“Writing is its own reward” – Henry Miller

How to Produce Great Articles on LinkedIn
At Ninjas, we always say, you’re not trying to get on the New York Times Best Seller list, but getting things down on LinkedIn gets the buyers onto your list! If you’re on LinkedIn, you’ve probably already shared a post on your profile. So, how does a LinkedIn post differ from a LinkedIn article? For starters, you are limited to 1,300 characters or less when posting on LinkedIn. An article has a character limitation of 125,000, so you can share more content.

Your articles will also show up in the Articles & Activity section on your profile. The most recent articles from your account will appear in the box and have a prominent placement on your account page, making them easier for your audience to find. Articles can help increase your brand’s exposure and your personal profile’s reach by linking back to your page.

Tips for Writing a LinkedIn Article People will Read
You can write a LinkedIn article on almost any topic and publish it to the platform. However, producing great articles on LinkedIn takes time, dedication, and practice. Whether you are a natural writer or not, you can follow these tips to create articles that people will actually want to read on LinkedIn.

Choose the Right Topic
While you can write about anything, that doesn’t mean you should. Your article topic should make sense for your expertise and industry. You should also consider your audience when deciding on a topic. Will this content add value for them? Who does it serve?

Grab Attention with your Headline
Your headline is your first chance to capture attention and encourage users to read your LinkedIn article. The headline should be relevant to the topic, so readers know what the article is about, but it should also be intriguing. Make sure your headline matches up with the content of your article, such as including “How to” or “5 tips for…” to describe what readers can expect.

Add your Body Copy
When writing your article, keep your audience in mind. What information is most important to them? What will add value to their career or daily responsibilities? You should also aim to keep your article around 1,000 words or less. Shorter pieces ensure your article is read in its entirety, and they make it easier for people to read on their smartphones or in small pockets of free time.

Make your Article Easy to Read
Formatting is crucial to ensuring your article is read. When people see a wall of text, they tend to skip over the article or abandon it pretty quickly. Break up your text into small paragraphs and use subheading to highlight important points or shifts in topic. Add links to relevant studies or sources in order to reduce your overall word count. Ninjas encourage you to use the speak apps on our computer, this will usually give you a good feel for the flow.

Ask Questions
Users have the ability to comment on LinkedIn articles, and asking questions is a great way to encourage engagement. You can receive feedback on your topic, learn from your audience, and boost the visibility for your audience when people comment or share the article. Consider asking questions throughout your article or posing a thought-provoking question at the end of your article. Plus, it’s good to encourage feedback and it’s a buzz when you receive it.

Edit, Edit, Edit oh yes…. and EDIT Some More!
Typos are a quick way to diminish your credibility. Read your article multiple times before publishing it to look for mistakes. You should even consider using proofreading software or having a peer review your article. Be sure to preview your final article as well to make sure that the spacing and formatting is attractive.

Add Images or Videos or both!
Charts, graphs, videos, and relevant images can all enhance your article. Breaking up your text with rich media is a great way to keep your audience reading and grab attention throughout your article. Just be sure your images or videos actually pertain to your topic. Generic stock photos do not typically add interest.

Share your Article
When you are ready to publish your article, you should also share it with your connections. Add relevant hashtags to capture attention and appear in searches, and encourage your connections to share the post as well. You can even link to your LinkedIn article from other social media platforms.

Track your Performance
Once your article is published, you can track how many times it is clicked on and read. Review the analytics for your article to help improve your future articles. Look for which days and times your articles receive the most engagement and alter your posting schedule accordingly. You should also pay attention to which topics receive the most attention to help guide your content creation in the future.

Ninjas Conclude
Ninjas know that writing it isn’t easy, sometimes were afraid to write. Will people like what we write? Are our thoughts unworthy of being written? Is it worth publishing? What if people take offence to what we write? What if, after all the hard work, we produce something that just… isn’t good? Come on, be brave, take the plunge and publish and if you’re worried about what to write, we can help you, just email info@inbusinessninjas.co.uk or call 03333 112230.

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” Sylvia Plath