How to Tag an Account on LinkedIn

Strategically tagging an account on LinkedIn can get your post seen by hundreds of new people, but only if you do it right. Knowing when and how to mention another person or company is a simple skill that dramatically expands your network, boosts engagement, and builds valuable professional relationships. This guide breaks down exactly how to tag accounts in posts, comments, and even photos, along with the best practices to make sure your mentions always land with an impact.

Why Tagging on LinkedIn Is So Powerful

Before jumping into the "how," it’s helpful to understand the "why." Tagging isn't just a technical function, it's a core networking strategy that produces tangible results. When you properly tag an account, you're tapping directly into the LinkedIn algorithm's favorite signals: engagement and relevance.

Here’s what a simple "@" mention actually accomplishes:

• Notifies the Tagged Party: The most immediate effect is that the person or company you tagged gets a notification. This is a direct invitation to join the conversation, prompting them to like, comment, or share your post. That initial engagement is a strong positive signal to the algorithm.
• Expands Your Reach: When the person you tagged engages with your content, the post is then shown to a portion of their network. If you tag a client with 5,000 connections and they comment on your post, your content suddenly has the potential to reach an audience you’re not directly connected to. This is one of the most effective organic growth mechanisms on the platform.
• Builds Social Proof and Relationships: Tagging is a public act of recognition. When you tag a team member to celebrate a win, a partner company for their collaboration, or a mentor for their advice, you're strengthening that professional relationship. For anyone reading, it also serves as powerful social proof that you are connected and respected within your industry.
• Provides Context and Credibility: A tag acts as a direct link. Instead of just mentioning a company's name, tagging them allows your readers to click through to their Company Page or a person's profile instantly. This adds credibility to your post and makes it easier for others to follow the conversation and make new connections.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Tagging on LinkedIn

The technical process of tagging is straightforward, but it works slightly differently depending on where you do it. Here is the breakdown for posts, comments, and media.

How to Tag a Person or Company in a LinkedIn Post

Tagging in a new post from your LinkedIn feed is the most common use case. Whether you’re sharing a project update, celebrating a milestone, or giving a shout-out, a tag gets the right eyes on your content.

1. Start Your Post: Go to your LinkedIn homepage and click on the "Start a post" box at the top of the feed.
2. Type the "@" Symbol: In the text editor, type the "@" symbol. This tells LinkedIn you want to mention someone or something.
3. Begin Typing the Name: Immediately after the "@" symbol (with no space), start typing the name of the person or the company you want to tag. For example, "@John Smi..." or "@Postbase...".
4. Select from the Drop-Down Menu: A drop-down menu will appear with suggestions that match what you’re typing. It will show you the person's profile picture and headline or the company's logo and name. Scroll through the list if necessary and click on the correct account.
5. Confirm the Tag: Once you select the profile, the name will be formatted in bold blue text within your post. This confirms the tag is active. You can continue writing the rest of your post and even add more tags following the same process. When you're ready, hit "Post."

Troubleshooting: What if the Account Isn't Appearing?

Sometimes you’ll type "@" and a name, but the correct account doesn't show up in the menu. This happens for a few common reasons:

• Name Misspelling or Variation: The most frequent issue is a slight difference in the name. Double-check the spelling. For companies, they might have "Inc." or "LLC" at the end of their official page name. For people, they might use a middle initial or a different first name (e.g., "Rob" instead of "Robert"). The best fix is to visit their profile or page and copy their name exactly as it's written.
• Connection Degree: For personal profiles, LinkedIn's tagging is generally limited to your 1st and 2nd-degree connections. If someone is a 3rd-degree connection, they often won't appear in the drop-down menu. You can't always do much about this besides trying to connect with them first.
• Privacy Settings: Some users adjust their privacy settings and turn off the ability for others to tag them. If you've tried everything and they still don't show up, this may be the reason.

How to Tag an Account in a LinkedIn Comment

Tagging in a comment is a great way to bring someone new into an existing conversation, credit an idea, or ask a specific person a question. The process is identical to creating a post.

1. Find the post you want to comment on and click the "Comment" button.
2. Inside the comment box, type your message. When you're ready to tag, type the "@" symbol followed by the person's or company's name.
3. A suggestion menu will appear just like it does in a post.
4. Select the correct account from the menu. The name will turn bold to confirm.
5. Finish your comment and click "Post." The person you tagged will now receive a notification that you mentioned them in a comment.

