The first hour after you post on LinkedIn: what to do and what to avoid

Why the first hour matters

LinkedIn doesn't show a new post to everyone at once. It tests it with a small group first. If those people stop to read, react and especially comment, it's more likely to be shown more widely. If they scroll past, it usually goes quiet.

That's why when and how you post makes such a difference to who ends up seeing it.

Before you post

• Post when your buyers are on LinkedIn — weekday mornings are a sensible starting point for most business audiences.
• Block out the next 30–60 minutes so you can reply.
• Write a first line that makes people want to click 'see more'.

During the first hour

• Reply to every comment, properly. A thoughtful reply often starts a second conversation.
• End the post with a genuine question that's easy to answer.
• Spend a few minutes commenting on other people's posts too — it puts your name in front of the same audience.

What to avoid

• Editing the post straight after publishing — check it before you press post.
• Putting a website link in the main text. If you need one, add it in a comment or keep it for your email.
• Asking people to 'like if you agree'. Real questions get real comments.
• Posting and walking away.

After the first hour

Keep replying as comments come in over the next day or two. Then look at which posts started conversations and do more of those.