How to Tag Names in LinkedIn

Tagging people or companies on LinkedIn is one of the most effective ways to increase your post's reach and spark genuine conversation. This guide breaks down exactly how to tag on LinkedIn, why it’s so powerful for your networking strategy, and the best practices to follow so your mentions always land with impact.

Why Tagging on LinkedIn is a Game-Changer

Before getting into the “how,” it’s important to understand the “why.” A simple @-mention is more than just a link - it's a strategic networking tool. When you tag someone, you're not just hoping they see your post, you're actively inviting them and their network into the conversation.

• Instantly Boosts Visibility: Tagging notifies the person or company you mention. If they engage with a like, comment, or share, your post gets exposed to their audience, dramatically expanding its reach beyond your own network.
• Drives Higher Engagement: People are far more likely to interact with content they are personally mentioned in. It prompts a response, turning a simple post into a two-way dialogue and signaling to the LinkedIn algorithm that your content is valuable.
• Builds and Strengthens Relationships: A well-placed tag is a form of professional courtesy. It allows you to give public credit, highlight someone’s contribution, or thank a speaker after a great event. It shows you’re paying attention and value others' work, which is a cornerstone of effective networking.
• Adds Credibility and Social Proof: Mentioning clients (with their permission), collaborators, or respected thought leaders in your content adds a layer of authority. It aligns your brand with others in your industry and shows you are an active, connected member of your professional community.

The Step-by-Step Guide: How to Tag on LinkedIn

The mechanics of tagging are straightforward across the platform, but knowing where and when you can do it is key. Here’s a breakdown of the most common scenarios.

Tagging People and Companies in a Post

This is the most common use case. When you’re creating a new post from your LinkedIn homepage or company page, you can easily mention others right in the text.

1. Start writing your post in the "Start a post" box.
2. When you want to mention someone or a company, type the @ symbol.
3. Immediately after the @ symbol, begin typing the name of the person or company you want to tag. Do not add a space.
4. As you type, a dropdown menu will appear with a list of suggestions.
5. Find and click the correct profile from the list. Once selected, their name will appear in bold blue text. This is a confirmation that the tag is active.

For example: "Had a great discussion about the future of AI in marketing with @[John Smith] today. His insights on creative workflows were fantastic."

Tagging Someone in a LinkedIn Comment

Want to pull a colleague into a discussion or ask an expert for their opinion on someone else's post? Tagging in the comments is the perfect way to do it.

The process is identical to tagging in a post. Simply type the @ symbol in the comment box, start typing the name, and select the person or company from the dropdown menu. This is a great way to continue a conversation and bring new voices into the fold without having to share the entire post with them via a direct message.

Tagging in a LinkedIn Article

For those who publish long-form content on LinkedIn, tagging works just the same. Within the body of your LinkedIn Article, you can use the @-mention feature to credit sources, reference collaborators, or mention companies you are discussing. This not only notifies those you tag but also provides handy, clickable links for your readers to learn more about the people and brands you're referencing.

Tagging in a Photo or Video

Did you just get back from a team event or a conference? Tagging people directly in photos or videos is a powerful, visual way to share experiences. It’s slightly different from tagging in text.

1. Click "Start a post" and then click the media icon to upload your photo(s) or video.
2. Once your media has uploaded you will see a preview. Look for a "Tag" icon or button overlaying the preview.
3. Click the tag icon. Then, click anywhere on the photo where you’d like to add a tag.
4. A search box will appear. Start typing the name of the person you want to tag and select them from the list.
5. You can repeat this for everyone in the photo. Click "Done" when you've finished tagging, then write your caption and post.

Tagged individuals will get a notification saying they were tagged in your photo, making it easy for them to find and engage with it.

Common Tagging Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes, tagging doesn't work as expected. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the solution is simple.

Problem: "I can't find the person I need to tag."

• Reason: LinkedIn's tagging suggestions prioritize your 1st-degree connections. If you can’t find someone, you likely aren’t connected with them.
• Solution: Send them a connection request! Alternatively, you can try typing their full, exact name as it appears on their profile. If their privacy settings allow, they may appear in the dropdown menu even if you aren't connected.