How to Tag Someone in a LinkedIn Photo or Video

Tagging in media is perfect for event photos, team pictures, or posts celebrating project launches. It visually connects people to the specific photo or video you're sharing, and they get a notification just as they would with a text tag.

1. Start a new post and click the "Add media" icon to upload a photo or video from your device.
2. Once the media preview appears in the post editor, look for the "Tag" icon. It often looks like a small price tag or a person's silhouette with a plus sign. Click it.
3. Your cursor will change, and you can now click anywhere on the photo where you want to add a tag.
4. After clicking, a search box will appear. Start typing the name of the person you want to tag and select them from a drop-down menu.
5. A tag with their name will now appear on the photo. You can click and drag it to the best position. Repeat this process for everyone you want to tag in the image.
6. Once you're finished tagging, click "Done." Continue writing your caption and post as usual.

Best Practices for LinkedIn Tagging (The Dos and Don'ts)

Just because you can tag someone doesn't always mean you should. Proper etiquette will get you much better results and help you maintain a strong professional reputation.

The Dos

• Do Tag with a Purpose: Tags should always be relevant. Are you giving a shout-out to a great collaborator? Quoting advice from an industry leader? Congratulating a client on a launch? Make sure the tagged account has a logical connection to the content.
• Do Add Context to Your Tags: Don't just post a photo with nine tagged names and no text. Explain why you are tagging them. For example: "It was great brainstorming campaign strategies with @JaneDoe from @CreativeAgency and @JohnSmith from @ClientCompany. Excited to see our plans come to life!" This gives value to the reader and shows the tagged people you genuinely appreciate their contribution.
• Do Double-Check the Tag: Accidentally tagging the wrong person is a common and avoidable mistake. The "Jim Smith" a town over won’t appreciate a random notification meant for your coworker. Always pause to make sure the profile picture, headline, or company logo in the drop-down menu matches the account you intend to mention.

The Don'ts

• Don't Be Spammy: This is the golden rule. Tagging dozens of people or industry influencers in an unrelated post just to get visibility is spam. People can remove tags, and if it happens enough, they may block you or report your post. Limit your tags to only those who are directly relevant. A good general guideline is to use fewer than five tags per post.
• Don't Use Tags to Solicit Sales: Tagging a potential lead with "Hey @[PotentialClient], check out my awesome services!" is a cold, public sales pitch that is very likely to backfire. Keep tags focused on relationship-building and providing value, not direct sales.
• Don't Forget About Tag Notifications: Remember that every time you tag someone, you're sending a notification that interrupts their day. If the tag is irrelevant, it’s not just ineffective - it's annoying. Treat others' attention with respect.

What to Do After You've Been Tagged

The conversation doesn't end once you hit "Post." Knowing how to respond gracefully when you are on the receiving end of a tag is just as important for building your network.

• Engage with the Post: At a minimum, react to the post (like, celebrate, insightful, etc.). If you have a moment, leave a thoughtful comment. A simple "Thanks for the mention!" goes a long way. It’s polite and bumps the post's visibility for the person who gave you the shout-out.
• Consider a Re-share: If the mention is exceptionally positive - like a client testimonial, an award, or inclusion in a prominent publication - consider re-sharing it with your network. Click the "Repost" button and add your own perspective, thanking the original poster again. This amplifies positive press about you while showing your gratitude.
• Connect and Build: If the person who tagged you is a new acquaintance, use the tag as a conversation starter to build a stronger connection. You might send them a message or a connection request if you aren't already connected, noting the post you were tagged in.

Final Thoughts

Tagging on LinkedIn is a simple mechanic with a surprisingly big impact on your networking potential. Properly using the "@" symbol to mention relevant people and companies in posts and comments can grow your reach, generate engagement, and solidify professional relationships. By following the "dos and don'ts," you can make sure your tags are always welcome and effective.

Keeping an active presence and managing these organic conversations day-to-day can feel like half the job. For our team's content, we track company mentions and schedule our posts in one visual calendar - it’s actually the main reason we built Postbase. Having one reliable place to see our entire schedule lets us plan ahead with confidence, so our posts always go live when intended and we can focus on building relationships through our content.