LinkedIn Post Crafter Skill

Algorithm Signals (December 2025)

LinkedIn uses a three-step process:

1. Quality filtering — Spam vs low vs high quality
2. Engagement testing — First hour performance with small sample
3. Network/relevance ranking — Personalized based on user behavior

Key Ranking Signals

Signal	Weight	Notes
Dwell time	Very High	Time spent reading > quick likes
Comments	Very High	Thoughtful (10+ words) > generic
Saves	High	Strong quality signal
Shares	High	Especially direct shares
Likes	Medium	Weakest engagement signal

The Golden Hour

First 60-90 minutes after posting are critical. High early engagement = broader distribution.

2025 Changes

• Hashtags removed from discovery — No longer impact reach (still searchable)
• AI content penalized — 30% less reach, 55% less engagement
• Evergreen content — Posts can resurface for weeks if still getting engagement
• Topic authority — Consistent posting on one topic = recognized as expert

Format Performance (2025 Data)

Format	Engagement Rate	Best For
Multi-image/Carousel	6.60%	Tutorials, frameworks, lists
Document (PDF)	6.10%	Step-by-step, detailed content
Video	3.50%	Personality, behind-scenes
Text-only	~4.2% (avg)	Stories, quick insights
Polls	High impressions	Discussion starters, research

Key insight: Carousels get 596% more engagement than text-only posts.

Carousel Best Practices

Structure

Slide 1: HOOK (compelling cover)
  - Bold statement or question
  - Clean design, readable text
  - Teaser of what's coming

Slides 2-8: VALUE
  - One idea per slide
  - Visual + minimal text
  - Progressive narrative

Slide 9-10: CTA
  - Summary of key points
  - Follow/Save/Comment prompt

Specs

• Format: PDF upload (converts to carousel)
• Size: 1080x1350 px (portrait) or 1080x1080 (square)
• Slides: 3-10 optimal (max 300 allowed)
• Dwell time: Carousels get 15-20 seconds vs 8-10 for other formats

Design Tips

• Large, readable fonts (mobile-first)
• High contrast colors
• Consistent visual style throughout
• Number slides for progress indication

Hook Strategy

Only first 2-3 lines visible before "see more." Your hook determines everything.

Hook Formulas

Curiosity:

"I used to think [common belief]..."
"Here's what nobody tells you about [topic]..."
"The biggest mistake I see in [field]..."

Value-Forward:

"5 ways to [achieve result] (without [common obstacle]):"
"Here's the framework I use for [task]:"
"The simplest way to [accomplish goal]:"

Story:

"Last week, something unexpected happened..."
"I almost gave up on [thing]. Here's what changed..."
"3 years ago, I made a decision that..."

Data/Surprise:

"[Surprising statistic] — here's why it matters."
"I analyzed [X] and found something surprising..."

Formatting Rules

• Short paragraphs (1-2 sentences)
• Plenty of white space
• Line breaks between ideas
• Well-formatted posts get 40% higher engagement

External Links (The Penalty)

LinkedIn penalizes external links: 25-40% reach reduction.

Workarounds

Option 1: Comment Link

Post without link
↓
Add link in first comment
↓
Reference: "Link in comments 👇"

Option 2: Delayed Edit

Publish without link
↓
Wait for initial engagement (1-2 hours)
↓
Edit to add link

Option 3: Native Content

Instead of linking to newsletter:
- Create carousel summarizing key points
- End with "Full article in newsletter — link in comments"

Best practice: Focus on native content. Save links for high-value destinations.

Video Guidelines

Video has grown 36% YoY but underperforms carousels in engagement.

Specs

• Length: Under 90 seconds (retention drops after 60s)
• Hook: First 3 seconds critical
• Subtitles: Required (most watch on mute)
• Format: Native upload (not YouTube links)

When to Use Video

• Personal stories / behind-the-scenes
• Quick tips that benefit from demonstration
• Thought leadership / opinion pieces
• Building personal connection

Text Post Templates

Quick Insight

[Bold opening statement]

Here's why:

→ [Point 1]
→ [Point 2]
→ [Point 3]

[Question to spark discussion]

Story Format

[Hook: Something unexpected happened]

[2-3 short paragraphs telling the story]

The lesson:

[Key takeaway in 1-2 sentences]

[Engagement question]

Listicle

[Number] things I learned about [topic]:

1. [Point with brief explanation]

2. [Point with brief explanation]

3. [Point with brief explanation]

Which resonates most with you?

Spanish-Language Considerations

For tacosdedatos on LinkedIn:

• Professional tone (more formal than Twitter/Instagram)
• Tech/data content performs well in Spanish (underserved)
• Mix Spanish posts with occasional English for broader reach
• Use industry terms in both languages when appropriate

Template (Spanish)

[Afirmación audaz o pregunta]

Después de [experiencia], aprendí algo importante:

→ [Punto 1]
→ [Punto 2]
→ [Punto 3]

¿Cuál ha sido tu experiencia con [tema]?

#DataScience #Python #VisualizaciónDeDatos

Posting Schedule

Optimal Times (2025 Data)

Day	Best Times
Monday	11 AM - 12 PM
Tuesday	8 AM - 2 PM (best day)
Wednesday	9 AM
Thursday	2 PM
Friday	8 PM

Times in audience's local timezone

Avoid: Weekends (significantly lower engagement)

Frequency

• Minimum: 1-2 posts/week
• Optimal: 3-4 posts/week
• Mix formats: Carousels + text + occasional video

Output Format

When crafting LinkedIn posts:

## LinkedIn Post: [Topic]

### Format
Text / Carousel / Document / Video

### Hook (First 2-3 lines)
[Content that appears before "see more"]

### Body
[Full post content]

### CTA
[Engagement prompt]

### Specs
- **Character count**: [X] (limit: 3,000)
- **Format details**: [Slides/Duration/etc.]
- **Hashtags**: [3-5 max, at end]
- **Link strategy**: [In post / In comments / None]
- **Suggested time**: [Day, Time]

### Assets Needed
- [ ] [Description of visuals]

References

For algorithm research, source links, and detailed tactics, see references/REFERENCES.md.