Problem: "The person has a privacy setting blocking me."

• Reason: Some users adjust their privacy settings to limit who can tag them or disable mentions altogether.
• Solution: Unfortunately, you can't bypass this. Respect their settings. You can still mention their name as plain text in your post, but they won't be notified, and the text won't be a clickable link.

Problem: "I typed the @ and their name, but it didn't turn blue."

• Reason: You didn't select their name from the dropdown list. You just typed it out.
• Solution: Make sure to click the correct profile when the suggestion box pops up. Delete the name, re-type the @ symbol, and start typing their name again. Wait for the list and click to confirm the tag. It must appear in bold text in the composer window to be a live tag.

Best Practices: The Do's and Don'ts of LinkedIn Tagging

Using the tagging feature correctly can either build bridges or burn them. Follow these simple rules to make sure you’re using it to your advantage.

The DO's: Tagging Like a Pro

• DO Tag with Purpose and Relevance: Only tag people who are directly connected to the content of your post. Are they in the photo? Did they co-author the report? Did their advice inspire your post? If there's a clear "yes," you're good to go.
• DO Add Context: Don't just list names. Explain why you are tagging them. It transforms the tag from a random shout into a meaningful piece of communication. Example: "Great presentation today from @[Speaker's Name]! I especially appreciated the points on data-driven decision making."
• DO Give Credit and Show Appreciation: Acknowledge collaborators, team members, photographers, and event organizers. It's a simple, public way of saying "thank you" and sharing the spotlight.
• DO Tag Companies and Individuals in Testimonials: Sharing positive feedback about a product, service, or partnership? Tag the company to ensure they see it. This is a great way to strengthen B2B relationships.

The DON'Ts: Mistakes to Avoid

• DON'T Use it as Spam: This is the golden rule. Tagging a long list of unconnected industry influencers in the hopes that some will engage is the fastest way to get your content ignored, reported, or to burn a professional reputation. This "tag spam" comes across as desperate and unprofessional.
• DON'T Lack Context: Dropping an @-mention in a comment without any explanation is jarring for everyone involved. For example, just commenting with a person’s name seems low-effort and creates confusion. Always provide a rationale.
• DON'T tag someone for negative or controversial reasons: Never tag someone to rope them into a negative conversation or publicly criticize them without their prior involvement or consent. This is poor etiquette and can quickly backfire.
• DON'T Over-Tag the Same People: Even with good intentions, constantly tagging the same popular figure in your industry can feel less like genuine engagement and more like you want something. Unless you're in a direct, recurring collaboration, use these high-profile tags sparingly.

Advanced Tagging Strategies for Brand Building

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can integrate tagging into your broader content strategy to build community and drive results.

• Celebrating Team Accomplishments: When sharing a company win, a project completion, or a new hire announcement, tag every team member involved. It publicly validates your appreciation, boosts team morale, and lets your employees share the news with their personal networks.
• Crowdsourcing Expertise: Working on a topic and want an expert take? Frame your post around a question and tag one or two relevant specialists asking for their opinion. It’s a great way to generate high-value discussions and show that you’re engaged in your industry’s key conversations.
• Promoting Collaborations Post-Event: If you co-hosted a webinar, podcast, or live event, write a summary and tag all speakers, moderators, and even the event organizers. Urge them to comment with their number one takeaway, which further amplifies the reach and continues the discussion.

Final Thoughts

Tagging on LinkedIn is a simple action with powerful consequences. When used thoughtfully, it's an incredible tool for giving credit, sparking meaningful conversations, and expanding your professional reach. Mastering not just the "how" but the "when" and "why" is what transforms this simple feature into a strategic asset for your personal brand or business.

I know firsthand how much work it is to manage engagement across various platforms. That’s precisely why we built our unified inbox into Postbase, so you can handle all your comments and mentions on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok from a single, organized dashboard. When you're purposefully planning shout-outs and strategic tags, our visual calendar makes it easy to schedule your content without missing a beat, ensuring you're there to join in when the conversation starts. Feel free to take a look yourself at Postbase.