Which LinkedIn post format gets the most reach?

Document carousels (PDF uploads) consistently get the highest organic reach on LinkedIn - approximately 2 to 3 times average reach. This is because carousels generate high dwell time as users swipe through slides. Text-only posts come second with 1.5 to 2 times average. Posts with external links get the lowest reach because they take users off-platform.

Are LinkedIn polls still effective in 2026?

LinkedIn polls generate high engagement numbers but the algorithm has reduced their distribution since 2024. Polls are useful for audience research and starting conversations, but should not be your primary format. The engagement from polls is often low-quality compared to comments on text or carousel posts.

Should startups post video on LinkedIn?

Yes, but with realistic expectations. LinkedIn native video gets moderate reach - better than image posts but below carousels and text posts. LinkedIn has been investing in video features, and early data suggests video is getting increased distribution. Short videos under 90 seconds perform best. The key advantage is that video builds personal connection faster than text.

Do LinkedIn posts with external links get penalized?

Posts containing external links consistently receive lower organic reach on LinkedIn. The platform prefers to keep users on-site. If you need to share a link, consider putting it in the first comment instead of the post body, or use a text post that teases the content and direct people to the link in comments.

LinkedIn Post Types Compared: Text vs Carousel vs Video vs Poll

LinkedIn supports several post formats, each with different strengths for organic reach, engagement, and audience building. Understanding which format to use - and when - is essential for maximizing your distribution on the platform. The LinkedIn algorithm treats each format differently, and the performance gap between the best and worst formats is substantial.

How Do LinkedIn Post Formats Compare?

Document Carousels (PDF Posts)

Reach: Highest (2-3x average)

Document carousels - created by uploading a PDF file - consistently outperform every other LinkedIn format. According to Social Insider's 2025 LinkedIn benchmarks, document posts generate 2 to 3 times the average organic reach of other formats.

The reason is dwell time. When a user swipes through a carousel, they spend 20-60 seconds or more engaged with your content. The LinkedIn algorithm interprets this extended engagement as a strong quality signal and expands distribution.

Best for: Step-by-step guides, frameworks, listicles, data breakdowns, and educational content that benefits from a visual slide-by-slide format.

Tips: Keep slides to 8-12 per carousel. Use large, readable text. Put a strong hook on slide 1 and a call-to-action on the last slide.

Text-Only Posts

Reach: High (1.5-2x average)

Text posts are the second-best format for organic reach. They are also the simplest to create, which makes them the workhorse of most LinkedIn content strategies.

The key to text post performance is the hook - the first 2-3 lines that appear before the "see more" truncation. If those lines grab attention, users click to expand, which signals interest to the algorithm.

Best for: Personal stories, hot takes, lessons learned, quick tips, and opinion-driven content. Founder narratives and building-in-public updates perform particularly well.

Tips: Front-load the hook. Use short paragraphs and line breaks for readability. Posts between 1,200 and 1,600 characters tend to perform best. Avoid walls of text.

Native Video

Reach: Moderate (1-1.5x average)

LinkedIn native video sits in the middle of the pack for organic reach. LinkedIn has been increasing investment in video features and distribution throughout 2025-2026, and early signals suggest video is getting a growing share of algorithmic distribution.

According to LinkedIn, video posts get 5x more engagement than static posts when measuring conversations started. However, organic reach for video is still lower than carousels and text posts on average.

Best for: Founder-led talking head content, product demos, event clips, and behind-the-scenes footage. Video builds personal connection and trust faster than any text format.

Tips: Keep videos under 90 seconds. Add captions - most LinkedIn video is watched without sound. Film vertically or square for mobile viewing. Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds.

Image Posts

Reach: Moderate (0.8-1.2x average)

Single image posts perform roughly at average reach. They are better than link posts but below text, carousels, and video. Multi-image posts (galleries) tend to slightly outperform single images because they encourage interaction.

Best for: Data visualizations, infographics, screenshots with commentary, team photos, and milestone celebrations.

Tips: Use high-contrast images with minimal text overlay. Pair the image with a strong text caption - the text does the engagement work while the image stops the scroll.

Poll Posts

Reach: Variable (declining)

LinkedIn polls went through a peak period in 2022-2023 where they generated exceptional engagement and reach. Since then, LinkedIn has reduced algorithmic distribution for polls as part of its shift toward "knowledge and advice" content over engagement-bait formats.

Polls still generate high raw engagement numbers because voting is frictionless. However, the quality of that engagement is often low - a poll vote is less valuable than a thoughtful comment.

Best for: Market research, audience insights, sparking debate on industry topics. Use sparingly, not as a primary format.

Tips: Ask genuinely interesting questions. Avoid obvious or leading answer options. Use the poll as a conversation starter, not an end in itself.

Link Posts

Reach: Lowest (0.5-0.8x average)

Posts containing external links consistently receive the lowest organic reach on LinkedIn. The platform wants to keep users on-site, and links take them elsewhere.

Best for: Situations where you must share an external resource. If possible, put the link in the first comment instead.

Tips: If you must include a link in the post body, add substantial text above it that delivers value on its own. Alternatively, create a text or carousel post about the topic and drop the link in the comments.

What Mix of Formats Should Founders Use?

Based on the performance data, a solid LinkedIn content mix for founders looks like this:

40-50% text posts - Your most consistent format. Quick to create, high reach.
20-30% carousels - Your reach multiplier. Invest time in 1-2 quality carousels per week.
10-20% video - Your trust builder. Even one video per week builds personal connection.
5-10% polls or images - Variety formats. Use occasionally to change pace.
Minimize link posts - Share links in comments instead.

The exact mix should evolve based on what resonates with your specific audience. Track engagement rates by format and adjust accordingly. For more on making your LinkedIn content perform, see our guides on writing posts that get reach and growing your LinkedIn following from zero.