What to post on LinkedIn: 30 post ideas by format

The blank page is the LinkedIn creator's first enemy. Here are 30 post ideas organized by format — grounded in what the data says actually performs.

In short

→ Text, carousel, image, video: each format calls for different angles → Video reaches 26 median likes, carousel 24 — plain text caps at 11 → Top-performing topics: AI, personal branding, community, personal growth → 30 concrete ideas below, ready to adapt to your niche → Recycle each idea by format: one concept, three posts, three algorithms reached

Why start with format instead of topic

Format isn't a packaging detail. Across 359,000 posts analyzed, the median like count nearly doubles depending on what you choose.

| Format | Median likes | |--------|-------------| | Video | 26 | | Carousel | 24 | | Image | 20 | | Plain text | 11 |

Carousel also delivers 2.3x more median impressions than plain text in the LinkPost playbook (438,413 posts, 2020–April 2026). This isn't a matter of taste — format determines dwell time, and dwell time is the algorithm's primary signal.

Choose the format first. Then find the angle that comes naturally to it.

11 ideas for text posts

Plain text is the most-published format, which makes it the most competitive. To rise above the median, you need a strong hook and a real-world anchor.

→ A mistake you made — and what you concretely learned from it → Your non-consensus take on a trend in your industry → The counterintuitive thing you discovered recently → What nobody is saying (yet) about a shift that's underway → The rule you've applied for X years to achieve [specific result] → Before / now: your progression on a skill → Three things you wish you'd known when you started → The lesson from a recent failure, with numbers if possible → A field observation — from a client, prospect, or team — that surprised you → Your argued opinion on a news item from your niche → A data-backed insight, using your own numbers or research

8 ideas for carousels

Carousels take more preparation, but the return is clear: 4x more comments than plain text in the playbook. The format invites swiping — which means staying. The algorithm rewards that.

→ A step-by-step guide to a skill, one step per slide → The X most frequent mistakes in your field → Before / after: a real transformation → A beginner's glossary for your industry → Key figures from a trend, visualized simply → A checklist for a recurring process in your work → Your personal framework for making a complex decision → The must-read resources on a topic, with one line on each

6 ideas for image posts

A well-captioned image can outperform a long text post if the first lines hook the reader. The image catches the eye in the feed; the caption keeps them there.

→ A strong quote from an expert or author, contextualized by your experience → A comparative infographic between two opposing approaches → A screenshot of a result (table, chart, dashboard) + explanation in the caption → A field photo with an observation drawn from real life → A visualization of an abstract concept you teach → A professional meme rooted in a shared frustration from your industry

5 ideas for video posts

Video is the most demanding format to produce — but it also captures the longest attention. The 26-like median reflects that advantage.

→ Your process behind the scenes (making-of, a typical day) → A reasoned reaction to a trend or news item in your niche → A quick demo of a tool or method in under 90 seconds → A short interview with a peer, client, or expert → Personal storytelling: situation, tension, resolution

The topics that outperform in 2026

Format carries the post, but topic converts the audience. Across the 516,000 LinkedIn posts analyzed, certain themes stand out clearly in median engagement: AI (agents, tools), personal branding, technology, and community. These topics benefit from a naturally larger and more engaged audience on LinkedIn.

Combine a strong format (carousel or video) with a high-signal topic in your niche, and you maximize the probability of crossing the distribution threshold.

One important nuance: correlation is not causation. A trending topic won't save a post with no hook or grounding. The reverse is also true — a niche topic handled well consistently beats a generic topic executed poorly.

How to never run out of ideas again

Three concrete systems, stackable:

→ Raw "ideas" note: every field observation, every client frustration, every weekly surprise is a potential post. Note it first, format it later. → Recycle by format: a text idea becomes a carousel, then a video. One concept, three formats, three different publication windows. → Generate calibrated angles: the LinkPost strategy agent starts from your profile and past statistics to suggest ideas matched to what already works for you.

For the full methodology on content pillars, read how to find LinkedIn post ideas without a blank page.

Before you publish, run your post through the free post analyzer — 33 criteria checked to tell you whether your angle has potential.

Observational study by LinkPost (2020–April 2026, 62% French-language content). Median likes per format measured on 359,000 posts. Findings are correlations — correlation does not imply causation. Detailed methodology in the playbook.