How to Write a LinkedIn Post: A Proven Steps Guide + Examples

Step 1 – Define the Job Your Post Needs to Do

Every LinkedIn post has a job. It could inspire, educate, spark conversation, or build authority. Without that clarity, even a well-written post risks being ignored.

When the job isn’t defined, posts become vague. They become rambling thoughts, have an inconsistent tone, or a mix of ideas that leave readers unsure of the point. The result is low engagement, because people scroll away when they don’t immediately see why the post matters to them.

So before drafting, ask yourself, “After reading this post, what should my audience think, feel, or do?”

For example, comedy writer Helena Langdon recently shared a witty post about how AI interprets human writing. 

The job of her post wasn’t to teach or promote; it was to entertain. That clarity made the writing sharper, the humor more intentional, and the comments section more alive.

Step 2 – Mine Real Insights, Not Just Opinions

Surface-level content gets ignored fast. Anyone can post the typical “work hard” or “stay consistent” content. 

They’re not novel. They’re not helpful. 

To stand out, add data, case studies, or lived experiences in your posts. 

For example, did you increase your SaaS sales? Add screenshots of your growth graph. Explain what you did that brought on the change. 

Got organic views on socials? Show what you did differently. 

Use tools like Google Trends, feedback from customers, or LinkedIn’s own analytics to see what your audience really responds to and tweak your strategy accordingly.

For example, Justin Welsh posted about how he crossed 250M impressions on LinkedIn (with visual evidence), where he shared specific, actionable takeaways rather than vague advice. 

The clarity in what worked and what didn’t with his content, how he writes, and more, pulled in strong engagement. 

He even shared bonus tips in the comments. That kind of anchored, insight-driven writing builds trust and encourages interaction far more than mere opinions.

Step 3 – Craft a Hook That Earns the First 3 Seconds

LinkedIn’s algorithm rewards dwell time. If people don’t stop to read the beginning, your post won’t get seen. That means the first sentence must do heavy lifting. 

But a strong hook isn’t just about pleasing the algorithm. Earning your reader’s attention is key.

The hook sets the tone, frames the value, and convinces people your post is worth their time. A simple way to test it is to ask — if my audience only read the first line, would they feel curious enough to keep going? 

If the answer is no, rewrite it until the opening creates either tension, surprise, or clear value.

Some hook styles are proven to work well in 2025:

• Contrarian truth — “Most employee advocacy programs fail. Here’s why.”

• Micro-story start — “Three years ago, I nearly shut down my startup…”

• Data-based — “85% of posts get less than 10 likes. Here’s how to be in the 15%.”

LinkedIn creator Chris Donnelly begins his post with a sharp hook.

For instance, this post opens with “90% of a high-performing post: The hook.” 

That opening line framed the entire discussion and invited people to stay and learn, resulting in significant engagement.

When you write your hook, lean into the job you defined. 

• If your post’s job is to persuade, lead with a bold claim. 

• If it’s to open dialogue, ask a provocative question. 

When drafting, experiment with 3-5 variations before deciding. It can be tedious, though. 

Tools like Supergrow’s hook generator make this process faster, so you have multiple scroll-stopping options tied to the problem-solution you want to highlight.

Step 4 – Use Data, Numbers & Proof Points

Specificity builds trust. Saying “we increased leads” is forgettable, but saying “we increased leads by 47% in 3 weeks” makes people stop and pay attention. 

Some examples include revenue milestones, percentage growth, customer acquisition statistics, or even the time saved from implementing a new process. These figures reduce vagueness, signal credibility, and make your claims harder to dismiss. 

Numbers act as proof that your ideas work in practice. This doesn’t always mean massive case studies. Small but clear metrics can anchor your post.

Get these from tools you already use, like engagement rates inside LinkedIn or Instagram analytics, CTR or conversion data from your campaign dashboard, or follower growth trends over a set period. 

You could open with "our CTR doubled after rewriting the headline” or “we cut meeting prep time by 30 minutes using this system.” 

These micro-metrics feel concrete without oversharing sensitive data. You can also reference external benchmarks or industry reports when personal data isn’t available, so that your post has authority and context.

For instance, marketer Katelyn Bourgoin wrote about how her small business generated over $425,000 in 90 days. 

Instead of speaking vaguely about “growth,” she put a clear number upfront and then explained the steps behind it. That specificity made the post far more compelling. It showed proof, offered lessons others could apply, and got solid engagement. 

Step 5 – Structure the Middle for Skimmability & Value

LinkedIn posts work in an “F-shaped” pattern. People skim the opening lines and scan for bullets or bold statements before deciding whether to stay. That’s why long walls of text often underperform. And since LinkedIn is built for scannable posts, the hook and the middle section matter. Make the crux of your post skimmable so your audience doesn’t disengage. 

