linkedin-hand-skill

LinkedIn Management Expert Knowledge

LinkedIn API Reference

Authentication

LinkedIn API uses OAuth 2.0 with bearer tokens.

Bearer Token:

Authorization: Bearer $LINKEDIN_ACCESS_TOKEN

Core Endpoints

Get authenticated user info:

curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $LINKEDIN_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -H "LinkedIn-Version: 202405" \
  "https://api.linkedin.com/rest/userinfo"

Create a text post (Posts API):

curl -s -X POST "https://api.linkedin.com/rest/posts" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LINKEDIN_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "LinkedIn-Version: 202405" \
  -d '{
    "author": "urn:li:person:MEMBER_ID",
    "lifecycleState": "PUBLISHED",
    "commentary": "Your post content here",
    "visibility": "PUBLIC",
    "distribution": {
      "feedDistribution": "MAIN_FEED"
    }
  }'

Comment on a post:

curl -s -X POST "https://api.linkedin.com/rest/socialActions/URN/comments" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LINKEDIN_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "LinkedIn-Version: 202405" \
  -d '{
    "actor": "urn:li:person:MEMBER_ID",
    "message": {"text": "Your comment here"}
  }'

Like a post:

curl -s -X POST "https://api.linkedin.com/rest/socialActions/URN/likes" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LINKEDIN_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "LinkedIn-Version: 202405" \
  -d '{
    "actor": "urn:li:person:MEMBER_ID"
  }'

Rate Limits

Endpoint	Limit	Window
Posts	25 posts	24 hours
Comments	10 comments	1 minute
Likes	20 likes	1 minute
API calls (general)	100 requests	1 day

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LinkedIn Content Strategy

The LinkedIn Algorithm (2024-2025)

Key factors that affect reach:

1. Dwell time: How long people spend reading your post. LinkedIn tracks both "read dwell" (time spent on post text) and "click dwell" (time spent after clicking "see more"). Longer posts that hold attention get amplified. Ideal: 800-1300 characters that reward reading to the end.
2. Early engagement: Comments in the first 60-90 minutes are weighted heavily. The algorithm decides distribution tiers within 2 hours of posting.
3. Meaningful comments: Long comments (3+ sentences) signal quality far more than likes. One thoughtful comment is worth ~10 likes in the algorithm. Reply-to-reply threads (nested comments) further boost the post.
4. No external links: Posts with links get 40-50% less reach. The algorithm deprioritizes anything that drives users off-platform.
5. Personal stories: Narrative content outperforms promotional content. The algorithm favors "knowledge and advice" posts from individuals over brand content.