Posting Best Practices
Yasmina Akni Ebourki
Last updated: Sep 6, 2024
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received for LinkedIn is to always review and preview my content before hitting "publish."
And trust me, you might have a clear idea of what you want your posts to look like, but if you don't test it out, you might face some last-minute disappointments and end up making last-minutes changes.
So making sure your posts look exactly as you intended can really make a difference.
Whether you’re just starting out, looking to improve your posts, or simply want to make sure that your future content looks nice and professional, I'm here to help you.
TL;DR: Previewing your LinkedIn posts allows you to optimize your writings and hooks. Tools like LinkedIn Preview, AI Carousels, and Postly can help with this, while paid options like MagicPost offer post preview and other additional features.
Why is it important to preview your posts?
This was one of the early steps I took when I first started using LinkedIn, and through my journey, I’ve discovered some valuable tools that can help.
And the best of it is that most of these tools are free, and those who aren’t are highly affordable.
Additionally, you will see that nailing your LinkedIn posts comes down to getting your message across clearly.
And how you write and present your content really affects how many people will engage with your posts through likes, comments, etc.
Yet, so many people skip these steps and end up with posts that are hard to read and don't create the engagement they expect.
So, let’s not be lazy and take some time to preview our posts.
Advantages of Previewing Your Posts
The benefits are numerous, but here are the most important ones for anyone looking to improve their posts.
Improve your writing: Reviewing your posts allows you to fine-tune your copy, making sure that your posts are clear, concise and have an impact on the reader.
Strategically place the "See more" button: By previewing, you can see where LinkedIn’s “See more” button will appear in your post, allowing you to craft a stop scroller hook that encourages readers to stop scrolling.
Boost visibility and engagement: A well-previewed post is more likely to capture attention, leading to better visibility and increased engagement on your LinkedIn profile.
Previewing gives you a chance to polish your content, making sure it resonates with your audience and achieves the desired impact.
Top LinkedIn Post Preview Generators
If you want to perfect your LinkedIn posts and make sure that they look great before you publish them, there are several online tools designed to help.
Many of these tools offer a free version that lets you see how your posts will appear on LinkedIn, giving you a chance to make adjustments before publishing them.
Now let's dive into what they are:
LInkedIn Preview
The first one I want to introduce has a name that says it all: LinkedIn Preview.
As its name suggests, this webside is focused specifically on previewing LinkedIn posts.
This platform specializes in LinkedIn, offering a focused and tailored preview experience.
One of the key benefits of LinkedIn Preview is that it’s currently available for free.
The website is made just for LinkedIn content, so the previews are spot on with how your posts will look on the platform.
You can even add images, carousels, and tweak your text with some AI help.
Just keep in mind that, it's worth testing out, since AI tools don’t always hit the mark.
The platform provides previews for desktop, tablet, and mobile views, helping you ensure that your post looks great across different devices.
AICarousels
The second one is AICarousels.
It's main focus is creating LinkedIn carousels, but it also has a free preview tool for regular LinkedIn posts.
The only thing you need to do is to enter your text and see how it looks on both mobile device and a computer.
Its especially handy for spotting where the "See more" button will show up, so you can change your hook and layout accordingly.
Breakcold
The third one is also a freemium tool and is offered by Breakcold.
An application primarily designed as a sales CRM for LinkedIn and email outreach.
However, like AICarousels, Breakcold also offers a free LinkedIn post preview feature.
One thing to note is that while you can preview how your photos or GIFs will look, you currently can't preview videos with this tool.
The preview interface is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing you to see how your post will appear with just two clicks.
Postly
The last freemium tool I used before switching to more feature-rich paid apps is Postly.
An AI-powered tool for generating LinkedIn content, but that also offers a free post preview feature on its platform.
The platform delivers what it promises, allowing you to see how your post will look before you publish it, but only as it would appear on a desktop, not on mobile.
It also allows you to add images to your preview, but it doesn't currently support carousels or video previews.
All of these apps are free and great for beginners or just for basic previews.
But if you want to step up your game and move faster, there are affordable AI paid apps that not only offer previews but also come with extra features like hook generators, scheduling, and content creation tools.
MagicPost
And that would be MagicPost.
A tool I personally use and consider the most complete one for LinkedIn because it's specifically designed for it.
MagicPost does not only allow you to preview your posts but also lets you create them directly within the platform.
You can schedule your posts, which is perfect for maintaining a consistent presence without having to be online all the time.
A particularly handy feature they offer is the ability to automatically add your signature to every post you generate in the app, helping to strengthen your personal brand.
Plus, you can experiment with different hooks and tweaks until you achieve that "stop-scroller" effect that grabs your audience's attention.
How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Needs
When selecting a post preview tool, consider your specific needs and goals.
Free tools are excellent for basic previews and testing, but they often come with limitations.
As you aim to enhance your posts further, you might reach a point where these limitations hinder your progress.
On the other hand, paid options like MagicPost offer more comprehensive features and customization.
Not only does MagicPost provide a specialized LinkedIn preview, but it also allows you to create, schedule, and manage your posts directly within the platform, which integrates with your LinkedIn profile.
Ultimately, evaluate factors such as the ability to preview different content types (e.g., images, carousels, videos), the user interface, additional features like scheduling and signature options, and of course, the price of each tool.
Finally, consider choosing a tool that aligns with your needs, audience, and style to effectively enhance your LinkedIn strategy.
I encourage you to explore various tools to find the one that best fits your requirements.
How to ensure people read your LinkedIn posts
Now that you know how your posts will appear in the LinkedIn feed, and you've found the post preview generator that suits you best, let's focus on maximizing your chances of gaining more visibility and engagement.
Here are a few crucial tips that might seem evident, but trust me, you shouldn't overlook them:
Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes: Errors can undermine your credibility. Use tools like LanguageTool or other free online grammar checkers to ensure your content is error-free.
Craft a strong opening: The way you start your post is critical.
A compelling hook can be the difference between a post that gets read and one that gets ignored. Focus on creating an attention-grabbing first sentence.
Keep it concise: Avoid writing long-winded paragraphs. Instead, break up your text into shorter sections or use bullet points to make your content more digestible and easier to read.
Provide valuable and relevant information: Ensure your post addresses a real problem or need that your audience has.
Content that is informative, interesting, and directly relevant to your audience's concerns is more likely to engage and resonate with them.
Conclusion: Maximize Your LinkedIn Impact
Using a post preview tool is just the beginning.
To truly maximize the effectiveness of your LinkedIn posts, consider incorporating interactive elements like questions or polls.
These features can significantly boost engagement and spark meaningful discussions within your network.
Additionally, make sure to adjust your posts based on the insights you gain from the preview. Fine-tune your content to enhance its impact and better resonate with your audience.
With numerous free options available online, you have plenty of choices for previewing your posts.
However, if you need more advanced features and a comprehensive approach, don't hesitate to try MagicPost.
To conclude, whether you choose a free tool with basic features or invest in a more robust solution, regularly reviewing and optimizing your posts is essential for achieving better results and enhancing your LinkedIn strategy.
