If you are posting external links on LinkedIn, you may be sabotaging your own reach without realizing it.

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Despite algorithm changes over the years, one thing remains constant in 2025: LinkedIn does not want to send its audience off the platform. When you add an external link to your post, you risk reducing your reach by as much as forty five percent.

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According to the latest LinkedIn Algorithm Report by Richard van der Blom, the impact of link placement is clear:

• Link inside the post: reach drops by forty five percent
  
• Link in the first comment: reach drops by fifteen percent
  
• Link in someone else’s comment: reach drops by five percent
  
  

These are not theoretical numbers. Content creators across LinkedIn have run tests to confirm them:

• Posts with embedded links reached only five point four five percent of their followers
  
• Posts without links reached over twenty percent
  
• The same creators using the same content saw dramatically different results just by removing the link
  
  

If links hurt performance, should you stop sharing them altogether? Not necessarily. Smart marketers have found workarounds that maintain visibility while still driving traffic.

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1. Add Three or More External Links

Surprisingly, posts that include three or more external URLs tend to perform better than posts with just one. The algorithm interprets this as value-driven content rather than promotional. Sharing useful resources and references can build credibility and even boost reach.

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2. Use Native LinkedIn Formats

Whenever possible, use LinkedIn’s built-in tools to share your content:

• Upload videos directly to LinkedIn instead of sharing YouTube or Vimeo links
  
• Use LinkedIn Articles instead of directing users to a blog on an external site
  
  

Native content keeps users on the platform longer, which LinkedIn rewards with higher visibility.

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3. Use a Delayed Link Strategy

If you must include a link, here is a simple growth marketer’s trick:

• Publish your post without the link
  
• Let it ride the wave of organic reach for five to seven days
  
• Then either edit the post to add the link or promote it as a sponsored post with the link included
  
  

This approach gives your content the algorithm boost up front and ensures your audience sees it when the timing matters most.

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LinkedIn remains one of the most powerful platforms for professionals, marketers, and creators. But understanding how its algorithm works is critical to getting your content seen.

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So the next time you are tempted to drop a link into your post, stop and consider the smarter route. Your reach, and your results, depend on it.

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