LinkedIn Document Posts are a great way to share important information with your network. They’re easy to create and customize for your target audience. Here are some best practices to help you get the most out of this powerful tool!
How to Create a Document Post on LinkedIn?
Creating Document Posts is easy. Click on the “Start a post” button at the top of your LinkedIn Feed.
Then, click the “Add a document” button in the pop up window.
You will be prompted to upload a document in the “Share a document” window. You can upload your document from your computer, Dropbox, or Google Drive. In this window, you are also notified that LinkedIn members who can view your post will be able to download your document as a PDF.
After you’ve chosen how you want to upload your document, the following prompt will ask you to select a Title for your document.
The next window will require 4 actions from you:
1. Write a short description for your Document Post
2. Add relevant hashtags (2-5 is enough)
3. Choose who will be able to view and download your document
4. Review everything once again and click “Post” when you’re sure everything is in order
Congrats! You’ve posted your first LinkedIn Document Post. Keep in mind that you will be able to edit the description of your Document Post or remove it altogether after publishing but you will not be able to edit the document in the post. Once you create a Document Post, you’ll be able to download it, embed it, reshare it, and see content analytics.
Reasons Why You Would Want to Share a Document on LinkedIn
You might want to share a document on LinkedIn for many reasons. Perhaps you’ve just written a white paper or blog post that interests your connections, or you’ve found an article that you think would be helpful for others in your industry. Whatever the reason, sharing documents on LinkedIn can be a great way to engage with your network and start valuable conversations.
Cover a Lot of Information in an Engaging Way
LinkedIn’s document sharing feature allows you to embed rich media content, making your documents more engaging and interactive.
Spark Conversation with Like-Minded Professionals
By sharing documents on LinkedIn, you can connect with people interested in the same topics as you and start a dialogue.
Demonstrate Topic Authority
If you have something valuable to share, don’t hesitate to post it on LinkedIn – you never know who might see it. Sharing documents can also help you to raise your profile and build your reputation as an expert in your field.
What Can You Share in a LinkedIn Document?
When creating a document, it is essential to consider what information will be most valuable to your audience. For example, you may want to share a case study or white paper demonstrating your expertise in a particular area.
Alternatively, you may want to provide an overview of a new project or initiative that you are working on. Whatever you choose to share, remember that your goal is to provide value to your audience and establish yourself as an expert in your field.
Here’s a list of content that would be ideal for sharing as a LinkedIn Document Post:
- White Paper
- Research Paper
- Case Study
- Infographics
- Course Materials
- Presentation
- Industry Analysis
- Tutorial
- Company Report
LinkedIn Document Post Tips and Tricks
With LinkedIn’s introduction of document posts, there has never been a better time to showcase your thought leadership on the platform. If you’re unsure how to get started, here are a few tips and tricks. These tips and tricks can help you get the most out of your LinkedIn document posts and save you time and energy.
Convert Word documents into PDFs
PDFs are more compact than Word files, so they load faster and use less bandwidth. PDFs are much less likely to be corrupted than Word files, so your readers can view your document exactly as you intended.
Repurpose content and turn it into PDFs
You should not only covert your Word documents into PDFs but your other content you wish to publish as Document Posts for the same reasons. On top of that, repurposing content just means more content at the end of the day. These can include:
- Blog posts
- Infographics
- Presentations
Use tools like Powerpoint or Canva to create eye-catching documents
In today’s competitive job market, standing out from the crowd is more important than ever. Tools like Powerpoint and Canva make it easy to create stunning visuals that will grab attention and make a lasting impression.
LinkedIn Document Post Best Practices
A LinkedIn document is an online portfolio highlighting your skills and experience. And because it’s hosted on LinkedIn, it’s easy for potential business partners or clients to find. Here are some best practices guidelines to help you stand out even more.
Write a Title for Your Document
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people skip this step and then wonder why their document wouldn’t upload. Titles are limited to 58 characters or less.
Write a Short Description
You can actually skip this step, but you shouldn’t. A short description goes a long way to capturing attention and luring people in. Captivating descriptions will add to the shareability of your Document Posts.
Use Relevant Hashtags for Exposure
LinkedIn is a network where organic reach is still possible. Hashtags will help you to connect with like-minded users who still aren’t your Connections or are affiliated with you in other ways.
Keep it Brief
While Documents can be 100MB or 300 pages long, they shouldn’t be. Unless it absolutely warrants a heavier piece of content, you should aim to keep your documents within 8 to 25 pages long. At the end of the day, if you can pack the same amount of information into a smaller document, you should do it 9 out of 10 times. The one time you shouldn’t is if you’re publishing a white paper, academic paper, or some other meaty piece of content.
Use Attractive Visuals
Visuals can help to convey information more effectively than text alone. They can also help to break up large blocks of text, making your document more visually appealing. In addition, visuals can help to highlight key points or call attention to important information. When choosing visuals for your LinkedIn documents, it is important to select high-quality images that are relevant to your document’s content.
Create a Clean Looking Starting Slide
Use clean, stylish graphics that add visual interest without being distracting. Use a simple, professional-looking font for your heading. Avoid using too many colors or busy patterns. Stick to a few simple colors that complement each other.
Use Conversational Language
Using conversational language is one of the best ways to engage with your potential network and create a connection. When you use conversational language, you come across as approachable and relatable, two essential qualities for building relationships.
LinkedIn Document Post FAQs
Q: Can you add multiple documents to a LinkedIn Document Post?
A: Not at this time. You can only add one document to a Document Post.
Q: What is the difference between Document Posts and Articles?
A: Document Posts are long-format content of up to 300MB or 300 pages, while Articles are medium-length content of up to 3,000 characters.
Q: What are the limitations of Document Posts?
A: File size is limited to 100MB or 300 pages. Supported formats include PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX, and PDF. You cannot edit the document in the post after publishing.
Q: Who can download my document?
A: Everyone who can view your post can download the document. Visibility options are Anyone, Anyone + Twitter, Connections only, Group members, and Event Attendees.
Q: Can I disable the document download option and make it read-only?
No. LinkedIn doesn’t support a read-only mode for documents at present.
Q: Can I upload my documents from Google Drive?
A: Yes. You can also upload documents from your computer and Dropbox.
Q: Why am I getting an error when trying to publish my document?
A: Some common reasons include a lack of Title, documents exceeding limits of 300 pages or 100MB, and unsupported formats.
Q: Can I share my documents only with individuals?
No. LinkedIn doesn’t enable this option at present.
Q: Where can I find my LinkedIn Document Posts?
A: You can find your published documents in Posts & Activities under the “Me” section in the main header.
Q: How can I download a document I find on LinkedIn?
A: You have to view the document in Full-Screen Mode and simply click the Download icon in the top right corner.
Conclusion
LinkedIn document posts are an underutilized feature on the site that can be a great way to share content with your network. They’re easy to create and can include a variety of different types of content, making them versatile tools for marketing.
I’ve shared some tips and tricks for getting the most out of your LinkedIn document posts, as well as some best practices to keep in mind when creating and sharing them.
So what are you waiting for? Enrich your LinkedIn content strategy and start creating and sharing documents on LinkedIn today!