A simple framework helps:

Where, 

• Hook — First line that grabs attention

• Context— Set the scene with background

• Value — Share the key insight or takeaway

• CTA — Invite engagement or next steps

Let’s compare 2 posts- 

• Post A crams a whole story into a block of text. Readers have to struggle to find the point. Most may skim past without finishing. As a result, the post sees fewer comments and minimal dwell time, which signals to LinkedIn that it’s not worth amplifying.

• Post B breaks the same idea into 2-3 short, scannable points. Each has a takeaway for readers in seconds. This makes people pause longer, react to the part that resonates, and even comment with their own examples. More dwell time and interaction extend the post's reach.

Olga Andrienko, the former VP of Brands at Semrush, often uses the latter style in her posts, whether educational or engagement-based. This clear structure makes posts easier to read, remember, and interact with.

Formatting right can feel tedious. Supergrow’s post generator can help. 

It automatically turns drafts into LinkedIn-friendly layouts with short paragraphs and bullets, so your posts stay skimmable without extra effort.

Step 6 – Personalize With Stories & Vulnerability

When writing a post on LinkedIn, numbers and tactics grab attention, but stories create a connection. 

To be approachable or relatable-

• Share a personal challenge

• A BTS moment

• Your failures

These stories work because they show the person behind the role while still tying back to a professional lesson. The key is balance. Vulnerability without a takeaway feels out of place, while vulnerability paired with insight feels valuable.

Try this structure:

Take this post from Nikos, an Investor and Managing Partner at IA Global Ventures, who wrote about how being an immigrant entrepreneur isn’t a disadvantage. 

He shared his journey candidly, focusing on resilience and perspective. The result wasn’t just likes. It also sparked empathetic and insightful comments from people who resonated with his experience. That’s because he also tied the outcome to the business world.

Vulnerability like this doesn’t weaken authority; it strengthens it by showing the human side of leadership. 

But if you struggle to capture your own tone, Supergrow can be trained on your past posts to generate content that mirrors your authentic voice so every story is distinctly yours.

Step 7 – Close With an Engagement Trigger

The end of your post is just as important as the beginning. 

A strong close doesn’t just summarize a thought; it signals to readers that their input matters. This is crucial because comments are your key to LinkedIn growth. 

More responses = more visibility.

Choosing the right engagement trigger depends on the job your post is doing. 

• If your goal is to spark debate, end with a direct question that invites opinions. 

• If you want relatability, prompt readers to share their own experiences. 

• If your post aims to drive action, close with a clear ask.

These small choices can make readers into participants and better the conversation quality and reach. 

Writer Tim Denning often uses this style. In the post below, he shared how his daughter views his job. Then closed with a question. 

The comments section exploded with heartwarming comments that significantly boosted reach. So, if you want comments, ask for them. End with a question to turn a monologue into a dialogue.

Step 8 – Layer on Content Formats That Extend Reach

Text-only posts aren’t enough. LinkedIn prioritizes diverse formats that increase dwell time and interaction. 

• Carousels often outperform plain text because they encourage swiping, which boosts dwell time and leads to higher saves. For example, the post below- 

• Short video clips under 90 seconds feel authentic because viewers hear your voice or see your face, which builds trust quickly.

• Visuals like charts or infographics make data digestible and highly shareable, and can reach new audiences. For example, this post, “I started writing on LinkedIn 14 months ago.”

You could A/B test different formats with similar content to see what works for you.

Designing your posts is an added pain. You need to reformat the text, create visuals in Canva or another tool, and ensure that everything aligns with your brand. And not everyone has the skills for it. 

Supergrow makes it simple to repurpose any draft into polished carousel posts aligned with your brand kit, so you get fast, branded, and consistent visuals without extra design work.

Step 9 – Optimize Timing, Consistency, and Early Signals

Posts that gain traction in the first hour get a huge lift. The algorithm watches for quick likes, comments, and dwell time before deciding whether to amplify your content. That’s why timing and consistency are as important as the writing itself. 

According to Buffer’s analysis of over 1 million LinkedIn posts, the highest engagement windows are between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, with Tuesday and Thursday mid-morning posts often outperforming others.

But don’t take these numbers at face value. Play around with days and timings, and check your analytics using LinkedIn’s “view analytics” feature under each post to find the right fit for you.

Manually keeping up with timing and engagement can feel like a full-time job. You need to remember to post during peak hours, add your first comment right after publishing, nudge colleagues to engage, and more. Miss one step, and the momentum is gone.

Supergrow’s scheduling feature takes that pressure off. You can plan posts, auto-schedule first comments with links or bonus insights, and keep your calendar consistent without chasing reminders.