How to Link Names in LinkedIn Posts

Tagging someone in a LinkedIn post is one of the smartest ways to boost its visibility and spark a conversation. It’s a simple action that can turn a monologue into a dialogue, bringing more people into your professional world. This guide breaks down exactly how to link names in your posts, the strategic reasons why you should do it thoughtfully, and the common slip-ups to avoid so your tags always land with impact.

The "Why" Behind Tagging: More Than Just a Mention

Before jumping into the "how," it's worth understanding the strategic power of a simple @mention. Tagging a person or a company on LinkedIn isn’t just about getting their attention, it’s a powerful tactic for relationship-building and content amplification. When used correctly, it can completely change the trajectory of your post.

It Dramatically Boosts Your Reach and Visibility

When you tag an individual or a company, LinkedIn doesn't just notify them - it often shows your post to a portion of their network, too. Think of each tag as opening a door to a new audience. If you tag a collaborator with 5,000 connections, your post now has the potential to reach people far outside your immediate circle. The LinkedIn algorithm sees this as a sign of a cross-network conversation, often giving the post an extra push in the feed.

It Sparks Immediate Engagement

Nothing encourages a reply faster than a direct mention. When someone sees their name tagged, they’re much more likely to engage with a like, a comment, or a share. This initial flurry of activity is a strong positive signal to the algorithm. More engagement leads to more visibility, creating a snowball effect that helps your post gain momentum in the first few hours after publishing, which is often the most important window for performance.

It Builds and Strengthens Professional Relationships

Social media is, at its core, about being social. Tagging someone to give them credit, share their valuable insight, or thank them for their contribution is a public form of professional courtesy. It’s a genuine way to show appreciation and nurture your network. People remember who gives them a shout-out, and that little bit of goodwill can go a long way in strengthening professional bonds on and off the platform.

It Lends Credibility and Context to Your Content

Quoting an industry expert? Talking about a tool your team loves? Sharing takeaways from a conference? Tagging the people and companies involved adds a layer of authority and context to your post. It shows you’re engaged in your industry's conversation and grounds your content in real-world experiences and collaborations, making your message more trustworthy and compelling.

How to Link a Name in a LinkedIn Post (The Step-by-Step Guide)

Now for the practical part. The process of tagging is straightforward, but knowing the nuances can save you from frustration. Whether you’re on a desktop or a mobile device, the core mechanic is the same.

How to Tag an Individual Connection

1. Start Creating Your Post: Go to the LinkedIn homepage and click on "Start a post."
2. Use the "@" Symbol: In the text editor, type the "@" symbol. This tells LinkedIn you want to mention someone or a company.
3. Start Typing the Name: Immediately after the "@" symbol (with no space), begin typing the person's name. A dropdown menu will appear with suggestions from your network.
4. Select the Correct Profile: As you type, the list will narrow down. Scroll through and click on the correct person. Be sure to select the right Jane Doe if there are multiple options! You might need to type their full name or even part of their headline to find them.
5. Confirm the Tag: Once selected, the person's name will appear in the post as a blue, clickable link. You can backspace and remove their last name if you prefer a more conversational feel (e.g., "@Jane" instead of "@Jane Doe"), but the link will remain tied to their full profile.

How to Tag a Company Page

The process for tagging a company is nearly identical to tagging a person.

1. Use the "@" Symbol: In your post, type the "@" symbol.
2. Start Typing the Company Name: Begin typing the official name of the company. A dropdown menu with company pages will appear.
3. Select the Correct Company Page: Click on the company’s name from the list. Look for their logo to confirm you’ve got the right one.
4. Confirm the Tag: The company's name will now be a blue, clickable link in your post.

Troubleshooting: Common Tagging Issues and How to Fix Them

Sometimes tagging doesn’t go as planned. Here are some common hurdles and solutions:

"I can't find the person I want to tag."

This is the most frequent issue. Here's why it might be happening:

• They Aren't in Your Network: LinkedIn prioritizes people you're connected with (1st-degree connections), then people in their network (2nd-degree), and so on. If they're too far outside your network, they may not show up.
• Privacy Settings: Some users adjust their privacy settings to control who can tag them. If they've restricted this, you won’t be able to link to their profile.
• A Misspelling or Different Name: You might be spelling their name incorrectly or they might use a middle initial or a different version of their name on their profile. Double-check their profile to be sure.

