How long should a LinkedIn post be for maximum reach?

The ideal LinkedIn text post is between 1,200 and 1,600 characters - long enough to deliver real value but short enough to maintain attention. Posts within this range consistently outperform both very short updates and extremely long posts. The first 210 characters matter most because that is what appears before the 'see more' truncation.

When is the best time to post on LinkedIn?

Tuesday through Thursday between 8am and 10am in your audience's timezone generally performs best for B2B content. However, optimal timing depends on your specific audience. The first hour after posting is critical - that is when the algorithm evaluates early engagement signals to decide whether to expand distribution.

How many hashtags should you use on LinkedIn?

Use 3 to 5 relevant hashtags per post. LinkedIn uses hashtags for topic classification, which helps the algorithm match your content with interested users. More than 5 hashtags can trigger spam detection. Choose hashtags with moderate followings - between 10,000 and 500,000 followers - for the best balance of visibility and competition.

Does commenting on other posts help your own reach?

Yes. Commenting on other people's posts increases your visibility to their audience and strengthens your connection signal in the algorithm. Thoughtful comments that add genuine value can drive profile visits and followers. The algorithm also factors in your overall platform activity when deciding how to distribute your content.

How to Write LinkedIn Posts That Get Organic Reach

Writing LinkedIn posts that get organic reach is not about gaming the algorithm - it is about creating content that stops the scroll, holds attention, and sparks conversation. The LinkedIn algorithm rewards posts that generate genuine engagement, and the posts that generate genuine engagement are the ones that provide real value to a specific audience.

How Does the Algorithm Decide Which Posts Get Reach?

Understanding the algorithm's evaluation process helps you write posts that perform:

Phase 1 (0-60 minutes): LinkedIn shows your post to 5-10% of your network. Early engagement signals - dwell time, clicks on "see more," comments, and reactions - determine whether distribution expands.

Phase 2 (1-24 hours): Posts with strong early signals get expanded to more of your network and, potentially, second-degree connections and topic followers.

Phase 3 (24-72 hours): High-performing posts continue getting distribution. According to Social Insider's 2025 LinkedIn data, strong posts can continue accumulating reach for up to two weeks after publishing.

The implication is clear: the first hour matters enormously. If your post does not generate engagement quickly, it dies.

How to Write Hooks That Stop the Scroll

The first 210 characters of your post appear before LinkedIn's "see more" truncation. This is your hook - the make-or-break moment that determines whether someone engages with your full post or scrolls past.

Hook Formulas That Work

Contrarian opinion: "Most startup advice about LinkedIn is wrong. Here's why."

Specific result: "I grew from 500 to 15,000 LinkedIn followers in 6 months. Here's the exact playbook."

Bold statement: "LinkedIn carousels are dead. The data proves it."

Question: "What's the one thing holding back your LinkedIn reach?"

Pattern interrupt: "I got fired last month. Best thing that ever happened."

The common thread: each hook creates a gap between what the reader knows and what they want to know. This curiosity gap drives the "see more" click, which is one of the strongest signals you can give the algorithm.

Hooks to Avoid

Starting with "I'm excited to announce..." (everyone scrolls past)
Generic greetings: "Happy Monday, LinkedIn!"
Long-winded context before the interesting part
Vague statements: "I learned something important this week"

How to Structure Posts for Maximum Engagement

Use White Space

LinkedIn's mobile interface is narrow. Dense paragraphs are hard to read on phones. Use short paragraphs - 1-2 sentences each - with line breaks between them. This makes your content scannable and increases dwell time as readers scroll through.

Follow the Story Arc

The best-performing LinkedIn posts follow a simple structure:

Hook - Stop the scroll in 1-2 lines
Context - Set up the situation or problem (2-3 lines)
Body - Deliver the insight, lesson, or value (the bulk of your post)
Close - End with a call-to-action, question, or memorable line

Include a Call-to-Action

Posts that ask a direct question generate more comments than posts that just make a statement. "What's been your experience?" or "Does this match what you've seen?" invites responses. Comments are the highest-weighted engagement signal in the LinkedIn algorithm.

What Content Topics Get the Most Reach?

LinkedIn's engineering blog explicitly stated that the algorithm prioritizes "knowledge and advice" over viral or entertainment content. The topics that perform best align with this:

First-hand experience. Specific lessons from building, failing, succeeding, or learning. "Here's what happened when we tried X" outperforms "Here's why you should try X."

Actionable frameworks. Step-by-step processes, templates, and playbooks that people can apply immediately. Carousel posts are ideal for frameworks.

Data and insights. Original numbers, survey results, or analysis. According to a Princeton and Georgia Tech study, content with statistics and citations receives 30-40% higher visibility in AI-assisted search and feeds.

Contrarian takes. Challenging conventional wisdom in your industry. These generate comments because people either strongly agree or disagree.

Career and professional growth. Advice about skills, career transitions, and professional development consistently resonates on LinkedIn.

How to Maximize Engagement After Posting

Reply to Every Comment

Respond to every comment within the first hour. Each reply counts as an additional comment on your post, doubling your comment count. More importantly, it signals active conversation - the algorithm sees a post with a real discussion happening and distributes it further.

Engage Before You Post

Spend 15-20 minutes before posting commenting on other people's content. This puts you on the radar of your network, making them more likely to see and engage with your post when it goes live.

Time Your Posts

Post when your audience is active. For B2B audiences, Tuesday through Thursday mornings tend to perform best. According to Sprout Social's 2025 data, LinkedIn engagement peaks between 9am and 12pm on weekdays.

Don't Edit After Posting

Editing a post within the first hour can reset its algorithmic distribution. If you spot a typo, decide whether it is truly worth the reach penalty. Minor errors usually are not.

Common Mistakes That Kill Reach

Posting external links in the body - LinkedIn penalizes posts with links. Put links in the first comment instead.
Using too many hashtags - Stick to 3-5. More triggers spam detection.
Posting more than once a day - Your posts compete with each other for your audience's attention.
Writing for everyone - Generic content gets generic engagement. Write for a specific audience and niche deeply.
Inconsistency - Posting 5 times one week and zero the next confuses the algorithm and your audience.

For a comparison of how different post formats perform, see our guide on LinkedIn post types compared. For strategies on building your LinkedIn audience from scratch, check out how to grow LinkedIn from zero and our blog post on LinkedIn organic growth for founders.