How to Share a Post on LinkedIn

Sharing someone's post on LinkedIn is more than just a click of a button, it's a strategic act of curation, brand-building, and professional generosity. When done right, it can build relationships, establish your expertise, and bring massive value to your network. This guide breaks down not only the mechanical steps of sharing but also the strategies that turn a simple repost into a powerful engagement tool.

Understanding the Two Ways to Share on LinkedIn

First, let's get the basics down. When you find a post on your LinkedIn feed that you want to share, you'll click the circular arrow icon labeled "Repost." This action opens up two distinct choices: a simple "Repost" or a "Repost with your thoughts." Understanding the difference is vital for your LinkedIn strategy.

1. The Simple “Repost”

Think of this as a quick, silent nod of agreement. When you choose the plain "Repost" option, the original post appears on your profile and in your followers' feeds exactly as it was written, with a small note at the top that you reposted it.

• What it is: A direct, one-click share of content without any input from you.
• When to use it: This is best used sparingly. It's a good option for quickly amplifying a company announcement, sharing timely news from a trusted source, or showing a colleague some simple support when you're short on time.
• The Downside: This method offers very little value to your network and to the LinkedIn algorithm. Your followers don't get your perspective, and since it's not original content, its organic reach is often significantly dampened. It's an amplifier, but that's all it is.

2. “Repost with your thoughts” (The Strategic Choice)

This is where the real value lies. Choosing to "Repost with your thoughts" allows you to add your own commentary, insights, or a question above the original post. This transforms a simple share into a new piece of content that features you as the expert curator.

• What it is: Sharing the original post while adding up to 3,000 characters of your own text.
• Why it’s better: It gives you a platform to frame the conversation, showcase your expertise, and connect the shared content directly to the interests and pain points of your specific audience. The LinkedIn algorithm tends to favor this method because it generates original thought and new discussions.
• When to use it: Almost always! If a post is good enough to share, it's good enough for you to add your own perspective. This should be your default sharing method a majority of the time.

A Framework for Adding Value: How to 'Post with a Thought'

So, you've decided to "Repost with your thoughts" but you're staring at a blank text box. What do you actually say? Just writing "Great post!" or "Agree!" isn't enough. Here's a repeatable framework to help you add genuine value every single time.

Pick one or two of these approaches for your commentary:

1. State Why You’re Sharing It

Be direct. Start by connecting the post to your audience and telling them why it matters to them. This immediately frames the content and saves your followers from having to figure out its relevance.

Example: "I'm sharing this insightful report on remote work trends because it perfectly highlights the communication challenges a lot of our teams are facing right now. The data on page five especially stands out..."

2. Pull Out a Key Takeaway or Quote

Your network is busy. Do the work for them by extracting the single most important statistic, quote, or lesson from the original post. This positions you as someone who finds the signal in the noise.

Example: "This line from the original post really stopped me: 'More than 70% of employees value autonomy over a corner office.' This is a massive shift and something every leader needs to understand as they design their talent retention strategies."

3. Build Upon the Original Idea (or Offer a Counterpoint)

Showcase your expertise by either adding another layer to the original author’s point or by respectfully challenging a part of their argument. This stimulates debate and invites real conversation.

Example (Building upon): "This is a fantastic point about using AI for first drafts. What I'd add is the importance of having a dedicated final human editing pass to maintain the brand’s unique voice, which is something AI can't replicate yet."

Example (Counterpoint): "While I agree that automation is important, the post overlooks the personal touch that builds deep client loyalty, especially in the early stages. Relying too heavily on tools can sometimes water down that initial relationship-building process."

4. Connect it to a Personal Story

Facts and figures are good, but stories are what connect. Relate the topic of the post you're sharing back to a personal experience, a past project, or a professional lesson you've learned. Storytelling makes your content more memorable and authentic.

Example: "This breakdown of failed presentations reminded me of my very first client pitch. I spent days perfecting the slides but completely forgot to research the people in the room. Lesson learned the hard way! The author's advice on personalizing your delivery is spot on."

5. Ask a Compelling Question

The best way to get engagement is to ask for it. End your commentary with an open-ended question for your network. This turns passive readers into active participants.

Example: "This raises a lot of questions about the future of marketing roles. How have you seen roles on your team change over the past year? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments."

Remember to always tag the original creator of the post with an @mention in your commentary. It's a professional courtesy that gives them credit and notifies them that you've shared their work, often leading to a reciprocal connection or engagement.

Alternative Ways to Share Content on LinkedIn

Sharing isn't just limited to reposting from your feed. Here are a few other methods you can use to distribute content on the platform.

Sharing a Post via Direct Message

Sometimes the most powerful move is a private one. You can share a post directly with an individual or a group of your connections. This is highly effective for networking and relationship building.

How to do it:

1. Find the post you want to share.
2. Instead of "Repost," click the "Send" button.
3. A new window will pop up where you can search for and select one or more connections.
4. Add a personal message explaining why you thought they’d find this particular post interesting. "Saw this and thought of our conversation..." is much more effective than just sending a link.

This is an excellent way to provide value to a client, prospect, or mentor without performing for a public audience. It shows you’re listening and thinking of them.

Posting an Article Link from an External Website

Often, you’ll find valuable content outside of LinkedIn that’s worth sharing. Posting an article, a case study, or a blog post is very similar to the "Repost with your thoughts" framework.

How to do it:

1. Start a new post on LinkedIn by clicking "Start a post."
2. Write your commentary first, using the value-add framework detailed above. Your insights are what will make people stop scrolling.
3. Paste the article URL into the post box. LinkedIn will automatically generate a link preview with the article's title and featured image.

A note on the old "link in the comments" debate: For years, it was thought that the LinkedIn algorithm deprioritized posts with external links. While that may have once been true, today LinkedIn's creator team has confirmed that it's perfectly fine to put links directly in the body of your post. Just make sure the commentary you write is compelling enough to entice people to click.

A Simple Strategy for What and When to Share

Integrating shared content into your LinkedIn presence helps you stay top-of-mind without having to create every single thing from scratch. A healthy content mix often looks like a balance of original thoughts, personal stories, and strategically shared content from others.

What Kinds of Content Should You Share?

• Industry News and Research: Share articles, whitepapers, or data visualizations that keep your network informed.
• Posts from Your Colleagues: Champion the work your teammates are doing. This builds goodwill and positions your company as a great place to work.
• Thought Leadership from Your Heroes: Share content from respected figures in your industry, adding your own spin to their ideas.
• Helpful Tutorials or Resources: If you find a post or article that solves a common problem for your audience, share it. You'll become a known resource.

How Often Should You Share?

There's no magic number, but consistency is a winning strategy. Aim to have a mix of content types throughout the week. For example, you might post an original thought on Monday, share a powerful industry article with your commentary on Wednesday, and celebrate a team win on Friday. The key is to map out a rhythm that feels sustainable for you and valuable for your followers.

Final Thoughts

In the end, knowing how to share a post on LinkedIn is less about the button and more about the intent. Sharing content thoughtfully and generously positions you as a connector and an expert - someone who not only has good ideas but also recognizes them in others.

Bringing this level of intention to your whole content strategy is the final piece of the puzzle. Once you're comfortable creating and sharing, having a plan helps you do it consistently. At Postbase, we designed our platform around a simple idea: a great plan needs a great calendar. We rely on our own intuitive drag-and-drop calendar to see where our original content, video posts, and strategic shares all fit together, helping us stay consistent across platforms without juggling spreadsheets.