LinkedIn post writing with hook formulas, formatting rules, and engagement patterns. Covers post types, algorithm signals, character limits, and content pillars. Use for: LinkedIn posts, professional content, thought leadership, B2B content, personal branding. Triggers: linkedin post, linkedin content, linkedin writing, linkedin strategy, linkedin engagement, linkedin algorithm, linkedin hook, linkedin formatting, thought leadership, professional content, b2b content, linkedin growth
Write high-engagement LinkedIn posts via inference.sh CLI.
Requires inference.sh CLI (
infsh). Install instructions
infsh login
# Research trending LinkedIn content patterns
infsh app run tavily/search-assistant --input '{
"query": "LinkedIn viral post examples 2024 high engagement patterns"
}'
# Post to X (cross-posting reference)
infsh app run x/post-create --input '{
"text": "Your cross-posted version here"
}'
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HOOK (first 1-2 lines) │ ← Visible before "...see more"
│ │
│ ...see more ─────────────────────── │ ← The click gate
│ │
│ BODY (story/value) │
│ - Formatted with line breaks │
│ - Short paragraphs (1-2 sentences) │
│ - Lists or numbered points │
│ │
│ CTA (last 1-2 lines) │ ← Ask for engagement
│ │
│ #hashtags (3-5) │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
| Element | Limit |
|---|---|
| Post text | 3,000 characters |
| Visible before "see more" | ~210 characters (~2 lines on mobile) |
| Hashtags | 3-5 recommended |
| Comment | 1,250 characters |
| Article title | 100 characters |
| Article body | 125,000 characters |
The first 210 characters are everything. If the hook fails, nobody clicks "see more."
| Formula | Example |
|---|---|
| Contrarian opinion | "Unpopular opinion: code reviews are a waste of time." |
| Personal story opening | "I got fired on a Tuesday. Best thing that ever happened." |
| Surprising stat | "92% of startups fail. But not for the reason you think." |
| List promise | "I've hired 200+ engineers. Here are 5 red flags I look for." |
| Bold statement | "Your resume doesn't matter. Here's what does." |
| Before/after | "3 years ago I couldn't get a single interview. Yesterday I turned down a FAANG offer." |
| Pattern interrupt | "Stop. Before you send that cold email, read this." |
❌ "Excited to announce that we are pleased to share..." (corporate speak)
❌ "In today's rapidly evolving landscape..." (cliché, says nothing)
❌ "I'd like to take a moment to..." (slow, no hook)
❌ "Just published a new blog post!" (no value proposition)
❌ Starting with a hashtag or emoji
❌ Dense paragraph:
"I learned something important about leadership last week. My team was struggling with a deadline and instead of pushing harder, I decided to remove scope. The result was incredible — we shipped faster and the quality was better. Sometimes less really is more."
✅ Formatted for LinkedIn:
"I learned something about leadership last week.
My team was struggling with a deadline.
Instead of pushing harder, I removed scope.
The result?
We shipped faster.
And the quality was BETTER.
Sometimes less really is more."
| Rule | Why |
|---|---|
| One sentence per line | Easier to scan on mobile |
| Blank line between paragraphs | Visual breathing room |
| Short paragraphs (1-2 sentences) | Mobile readability |
| Use line breaks for dramatic effect | Creates pacing and suspense |
| Bold key phrases sparingly | Draws eye to important points |
| Numbered lists for tips | Scannable, shareable |
| Avoid walls of text | Nobody reads them |
| Post Type | Engagement | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Personal story + lesson | Very High | Building connection, authenticity |
| Contrarian take | High | Starting conversations, visibility |
| Carousel (document post) | High | Educational content, tips |
| List/tips (numbered) | High | Actionable value, saves |
| Poll | Medium-High | Easy engagement, data gathering |
| Photo + story | Medium | Humanizing, events |
| Video (native) | Medium | Demonstrations, personality |
| Link post | Low | Driving traffic (algorithm penalizes) |
| Reshare | Very Low | Don't bother — write original |
LinkedIn penalizes posts with links (reduces reach). Workarounds:
Every LinkedIn creator should have 3-5 pillars they rotate through:
| Pillar | What It Covers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Expertise | Industry knowledge, how-tos | "5 database patterns every engineer should know" |
| Stories | Personal experiences, failures, wins | "The hardest feedback I ever received" |
| Opinions | Takes on industry trends, contrarian views | "AI won't replace engineers. Bad managers will." |
| Behind the scenes | Building in public, process | "Here's our actual sprint retrospective format" |
| Curated insights | Trends, data, research summaries | "I analyzed 500 job postings. Here's what changed." |
| Signal | Impact | How |
|---|---|---|
| Dwell time | Very High | Longer posts that people read fully |
| Comments | Very High | Ask questions, create discussion |
| Saves | High | Actionable, reference-worthy content |
| "See more" clicks | High | Strong hook that makes people expand |
| Shares | Medium | Relatable, quotable content |
| Reactions | Medium | Easy to get but weighted less |
| External links | Negative | Reduces reach — put links in comments |
| Editing after posting | Negative | Don't edit within first hour |
| Posting frequency | 3-5x/week | Daily is fine, more than 1/day hurts |
| Day | Best Time (your audience's timezone) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday-Thursday | 7-8 AM, 12 PM, 5-6 PM |
| Monday | 8 AM (people catching up) |
| Friday | 7-8 AM (before checkout) |
| Weekend | Skip or light content |
Engage in comments for 30-60 minutes after posting — this is more important than the post itself.
# Generate a visual for a LinkedIn post
infsh app run infsh/html-to-image --input '{
"html": "<div style=\"width:1080px;height:1080px;background:#0f172a;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:80px;font-family:system-ui;color:white;text-align:center\"><div><h1 style=\"font-size:56px;font-weight:900;line-height:1.2;margin:0\">The best code is the code you don't write</h1><p style=\"font-size:22px;opacity:0.5;margin-top:24px\">— Every senior engineer</p></div></div>"
}'
# Generate a professional photo for a personal post
infsh app run falai/flux-dev-lora --input '{
"prompt": "candid professional photo, person speaking at a conference podium, audience in background blurred, natural stage lighting, authentic moment, corporate event photography",
"width": 1200,
"height": 900
}'
End every post with engagement driver:
| CTA Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Question | "What's the worst career advice you've received?" |
| Agreement check | "Agree or disagree?" |
| Share request | "Repost if this resonates ♻️" |
| Save prompt | "Save this for your next [situation] 🔖" |
| Recommendation ask | "What would you add to this list?" |
| Experience ask | "Has this happened to you?" |
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Weak hook | Nobody clicks "see more" | Use hook formulas above |
| Wall of text | Unreadable on mobile | One sentence per line, blank lines between |
| Links in main post | Algorithm reduces reach | Put links in first comment |
| Too many hashtags | Looks spammy | 3-5 relevant hashtags max |
| Corporate jargon | "Leveraging synergies" = instant scroll past | Write like you talk |
| Only self-promotion | Audience stops engaging | 80% value, 20% promotion |
| No CTA | No engagement direction | Always end with a question or ask |
| Resharing without adding | Near-zero reach | Write original posts, quote instead |
| Posting and disappearing | Kills comment momentum | Engage for 30-60 min after posting |
| Being generic | "Hard work pays off" = invisible | Specific stories and data |
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@social-media-carousel
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@content-repurposing
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@twitter-thread-creation
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