How to Make a LinkedIn Post Public

Want to make sure your great LinkedIn content reaches beyond just your immediate network? Setting your post visibility to Public is the switch you need to flip. This brief guide cuts straight to the chase, showing you exactly how to make your posts public, change the settings on existing content, and understand what each visibility option really means for your content's reach.

Why Public Posts Are a Game-Changer on LinkedIn

Before jumping into the "how," it's worth understanding the "why." Choosing the right visibility for your post isn't just about clicking a button, it's a strategic decision that directly impacts who sees your content and what kind of opportunities it can generate. Making a post "Public" (by choosing the "Anyone" setting) does more than just show it to your connections.

It means your post can:

• Reach people outside your network: Anyone on or off LinkedIn can see, like, comment, and share your post. This is how content goes viral and how you get discovered by potential clients, collaborators, or employers you don't already know.
• Appear in search results: Public posts are indexed by search engines like Google. If someone is searching for a topic you’ve written about, your LinkedIn post could pop up in their search results, establishing you as an authority.
• Show up on hashtag feeds: When you use hashtags on a public post, your content appears on the corresponding hashtag pages. Anyone following or searching that hashtag can find your post, even if they have no connection to you.
• Be shared freely: Others can share your content with their networks, amplifying your message far beyond your own reach. A public post removes all barriers to sharing.

For DMs, job hunt updates, or asking a quick question to your trusted contacts, "Connections only" might be fine. But for building a personal brand, sharing thought leadership, or growing your business, "Public" is almost always the right move.

How to Make a New LinkedIn Post Public: Step-by-Step

Making a new post public is straightforward on both desktop and mobile. The setting is right within the post composer, but it can be easy to overlook if you're not looking for it.

On Desktop

1. Navigate to the LinkedIn homepage and click on "Start a post" at the top of your feed.
2. Once the post composer window opens, look directly below your name and profile picture. You'll see a small button with your current default visibility setting, which might say "Anyone" or "Connections only" next to a globe or people icon.
3. Click this button. A menu called "Who can see your post?" will appear.
4. Select the first option: Anyone. You’ll see a brief explanation: "Anyone on or off LinkedIn." This is the public setting. If you want to simultaneously share the post to X (formerly Twitter), you can select Anyone + X.
5. Click "Save" to confirm your selection.
6. Write your content, add your images or video, include relevant hashtags, and then click "Post." Your post will now be visible to everyone.

On the Mobile App (iOS & Android)

The process is nearly identical on your phone.

1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap the "Post" button in the center of the bottom navigation bar.
2. At the top of the screen, just below your name, you’ll see the visibility button (e.g., "Anyone"). Tap it.
3. A "Who can see your post?" screen will appear. Select Anyone from the list.
4. Tap the "Back" arrow in the top left to return to the post composer.
5. Create your post and tap "Post" in the top right corner. It’s now live and public.

Pro Tip: LinkedIn remembers your last choice. If you set one post to "Anyone," your next one will default to that setting, saving you a step each time.

How to Change the Visibility of an Existing Post

Did you accidentally post to "Connections only" and want to open it up to a wider audience? No problem. You can change the visibility of a post even after it's been published.

1. Find the post you want to edit on your profile or in your feed.
2. Click or tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner of the post.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Edit who can see your post" or a similar option like "Change who can see this post."
4. The familiar visibility selection menu will pop up. Choose Anyone.
5. Save your changes. The post will now be public and can be seen by anyone on or off LinkedIn.

Remember, making the change from a restricted audience to a public one can give old content a new life, allowing it to be discoverable in searches and feeds it wasn't a part of before.

A Closer Look at LinkedIn's Audience Settings

Understanding all the options available helps you make better decisions for every piece of content you share.

• Anyone: The full public option. Visible to everyone on LinkedIn, on a Google search, and anywhere else your post is shared. This is your go-to for building authority and maximizing reach.
• Anyone + X: This pushes your post to your connected X (Twitter) profile. LinkedIn handles the cross-post for you, but keep in mind that media and character counts might get adjusted. It's a quick way to share across platforms.
• Connections only: This restricts your post's visibility to your 1st-degree connections. It’s useful for personal updates, networking requests, or content specifically for people who already know you.
• Group members: When you post within a LinkedIn Group, this is often the default option. The post's visibility is limited to the members of that specific group, making it perfect for focused C-suite discussions or industry-specific topics.
• Targeted Audience (for Company Pages only): Company Pages get a more advanced set of tools. You can make a post public but suggest it to a specific follower segment based on criteria like job function, industry, location, or company size. This helps get your public content in front of the right public audience.

Smart Strategies for Your Public LinkedIn Posts

Making your post public is just the first step. To truly get traction, you need to think a little about strategy.

1. Use Relevant Hashtags Effectively

Think of hashtags as category tags that make your post discoverable. Don't just stuff your post with them. Choose 3-5 hashtags that are directly relevant to your content, your industry, and your target audience. A mix of broad hashtags (like #marketing) and niche ones (like #b2bcontentstrategy) can capture a wider audience.

2. Craft an Irresistible Hook

The first line of your post is everything. It needs to grab attention as someone scrolls through their feed. Ask a question, state a bold opinion, or share a surprising statistic. You have about one second to convince someone to stop scrolling, so make that first line count.

For example, instead of saying, "Here is a blog post about time management," try something more engaging like, "My entire productivity system boils down to this one simple rule..."

3. Tag People and Companies When It Makes Sense

Tagging another person or a company page in your post (using the @ symbol) sends them a notification. If they engage, their network might see your post. Use this thoughtfully. Tag someone if you're quoting them, referencing their work, or genuinely want their opinion. Never spam-tag dozens of people just for views - it's impolite and damages your reputation.

4. Make It Easy to Read

Big walls of text are intimidating. Break your ideas into short sentences and paragraphs. Use bullet points or numbered lists to structure your information. White space is your friend - it makes your content feel more approachable and is much easier to read on a mobile device.

5. Get the Conversation Going

The algorithm rewards engagement. End your posts with a question to encourage comments. When people do comment, make sure you reply. Replying to comments not only fosters community but also signals to the algorithm that your post is popular, giving it an extra visibility boost.

Troubleshooting: "I Set My Post to 'Anyone,' but It's Still Not Getting Views"

If you've set your post to "Anyone" and followed best practices but still feel like your reach is limited, there are a couple of things to check.

• Check Your Profile's Overall Visibility: Your main profile settings can affect who sees your activity. Go to your Settings & Privacy > Visibility > Visibility of your profile & network. Make sure "Profile viewing options" aren't set to full private mode and that your profile is visible to the public.
• Are you posting in a private group? If you create a post inside a private LinkedIn Group, it doesn't matter if you set it to "Anyone." The post visibility is controlled entirely by the group's privacy setting and will only be seen by group members.

Final Thoughts

Making a LinkedIn post public is mechanically simple - you find the visibility button and choose "Anyone." But mastering this simple setting is about understanding its strategic value as the foundation for building your brand, establishing yourself as a thought leader, and connecting with opportunities beyond your personal echo chamber.

Once you are comfortably sharing public content, the next challenge is staying consistent without it turning into a full-time job. For that, we built Postbase. It gives you a beautiful, drag-and-drop calendar to plan your LinkedIn strategy weeks in advance, lets you schedule all your posts reliably, and brings all your comments and mentions into a single unified inbox. It simplifies the chaos so you can focus on creating great content, not fighting with spreadsheets and multiple browser tabs.