Posting Best Practices
Alice Malby
Last updated: Jul 18, 2024
Maintaining a polished and error-free presence on LinkedIn is important for your credibility and professional networking.
Typos happen, and sometimes updates are necessary as you learn new information. However, editing your posts can impact engagement, so it’s important to use the edit option wisely.
This guide will equip you with the knowledge to quickly and easily edit your LinkedIn posts, while also exploring the impact editing can have on engagement.
TL;DR: Editing is simple: go to the post you want to edit, click on the three dots in the top right corner, click “Edit”, and then make the changes you want. Click save to finalize. Remember that editing posts can negatively impact your engagement.
Step-by-Step Guide to Editing a Post on LinkedIn
Let’s dive right into the steps you need to follow to edit a post that you may have pressed publish on a bit too soon.
Step 1: Go To The Post You Want To Edit
Having trouble finding your post? Don't worry! This section will provide two methods for locating your post for editing:
Method 1: Finding Your Post in Your Feed
Keep an eye out for your posts as you scroll through your LinkedIn feed. They will be displayed chronologically, with the most recent posts appearing at the top.
Method 2: Accessing Your Posts Through Your Profile
Click on your profile picture located in the top right corner of the LinkedIn homepage.
From the dropdown menu, select "View Profile."
On your profile page, scroll down to the "Activity" section. Click “Show all posts”. This will display all your past LinkedIn posts in reverse chronological order.
Step 2: Click On The Three Small Dots In The Top Right Corner
Once you've located your post, follow these simple steps:
Click on the three small dots in the top right corner of the post.
A dropdown menu will appear. Select "Edit" from the menu options.
Step 3: Edit Your Post and Save
Make your desired changes directly within the post body. You can edit the text, add or remove hashtags, or update any links you've included.
Once you've finished editing, click the "Save" button located at the bottom right corner of the post.
Finding Your Post
For a more detailed breakdown on locating specific posts, especially older ones, you can check out our in-depth tutorial here. This tutorial also dives into finding your LinkedIn Analytics to better understand the impact of your different posts.
Best Practices for Editing a LinkedIn post
While editing a post allows you to fix errors or update information, it's important to understand how it can impact your initial engagement, specifically in terms of visibility and reach.
Impact of Editing on Engagement
The main impact editing your posts will have is reduced visibility. Editing a post can trigger the LinkedIn algorithm to re-evaluate its relevance to your audience. During this reevaluation period, you might see a temporary decrease in post visibility. Here's why this happens:
Freshness Signal: The LinkedIn algorithm prioritizes fresh content to keep user feeds dynamic. When you edit a post, it's no longer considered "new" and can lose some visibility ranking.
Relevance Reassessment: The algorithm needs to understand if the edits you made affect the overall message and value of the post for your audience. It might temporarily suppress the post's reach while it analyzes these changes.
Understanding the LinkedIn algorithm
The algorithm typically sends your edited post to a smaller audience to gauge its performance after the changes. This test audience helps the algorithm determine:
Engagement after Edits: Did the edits improve user engagement, such as likes, comments, and shares? If engagement drops significantly, the algorithm might limit the post's visibility further.
Content Quality: Did the edits improve the overall quality and clarity of the post? High-quality content with strong engagement signals is more likely to regain wider visibility.
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid editing your posts too frequently or immediately after publishing. If edits are necessary, aim to do them later rather than sooner. This minimizes the impact on visibility in two ways:
Allows Initial Performance Tracking: The algorithm has a chance to assess how the original post performs before needing to re-evaluate it after edits.
Reduces Reassessment Frequency: The less you edit a post, the less the algorithm needs to disrupt its reach with reevaluation cycles.
Essential Tips for Editing LinkedIn Posts
Editing a LinkedIn post is sometimes necessary to maintain a polished and accurate online presence. However, as these edits impact your initial engagement metrics, here are some essential tips to help you strike the right balance:
Prioritize Proofreading: Double-check for errors before publishing. Try reading your post aloud to catch any awkward phrasing. Grammarly or other similar tools can help identify more nuanced grammar issues.
Minimize Edits: The more edits you make to a post, the more the algorithm might need to re-evaluate its relevance. This can lead to multiple visibility dips as the algorithm reassesses the post after each edit.
Use Scheduling Tools: Schedule your posts in advance to allow for a final review before they go live. Scheduling tools like MagicPost can help you plan your content calendar and ensure you have ample time for proofing.
Consider Deleting and Reposting (Sparingly): In rare instances, for significant changes or errors, consider deleting the original post and reposting a corrected version. Do this if the post is performing poorly, and the edits would improve its quality. However, use this tactic sparingly. Deleting a post entirely can negatively impact engagement metrics.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity: It's better to publish fewer, high-quality posts than to churn out frequent content riddled with errors. Invest time in crafting well-structured and informative posts that resonate with your target audience.
By following these essential tips, you can ensure your LinkedIn posts are accurate and polished while minimizing the impact of edits on engagement.
Remember, balancing quality and efficiency is key to maximizing your reach and influence on the platform. Now you know all there is to know about editing posts on LinkedIn, it’s time to go post some fresh content!
