are interested in the topics you're discussing. Think of them as keywords for your content.

• Stick to 3-5 hashtags. Don't stuff your post with dozens of them, it looks spammy and can dilute the focus.
• Use a mix of hashtag types:
  • Broad: #Marketing, #Leadership
  • Niche: #ContentStrategy, #PersonalBranding
  • Branded: #YourCompanyName, #YourPersonalTagline
• Place them at the end. It’s common practice to add your hashtags on their own at the very bottom of the post for a cleaner look.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Publishing Your Post

Ready to put it all together? Here’s a quick checklist for actually creating the post on LinkedIn’s platform, from start to finish.

1. On your LinkedIn homepage or profile, find the "Start a post" box at the top of the feed.
2. In the compose window that appears, click the "add media" icon (looks like a picture) at the bottom.
3. Select the image you want to use from your computer or phone.
4. Once the image preview appears, click on "Alt text" at the top right of the image. Write a clear, descriptive summary of the image's content and click "Save".
5. Now, move back to the main text box. Paste or type your carefully crafted hook, body, and CTA. Read it over to check for readability and flow.
6. Add your 3-5 strategic hashtags at the very end of your text.
7. If relevant, tag anyone mentioned in the post or visible in the photo by typing "@" followed by their name. Do this sparingly, tag people who are genuinely involved or would add to the conversation.
8. Read through your entire post one last time. Check for typos, grammar mistakes, and broken sentences.
9. When you are sure, hit "Post", and your combination of image and text is live!

Advanced Tips for Maximizing Engagement

Creating and publishing the post is only half the battle. The other half is what happens next.

• The First Hour is Golden: LinkedIn’s algorithm pays close attention to the engagement a post gets in its first 60 minutes. Make a point to be online after your post goes live so you can reply to comments as they come in. A conversation in the comments section signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable, boosting its reach to a wider audience.
• Tagging with Purpose: Tagging people you mention or who appear in your photo can significantly increase your post’s visibility by notifying them and potentially showing your post to their networks. However, avoid "spam tagging" - don't tag a list of influencers just to get their attention if they have nothing to do with your content. It’s a bad look and can hurt your reputation with your audience.
• Put External Links in the First Comment: It’s well-known in marketing circles that platforms like LinkedIn prefer to keep users on their site. Posts containing external links directly in the body copy can sometimes have their reach suppressed by the algorithm. A widely used workaround is to mention in your post, "Link to the full article/report is in the comments," and then post the link as your first comment.

Final Thoughts

Effectively creating a LinkedIn post with an image and text is a blend of science and art. It’s about combining an authentic, compelling image with a story that educates, inspires, or entertains. This powerful combination, driven by well-executed copywriting, stops the scroll, holds attention, and drives meaningful conversations that build your brand.

We know that managing a content calendar can be a challenge, especially when juggling multiple social media platforms. To help marketing teams stay organized, we built Postbase. Our simple visual calendar makes it easy to plan, schedule, and analyze your social media posts across all your channels from one place, freeing you up to focus on creating great content and engaging with your audience.