Solution: If you can't find them, you can always mention their name without the tag. It won't have the same algorithmic benefit, but it still gives credit where it's due.

"The tag disappeared after I edited the post."

This is an annoying but known glitch. When you go back to edit a post, sometimes the hyperlink of a tag can break.

Solution: Always do a quick check after editing. If a tag has reverted to black text, simply delete the name and re-type the @mention to tag them again.

The Art of Tagging: Best Practices for Maximum Impact

Just because you can tag someone doesn't always mean you should. Strategy and etiquette are what separate a powerful tag from spam. Follow these guidelines to make sure your mentions are always well-received.

1. Be Relevant and Authentic

This is the golden rule. Only tag people who are directly relevant to the content of your post. Are you sharing a photo of your team? Tag them. Did you just read an insightful article? Tag the author. Are you thanking a client? Tag them and their company. Tagging people randomly just to get their attention is called "tag spam." It’s transparent, harms your credibility, and can even get people to block or report you.

• Good Example: "Incredible insights from the presentation by @SarahChen today on the future of AI in marketing. Her point about personalization at scale was particularly brilliant. Grateful for the lessons learned at #MarketingSummit2024!"
• Bad Example: "Feeling motivated today! #RiseAndGrind @GaryVee @SimonSinek @BreneBrown @TonyRobbins"

2. Always Provide Context

A name dropped without explanation is confusing. Never just add a tag to the end of a post without explaining why you are mentioning that person. Frame the tag properly so the person being tagged, and anyone reading, understands the connection.

• Instead of: "This is a great approach to project management. @JamesMiller"
• Try: "Completely reimagined our team's workflow after reading the latest blog post from @JamesMiller. His framework for weekly sprints is a game-changer for hitting deadlines without the stress."

The second example gives a genuine compliment and provides value to the reader by explaining the benefit. That’s much more likely to earn an appreciative comment from James.

3. Don’t Overcrowd Your Post

A post with a wall of 20 tags looks cluttered and can feel desperate. It waters down the impact of each individual tag and can overwhelm the main message of your content. While there's no official limit, a good rule of thumb is to stick to 3-5 key tags in a post, unless you're tagging people in a group photo. Prioritize quality over quantity. A few highly relevant tags will always outperform a dozen random ones.

Advanced Tagging Strategies to Amplify Your Brand

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start using tagging as a core part of your content strategy to build community and establish authority.

The "Gratitude" Post

Everyone appreciates being recognized. Dedicate a post to publicly thanking a mentor, a client, a supportive former boss, or a collaborator who made a difference. These posts are authentic, spread goodwill, and often receive very high engagement because they are so positive and human-centered.

Example: "A huge thank you to my mentor @DavidChen for taking a chance on me five years ago. His advice on leadership and empathy truly shaped my career path, and I wouldn't be here without it."

The "Expert Roundup" Post

Position yourself as a connector in your field by creating a post that gathers insights from multiple experts. This could be a list of "top five marketers to follow" or "three key takeaways from different industry leaders." Tag each person you feature. This strategy brings together several different audiences into one conversation thread and provides immense value to your network.

The Event Recap Post

After attending a conference, webinar, or even an important company meeting, write a post summarizing your key takeaways. Tag the event organizers, the speakers, and even a few of the people you met and had meaningful conversations with. This extends the life of the event, reinforces your new connections, and shows you're an active participant in your industry.

The Employee Advocacy Post

If you're a leader, one of the best things you can do is shine a spotlight on your team. When posting about a company milestone, a successful project, or a positive aspect of your company culture, make sure to tag the employees who were involved. This not only makes your team feel recognized and valued but also encourages them to share the post with their own networks, turning them into powerful brand ambassadors.

Final Thoughts

Tagging people and companies on LinkedIn is a simple move that delivers lasting results, from expanding your post's reach to cementing meaningful professional relationships. When done with thoughtfulness and a clear purpose, it elevates your content from a simple broadcast into a valuable community conversation.

Staying on top of those conversations and planning content that merits tagging can feel like a lot to juggle. That’s why we built Postbase. Our visual calendar lets you strategically plan your posts well in advance, so you always know when to schedule those team shout-outs, expert roundups, or event recaps. Our goal is to make your social media workflow smoother so you can spend less time managing tabs and more time building impactful connections.