As a regular LinkedIn user, there are high chances that you have come across different content types with varying lengths. And this may leave you wondering what length is most effective.

If this is you, then you have come to the right blog as we demystify the ideal length of LinkedIn posts. We will also discuss how to optimize your posts for more visibility on LinkedIn.

TL:DR; The perfect LinkedIn post length doesn't exist; it varies based on your content and goals. Success depends on content quality and relevance, not just length.

The ideal length of a LinkedIn Post

While many people think of LinkedIn as a platform for finding their dream job, the dynamics of the professional platform have evolved over the years. Now, it’s a great place to connect with industry leaders and establish yourself as one!

As a platform with many professionals, a lot of audiences are here to dig into detailed quality information and connect with others on a personal level. That begs the question: When we talk of LinkedIn posts, does length really matter?

The ideal LinkedIn post length may not really exist. It all depends on what works for you and how you can maximize your post to reach your goals. Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn users are more inclined to read through longer posts that offer valuable information. This makes the emphasis on short posts less pronounced on LinkedIn.

Both long and short posts do well on LinkedIn.

Technical topics: Thrive in longer posts (1,200-1,300 characters)
Lighthearted content: Effective in shorter formats (150-300 characters)
Engage audience: Use longer posts with best practices for deep engagement
Capture attention: Opt for shorter posts to prompt actions like comments or website visits

Regardless of the length, the success of any LinkedIn post is measured by its ability to resonate with the target audience, ignite meaningful interactions, and drive expected results.

Elements impacting the visibility of a LinkedIn post

Have you come across a post on LinkedIn by a user with a high following but with lesser engagement? This is quite common on the platform.

In the grand scheme of things, the success of LinkedIn posts is not just about how long they are. Rather, there are a couple of elements that can impact the visibility of your posts, and understanding them help you stay on top of your game. Most LinkedIn experts will ask you to consider the time as the lifespan of every LinkedIn post is generally 24 hours. So whether long or short, LinkedIn tends to prioritize fresh content.

The effectiveness of a post is determined by analyzing user interests, their industry, and job roles. So who are you writing for, and are your posts reaching the right people?

You can amp this up through the use of relevant keywords. Incorporating these will ensure your posts reach the right people.
Engagement also determines the health of a post. Comment, like, and repost counts go a long way in informing the algorithm if future posts can be trusted.
LinkedIn will also consider the quality of your post. Does your post include the use of visuals, and does it align with user interest?

Types of LinkedIn posts and their ideal length

When discussing the length of a LinkedIn post, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. LinkedIn is a versatile platform that allows for more dynamic content types than any other social media platform.

LinkedIn users can utilize features on the platform that are more aligned with their goals and objectives. Take, for example, LinkedIn articles and LinkedIn newsletters. A LinkedIn article can contain 110,000 words compared to the 3000-word capacity of the feed post.

Let's break down the different types of LinkedIn posts and their ideal lengths.

LinkedIn Feed Posts
LinkedIn feed posts can either be short or long. While the recommended length for a long LinkedIn post is between 1,300 to 2,000 characters, it is advisable to capture the message of the post in the first 200.
Long posts require that readers click on “See More” to view the entire content. Short posts can be one to three sentences long, typically ranging between 150-300 characters.
LinkedIn Carousel Posts
Carousels can be your secret weapon for keeping readers hooked without overwhelming them with long messages.
The best carousels combine the use of eye-catching visuals and concise words in bite-sizes presented in slides. Before hitting share on your next LinkedIn post, consider experimenting and transforming it into a carousel.
LinkedIn Videos
Instead of writing long posts, why not try creating engaging videos? LinkedIn allows you to post 15 minute long videos when you're on your PC, and 10 minutes when you are on the mobile app.
However, LinkedIn suggests keeping your videos under 30 seconds, and between 30 to 90 seconds if you're aiming for broader marketing goals. Generally, videos provide a fresh content mix to audiences who prefer visual content. Give it a shot.
LinkedIn Articles & Newsletters
LinkedIn articles and newsletters are another great way to dive deep into topics with your audience.
Think of LinkedIn articles as a blog. Use it to share detailed expertise and opinions.
On the flip side, LinkedIn Newsletters are similar to emails that your audience subscribes to receive. Get creative and experiment with these content types to connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Aim for around 1,900 to 2,200 words for a start, and keep in mind that, it's all about delivering quality content rather than overwhelming with quantity.

Best practices for LinkedIn post length

If you've made it this far, you've probably picked up that the key isn't always how long your post is, but rather the quality and a few other factors that make it shine.

Let’s talk about improving the quality of your content in this section.

Always begin with a hook

Sometimes, it’s not that your post is too long. You are probably not making your audience interested in what you have to say.

According to research, the average attention span of an adult is 8.25 seconds. This means you have 8 seconds to make an impression in the mind of your reader, so make it count.

Grab your audience’s attention with an engaging hook. This could be a concise summary of your entire post, a reflective question or compelling statistics. These always make for a good way to start your posts, as they invite the audience to delve deeper into your content.

Incorporate visuals

Visuals are like magnets for attention. Aside from spicing up your content, colorful and carefully chosen visuals like images, infographics or even a meme can help catch your audience attention while they’re scrolling through their feeds.

When you accompany this with great content, then you are good to go

Resonate with your audience

Whether long or short, the emphasis should be on creating quality content that captures the interest of your audience. Don’t worry too much about the length—focus on making it meaningful for your audience!

Once you've established yourself as an authority, you've got your foot in the door, and they'll keep coming back for more. So, go on creating posts that are educative, informative and entertaining. More importantly, make sure it resonates with your audience.

Present your message in digestible format

Ever found yourself reading a post because it came in bullet points instead of in long paragraphs?

This is a neat trick most LinkedIn creators employ to keep their audience hooked in their posts. And you should give it a try too. Break long paragraphs into shorter ones or use bullet points or numbers to organize your content. It's like serving bite-sized pieces of information that are easy to digest.

Key strategies for effective posts