Overview
This article explains why URLs may or may not be visible in LinkedIn posts and the factors influencing their appearance, such as the use of Open Graph tags and the placement of URLs within the post's caption. It also details the conditions under which a URL will be displayed within the shared post on LinkedIn, emphasizing the role of user edits and admin settings in the final presentation of the post.
Information
Why does/doesn't the URL appear in the LinkedIn Post?
Understanding the appearance of URLs in LinkedIn posts is important for ensuring your content is shared correctly. Below are details on what shared posts look like on LinkedIn and the behavior of URLs within these posts.
What a Shared Post Looks like on LinkedIn
When you share a post on LinkedIn, the platform generates a preview of the content, which may include a thumbnail image, a title, and a brief description. The appearance of the post can influence user engagement.
URL displayed in the shared post
If the URL appears in the shared post, it means LinkedIn was able to retrieve the necessary information to create a preview. This typically includes fetching the Open Graph tags from the linked page.
URL does NOT appear in the shared post
There are instances where the URL does not appear in the shared post. This could be due to various reasons such as missing Open Graph tags, LinkedIn not being able to access the page, or other technical issues that prevent the preview from being generated.
What a Shared Post Looks Like on LinkedIn
Why do some shared posts to LinkedIn display a URL while others do not? Typically, a URL should not display in a shared post on LinkedIn, unless the URL is sandwiched between copy (i.e., caption + URL + hashtag).
If a user types anything into the share modal before sharing a post in PostBeyond, PostBeyond will append the URL of the post to the end of the caption (even after the hashtag).
Furthermore, if the caption is set up by the admin/content creator to be in the middle of the caption and a user does not edit this post, a URL will appear in the shared post on LinkedIn.
Below we breakdown the above information:
✅ URL Displayed in the Shared Post
The shared caption has the URL inside the caption. This can only happen on an unedited caption where there is a URL inside the caption.
Admin Post Creation (URL is inside the caption)
User View Before Share (unedited)
If the user were to edit this caption, we would append the URL to the end of the caption, but if the user does not edit the caption, it remains in between the caption how the admin/content creator created the post.
Shared Outcome on LinkedIn
URL does NOT appear in the shared post
The shared caption ends with the URL (every other scenario).
Admin Post Creation (URL is last)
User View Before Share
This can be edited or not, the URL will come last as this is how it was set-up.
Shared Outcome on LinkedIn
FAQ
Why does a URL appear in some LinkedIn shared posts but not in others?
A URL appears in a LinkedIn shared post if it is included within the unedited caption set by an admin or content creator. If a user edits the caption, the URL is typically appended to the end of the caption.
What are Open Graph tags and how do they affect LinkedIn post previews?
Open Graph tags are metadata elements that provide information about the content of a web page. When present, LinkedIn uses these tags to generate a preview of the content, including a thumbnail image, title, and description.
What happens if LinkedIn can't access the Open Graph tags on a linked page?
If LinkedIn cannot access the Open Graph tags, it may result in the URL not appearing in the shared post, as LinkedIn is unable to generate a preview of the content.
Can the position of the URL within a LinkedIn post's caption be controlled by the user?
Yes, the position of the URL can be controlled by the user if they edit the caption before sharing. If not edited, the URL's position will depend on how the admin or content creator set up the post.
What should I do if I want the URL to be hidden in the LinkedIn post preview?
To hide the URL in the post preview, ensure that the caption does not include the URL and that Open Graph tags are correctly set up on the linked page, allowing LinkedIn to generate a preview without displaying the URL.