The Post coach, explained
Below every post you're editing, the Post coach gives you live feedback on length, hook, hashtag count, and ending style. Coaching adjusts to the format you've picked, because the sweet spots are different.
Length sweet spots by format
A 2,000-character post under a poll buries the poll. A 200-character text-only post under-performs. The coach knows the difference.
| Format | Sweet spot | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Text-only | 1,800-2,100 | Body is the post. Long-form outperforms. |
| Image | 1,300-1,800 | Image draws the eye, body explains. |
| Video | 250-700 | Video carries it, body is just context. |
| Carousel | 800-1,500 | Carousel does the heavy lift, post hooks the swipe. |
| Poll | 300-800 | Poll IS the CTA, body sets up the question briefly. |
Hard ceiling for any post: 3,000 characters (LinkedIn limit).
Hook quality
The first line is the hook. LinkedIn truncates feed previews after roughly 110 characters on desktop, less on mobile. Past that and the reader has to click "see more" to keep reading.
- Under 80 characters: ideal, full hook visible everywhere
- 80-110: still fine on most screens
- 110+: a chunk gets cut off, click-through drops
Hashtags
Hashtags no longer add reach. AuthoredUp's research found they had no impact on distribution, that 3-5 can slightly reduce it, and that piling on more cuts it hard. Use 1 or 2 if they help the right people find the post, or none.
- 0-2 hashtags: fine, nothing flagged
- 3-5: not flagged, though the data says they can slightly reduce reach
- 6+: flagged as a warning, because it cuts reach
Ending style
A genuine question gives people a reason to comment, and comments count for far more than likes. The coach flags posts that don't end with a question (with two exceptions: polls and videos, where the format itself is the CTA).
Engagement-bait detection
LinkedIn's 2026 Authenticity Update actively suppresses posts that ask for reactions in obvious ways. The coach flags these patterns:
- "Comment YES if you agree..."
- "Tag a friend who..."
- "Share if you think..."
- "Double tap if..."
- "Vote in the comments..."
If you see these in a draft, rewrite the ending. Genuine open questions outperform engagement bait by a wide margin and don't risk algorithmic suppression.