LinkedIn Pulse 2026: Complete Guide to LinkedIn Articles
TL;DR - Quick Answer
13 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
LinkedIn Pulse: Complete Guide to LinkedIn Articles
LinkedIn Pulse was LinkedIn's standalone publishing platform. It's now integrated directly into LinkedIn as "Articles."
Here's everything you need to know about publishing long-form content on LinkedIn.
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Start your free trialQuick Answer: What is LinkedIn Pulse?
LinkedIn Pulse was LinkedIn's blogging platform launched in 2014. In 2017, LinkedIn merged Pulse into the main platform. Now it's simply called LinkedIn Articles.
Bottom line: "LinkedIn Pulse" and "LinkedIn Articles" are the same thing. Pulse is just the old name.
LinkedIn Posts vs LinkedIn Articles
When to use posts: Daily content, quick tips, conversations.
When to use articles: Deep dives, guides, content you want searchable.
You want to write a 2,000-word guide that ranks on Google. Which format should you use?
How to Write a LinkedIn Article
Step 1: Start a New Article
- Go to LinkedIn homepage
- Click "Write article" below the post composer
- Or visit: linkedin.com/article/new
Step 2: Add Your Content
Article editor features:
- Headlines (H1, H2)
- Bold, italic, underline
- Bullet and numbered lists
- Links
- Images and videos
- Embedded media
- Code blocks
- Quotes
Step 3: Optimize for Discovery
Title: Include keywords people search for. Keep under 100 characters.
Subtitle: Add context and secondary keywords.
Cover image: Use 1920x1080 pixels. Faces and text work well.
First paragraph: Hook readers immediately. State the value upfront.
Step 4: Publish and Promote
Before publishing:
- Proofread for errors
- Check all links work
- Preview on mobile
After publishing:
- Share as a post with a teaser
- Reply to every comment
- Share to relevant groups
LinkedIn Article Best Practices
Length That Works
Sweet spot: 1,000-1,500 words for most topics.
Headlines That Get Clicks
Formats that work:
- "How to [achieve result]"
- "[Number] Ways to [solve problem]"
- "Why [common belief] is Wrong"
- "The [adjective] Guide to [topic]"
Examples:
- "How to Get Your First 10,000 LinkedIn Followers"
- "7 LinkedIn Mistakes Killing Your Visibility"
- "Why LinkedIn Posts Don't Work Anymore"
Structure for Readability
Use:
- Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
- Subheadings every 200-300 words
- Bullet points for lists
- Bold for key points
- Images to break up text
Avoid:
- Wall of text
- No subheadings
- Paragraphs over 5 sentences
- Generic stock photos
What's the ideal length for a LinkedIn article that maximizes both engagement and SEO?
LinkedIn Newsletters vs Articles
LinkedIn Newsletters are articles with a subscription feature.
Choose Newsletter if: You'll publish weekly/monthly consistently.
Choose Article if: You publish occasionally or want one-off content.
Learn more about LinkedIn Newsletters →How LinkedIn Articles Get Distributed
Immediate Distribution
When you publish, your article appears in:
- Your profile's "Activity" section
- Followers' feeds (some, not all)
- Your connections' notifications (first-degree)
Long-term Distribution
Articles can get views months later from:
- Google search: Articles are indexed and can rank
- LinkedIn search: Searchable by topic
- Profile visits: Visitors browse your articles
- Reposts: Others sharing your content
Boosting Article Reach
Same-day tactics:
- Share article as a post with a teaser hook
- Comment on your own post with additional insights
- Ask a question to drive comments
- Share to relevant LinkedIn groups
Ongoing tactics:
- Link to articles from new posts
- Update old articles with new info
- Cross-promote on other platforms
- Embed in your website
Common LinkedIn Article Mistakes
Mistake 1: No Promotion
Publishing and waiting doesn't work. You must actively promote.
Fix: Share every article as a post. Engage with all comments for 2 hours after posting.
Mistake 2: Blog Reposts
Copying your blog posts word-for-word tanks reach. LinkedIn penalizes duplicate content.
Fix: Write original content OR significantly rewrite blog posts with LinkedIn-specific angles.
Mistake 3: No Clear Takeaway
Articles that ramble without a point don't get shared.
Fix: State your main point in the first paragraph. Every section should support that point.
Mistake 4: Weak Headlines
Generic headlines get scrolled past.
Bad: "Thoughts on Leadership" Good: "The Leadership Mistake I Made That Cost Me My Best Employee"
Mistake 5: No Call-to-Action
Readers finish and leave. Wasted opportunity.
Fix: End with a clear CTA: follow me, comment your experience, check out my newsletter.
You published a LinkedIn article but it's getting almost no views. What's the most likely cause?
LinkedIn Article SEO
Why Articles Rank on Google
Unlike posts, LinkedIn articles:
- Have unique URLs
- Get indexed by Google
- Can rank for keywords
- Build backlinks
SEO Best Practices
Title optimization:
- Include primary keyword
- Keep under 60 characters for search display
- Make it compelling for clicks
Content optimization:
- Use keyword in first 100 words
- Add related keywords naturally
- Include internal links to other articles
- Use descriptive image alt text
URL optimization:
- LinkedIn auto-generates from your title
- Keep titles clean for clean URLs
Realistic SEO Expectations
LinkedIn articles can rank, but they're not your blog. They work best for:
- Your name + topic searches
- Long-tail keywords
- Industry-specific terms
- Question-based queries
Don't expect to outrank major publications for competitive keywords.
Article Analytics
What You Can Track
LinkedIn shows:
- Views: Total article opens
- Reactions: Likes, celebrates, etc.
- Comments: Engagement count
- Shares: Reposts by others
What You Can't Track
LinkedIn doesn't show:
- Read time
- Scroll depth
- Traffic sources (mostly)
- Click-through on links
Measuring Success
Based on accounts with 5,000+ followers. Adjust expectations for smaller audiences.
LinkedIn Pulse FAQ
Is LinkedIn Pulse still available? Yes, but it's now called "Articles." The Pulse brand was retired in 2017.
Can anyone publish LinkedIn articles? Yes. All LinkedIn members can publish articles for free.
How often should I publish articles? Quality over quantity. 1-2 excellent articles per month beats weekly mediocre content.
Do articles perform better than posts? Posts typically get more immediate engagement. Articles build long-term authority and SEO value.
Can I edit articles after publishing? Yes. Unlike posts, articles can be edited anytime without time limits.
Are articles good for lead generation? Yes, if you include CTAs. Articles establish expertise that converts to leads over time.
Quick Action Plan
This Week
- Brainstorm 5 article topics in your expertise area
- Outline your first article with clear sections
- Write and publish (aim for 1,000-1,500 words)
- Promote by sharing as a post with a hook
This Month
- Publish 2-4 articles on related topics
- Analyze performance to see what resonates
- Engage with all comments to increase reach
- Consider starting a Newsletter if publishing consistently
Related Resources
LinkedIn Guides:
- How to Post Articles on LinkedIn
- LinkedIn Post Ideas
- How to Grow LinkedIn Followers
- Best Time to Post on LinkedIn
- LinkedIn Analytics Tools
- AI Tools for LinkedIn
LinkedIn Tools:
Content Strategy:
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