For years the advice was simple: LinkedIn shows posts with links to fewer people, so put the link in the first comment instead. In 2026 the picture is muddier. Some analyses say the first-comment trick still helps, others say LinkedIn has caught on and it barely matters, and LinkedIn itself has never published a rule either way.
This guide sums up what's actually known, the five ways to share a link on LinkedIn, and how to choose between them. It was written on 25 October 2026.
The short answer
- Links in the post body usually reach fewer people. Every large analysis we've seen finds a drop, though estimates range from under 20% to around half.
- The first comment is no longer a reliable fix. Several 2026 analyses found that posts with a link in the first comment also underperform posts with no link at all, just by less.
- What matters most is whether people stop and read. Posts that hold attention seem to get away with links; thin posts that exist only to send people elsewhere don't.
So the first comment is still a reasonable default, but it isn't magic. The best post is one that's worth reading even if nobody clicks.
Why LinkedIn holds back posts with links
LinkedIn hasn't explained how it ranks posts in detail, but its incentives are clear. It wants people to stay on LinkedIn. A post that sends readers away ends their session, so the feed favours posts that keep them reading, reacting and commenting.
That's why the effect is uneven. A link at the end of a post people read to the bottom costs little. A post that is a headline and a URL costs a lot.
What the 2026 data says
Treat all of these numbers with care. They come from creators, agencies and tool makers, not from LinkedIn, and they measure different things.
| Source type | What they found |
|---|---|
| Large creator studies (1M+ posts) | Posts with an external link in the body get noticeably fewer impressions; one study puts the median drop at about 19% |
| Agency and tool analyses | Drops of 40 to 60% for link posts, especially from smaller accounts |
| Practitioners testing first comments | Smaller drop than a body link, but still below no-link posts |
| Practitioners on dwell time | Posts that are read to the end see little or no penalty |
The pattern across them: the link itself isn't the problem so much as the type of post that usually carries one.
The five ways to share a link on LinkedIn
1. Link in the post body
The simplest option and the most honest one for readers. Best when the link is the point (a job opening, a sign-up, a launch) and you'd rather people actually find it. Put it near the end so readers get the value first, and remove the large preview card if you want the post to read more like a text post.
2. Link in the first comment
The classic workaround. Write the post so it stands on its own, then add the link as the first comment with a line like "Link to the full guide in the comments". Readers who want it will find it; the post itself looks like a normal text post.
The downside is timing. If you add the comment by hand, you have to be there when the post goes live. That's what scheduling tools fix (see below).
3. No link, offer to send it
"Comment 'guide' and I'll send it" gets a lot of comments, which LinkedIn's feed likes. It also gets tiring for readers and it's a lot of work for you. Use it rarely, and only for something people really want.
4. A LinkedIn article or newsletter
Long posts published as a LinkedIn article stay on LinkedIn, so there's no outside link to worry about. Good for republishing a blog post in full. Articles reach a different audience than feed posts, though, and they take more effort.
5. Put the link on your profile
Add the link to your profile's featured section or the custom button, then write "link on my profile". It's the least direct option, but it works for things you mention again and again, like a newsletter or a booking page.
How to choose
| If you want… | Use |
|---|---|
| Clicks, and the link is the whole point | Link in the body, near the end |
| Reach first, clicks second | Link in the first comment |
| Maximum reach, no link at all | Make the post self-contained; link on your profile |
| A whole blog post on LinkedIn | A LinkedIn article |
Whichever you pick, the post has to work without the click. Give the key point, number or lesson in the post itself. People who want more will go looking for the link.
How to schedule a LinkedIn post with its first comment
LinkedIn's own scheduler can't schedule the first comment, so you'd normally have to wait for the post to go out and then add the link by hand. Postbase does both:
- Connect LinkedIn on the Channels page. You approve access on LinkedIn's own screen.
- Write the post in the composer. Check how it'll look above the "see more" fold in the preview.
- Click Add comment / post and paste the link, with a short line around it if you like ("The full checklist is here:").
- Pick a time and schedule it.
At that time Postbase publishes the post, then adds the second part as its first comment a moment later. If you post to X or Bluesky too, that second part becomes the next post in a thread there instead.
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Writing a post that doesn't need the click
The posts that get away with links are the ones people read to the end. A few habits help:
- Front-load the point. Only the first two or three lines show before "see more". Our LinkedIn text formatter previews exactly where the fold falls.
- Give away the best part. If you're sharing a guide, put its single most useful tip in the post.
- Short paragraphs, one idea each. LinkedIn is read on phones.
- End with a question related to the post, not "thoughts?". Comments help reach far more than avoiding a link does.
- Stay under 3,000 characters. Check with our character counter.
Frequently asked questions
Does LinkedIn penalise posts with links?
LinkedIn hasn't said so officially, but large creator and agency studies consistently find that posts with external links in the body reach fewer people than posts without. Estimates of the drop range from under 20% to around half.
Does putting the link in the first comment still work in 2026?
It still tends to do better than a link in the body, but it no longer matches a post with no link at all, according to several 2026 analyses. It's a reasonable default rather than a guaranteed fix.
Can you schedule a LinkedIn first comment?
Not with LinkedIn's own scheduler. Tools like Postbase can: add a second part to your post, and it's published as the first comment a moment after the post goes live.
Should I edit the link into the post after it's published?
Some creators add the link an hour after posting, once early engagement has built up. There's no published evidence it helps, and it means coming back to every post. If you do it, a scheduled first comment is less work.
Where should the link go in a LinkedIn post?
If you put it in the body, put it near the end, after the reader has had the value. If reach matters more than clicks, use the first comment and mention it in the post ("link in the comments").
Do LinkedIn articles get penalised for links?
Links inside a LinkedIn article don't carry the same cost, because the article itself is on LinkedIn. Articles are a good way to republish a full blog post with links intact.
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