How to Post a Message on LinkedIn

Learning how to post a message on LinkedIn is the first step toward building your brand on the world’s largest professional network. But getting it right involves more than just clicking the “Post” button. This guide will walk you through the exact steps for sharing updates, creating content that grabs attention, sending effective private messages, and publishing long-form articles.

The Fast-Track: How to Share a Basic Post

Let's start with the fundamentals. A standard LinkedIn post, or update, appears in the feed of your connections and followers. It’s the most common way to share your thoughts, company news, or professional insights.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Locate the "Start a post" box: As soon as you log into LinkedIn, you'll see a box at the top of your homepage that says "Start a post" or "Share your thoughts." Click on it.
2. Write your message: A text editor will pop up. This is where you write your content. Keep your most important information in the first few lines to hook readers before they have to click "...see more."
3. Add media (Optional but Recommended): Below the text box, you'll find icons to add different types of media. You can add a photo, video, document (like a PDF-turned-carousel), or celebrate an occasion. Posts with visuals consistently outperform text-only posts.
4. Include hashtags: Hashtags help your post get discovered by people outside your immediate network who follow those topics. Add 3-5 relevant hashtags at the end of your post. Think broad (#marketing), specific (#contentstrategy), and niche (#B2BSaaSMarketing).
5. Tag people or companies: If your post mentions a specific person or company, tag them using the "@" symbol followed by their name (e.g., @John Smith or @YourCompany). They will get a notification, which can boost your post's visibility. Only tag people who are genuinely relevant to the post.
6. Hit "Post": Once you’re happy with your message, click the blue "Post" button. Your update is now live on the feed.

That’s it! You've successfully posted a message. But to truly build a brand and connect with your audience, you need to move beyond the basics and focus on creating posts that resonate.

Moving from Posting to Performing: How to Create Engaging Content

A post that gets reactions, comments, and shares is a post that helps you grow. The LinkedIn algorithm favors content that sparks conversation. Here are actionable strategies to make your posts more engaging.

1. Master Your Opening Line (The Hook)

Users scroll quickly. Your first sentence determines whether they stop or keep going. Your goal is to create curiosity.

• Start with a bold statement: "Most people are using LinkedIn hashtags all wrong."
• Ask a question: "What's the one piece of career advice you wish you'd known five years ago?"
• Share a vulnerable insight: "I failed. Big time. Here’s what my biggest professional mistake taught me."

A strong hook makes the rest of your post impossible to ignore.

2. Make It Easy to Read

Nobody wants to read a giant wall of text. Use formatting to make your posts scannable and digestible.

• Short paragraphs: Stick to one or two sentences per paragraph.
• Whitespace: Use generous line breaks to create a visual rhythm.
• Bulleted or numbered lists: Use lists to break down complex ideas into simple points (like this one!).
• Emojis: Use relevant emojis sparingly to add personality and draw attention to key points. 💡 ✓ 👉

Good formatting is about respect for your reader's time. Make it easy for them, and they’ll be more likely to engage.

3. Use Visuals Strategically

Visual content isn’t just an add-on, it’s a core part of an effective post. Different formats serve different purposes.

Images

A simple, high-quality photo of you, your team, or an event works wonders. People connect with people. Selfies, candid team shots, and speaker photos tend to perform very well because they feel authentic and build personal connection.

Videos

Native video (uploaded directly to LinkedIn) is powerful. Keep it short (30-90 seconds is the sweet spot) and always include subtitles, as most users watch videos with the sound off. Short talking-head videos where you share a single tip or insight are highly effective.

Documents (Carousels)

One of the most engaging formats on LinkedIn right now is the document post, which appears as a clickable carousel. You can convert a PowerPoint or PDF file into a shareable slideshow. Use this to repurpose blog content, share presentation slides, or create a step-by-step guide.

4. End with a Clear Call to Action (CTA)

An engaging post guides the reader on what to do next. Don't just end your post, give your audience a reason to comment.

• "What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments."
• "Have you tried this? Share your experience below!"
• "If you found this helpful, share it with your network."

Asking a direct question is the easiest way to kickstart a conversation and signal to the algorithm that your content is valuable.

Another Way to "Post a Message": Sending Private Messages (DMs)

Sometimes, "posting a message" means sending a direct message to a specific person for networking, sales, or collaboration. Here’s how to do it effectively.

How to Send a Private Message

1. Navigate to the profile of the person you want to message.
2. Just below their headline, you'll see a "Message" button. Click it.
3. A messaging window will appear where you can type and send your note.

Note: If you are not a 1st-degree connection, you may see a lock icon on the "Message" button. This means you need to send a connection request first, or you can use a LinkedIn InMail (a premium feature) to reach them.

Best Practices for Network Messaging

A bad DM gets ignored. A great one can open doors. The difference is personalization and value.

The Bad Approach (and what to avoid):

"Hi Jane, I see you're an HR Manager. My company sells the best recruiting software on the market. Can we schedule a 15-minute demo next week?"

This is impersonal, selfish, and immediately asks for something without giving anything first.

The Good Approach (and what to do):

"Hi Jane, I saw your recent post about the challenges of remote hiring - your point about culture fit really hit home. We recently published a data report on how top startups are solving that very problem. Thought you might find it interesting. No strings attached, just found it relevant to your conversation. Cheers!"

This message works because it:

• Shows you've done your homework (mentioning her post).
• Offers genuine value without asking for anything in return.
• Builds rapport and positions you as a helpful resource, not just a seller.

For In-Depth Expertise: How to Post a LinkedIn Article

When you have more to say than a feed post allows, a LinkedIn Article is your best option. Articles are essentially blog posts that live permanently on your LinkedIn profile, and they are indexed by search engines, giving them longer-term visibility.

How to Post an Article

1. On your homepage, just below the "Start a post" box, you’ll see an option to "Write article." Click it.
2. This will open LinkedIn's longer-form publishing tool. Here you can add a headline, a cover image, and your body text.
3. The editor includes formatting options like H1/H2 headings, blockquotes, bullet points, and the ability to embed images and videos within the text.
4. Write your piece, focusing on providing deep value on a topic you know well. Aim for at least 500-800 words.
5. When you're ready, click "Next" to add a short introductory text and relevant hashtags, then publish. Your article is now live and will be shared with your network via a feed post.

Final Thoughts

Posting a message on LinkedIn is simple on the surface, but a strategic approach separates those who get results from those who don't. By focusing on creating valuable, readable, and engaging content - whether in a post, a message, or an article - you can transform your profile from a static resume into a dynamic hub for your professional brand.

Creating all this great content across LinkedIn, alongside your other social platforms, can feel like a full-time job. That's why we created Postbase. To simplify things, we give you a beautiful visual calendar to plan everything out, rock-solid scheduling so your posts always go live on time, and a unified inbox for all your comments and DMs. It’s the modern, no-nonsense tool designed to let you get back to creating, not wrestling with your software.