| name | linkedin-post-formatter |
| description | Format and draft compelling LinkedIn posts using Unicode bold/italic styling, visual separators, structured sections, and engagement-optimised patterns. USE FOR: draft LinkedIn post, format text for LinkedIn, create social media post, write thought leadership post, convert content to LinkedIn format, LinkedIn carousel text, Unicode bold italic formatting. |
| metadata | {"skill-author":"Marie-Lynne Block"} |
LinkedIn Post Formatter
Transform raw content, ideas, or technical material into polished, engagement-optimised LinkedIn posts using Unicode typography and proven structural patterns.
Overview
LinkedIn only supports plain text โ no Markdown rendering, no rich formatting. This skill uses Unicode Mathematical Alphanumeric Symbols to simulate bold, italic, and bold-italic text that renders natively in the LinkedIn editor without any external tools.
Unicode Typography Reference
When converting plain text into Unicode-styled LinkedIn text, first load and use references/unicode-charmap.md as the authoritative character mapping reference.
Apply these character mappings to create visual emphasis in plain text:
Bold (Mathematical Sans-Serif Bold)
Use bold for key phrases, section headers, and emphasis words.
| Plain | Unicode Bold |
|---|
| A-Z | ๐-๐ญ |
| a-z | ๐ฎ-๐ |
| 0-9 | ๐ฌ-๐ต |
Italic (Mathematical Sans-Serif Italic)
Use italic for subtle emphasis, technical terms, or quotes.
| Plain | Unicode Italic |
|---|
| A-Z | ๐-๐ก |
| a-z | ๐ข-๐ป |
Bold-Italic (Mathematical Sans-Serif Bold Italic)
Use sparingly for maximum emphasis.
| Plain | Unicode Bold-Italic |
|---|
| A-Z | ๐ผ-๐ |
| a-z | ๐-๐ฏ |
Visual Separators
Use these characters to create visual structure:
- Section divider:
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ (box-drawing heavy horizontal)
- Bullet points:
โ (diamond with dot) or โ (bullseye)
- Arrow flow:
โ for vertical flow, โ for horizontal continuation
- Sub-points:
โณ for indented sub-items
- Numbered items: Use bold Unicode digits
๐ญ. ๐ฎ. ๐ฏ. etc.
Post Structure Patterns
Pattern 1: Hook โ Content โ CTA (General Purpose)
[Bold hook line โ provocative statement or question]
[1-2 lines of context setting the stage]
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
[Main content with bold section headers]
[Bullet points using โ or numbered with bold digits]
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
[Bold takeaway or summary]
[Call to action โ repost, comment, or grab resource]
#Hashtags
Pattern 2: Listicle (Numbered Insights)
[Bold opening line with a strong claim]
[Setup line explaining what follows]
๐ญ. [Bold item title]
[Supporting detail]
๐ฎ. [Bold item title]
[Supporting detail]
...
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐: [Summary in italic]
#Hashtags
Pattern 3: Story โ Lesson (Thought Leadership)
[Italic opening with a personal or observed moment]
[2-3 short paragraphs telling the story]
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ป:
[Bold lesson or principle extracted from the story]
[CTA]
#Hashtags
Pattern 4: Resource Share (Cheatsheet/Guide/Tool)
[Hook: "If you do X, you cannot miss this..."]
[Brief description of what the resource covers]
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
[Bold section count]. [Bold section titles as numbered list]
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐:
[Why this resource matters โ bold key phrase]
[Grab it / Share it CTA]
โป๏ธ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ if this is useful to your network.
#Hashtags
Formatting Rules
- Line breaks matter: LinkedIn collapses multiple blank lines. Use single blank lines between paragraphs.
- Hook above the fold: The first 2-3 lines must compel the reader to click "see more." Front-load value.
- Short paragraphs: 1-3 sentences max per paragraph. Wall of text kills engagement.
- Bold sparingly: Bold key phrases and headers, not entire paragraphs.
- Italic for nuance: Use italic for technical terms, internal thoughts, or subtle emphasis.
- Hashtags at the end: 5-8 relevant hashtags on the last line. No mid-post hashtags.
- No emojis in body unless the user explicitly requests them. Exception: one strategic emoji in CTA (โป๏ธ for repost).
- Character limit: LinkedIn posts can be up to 3000 characters. Aim for 1500-2500 for optimal engagement.
- No URLs in body: LinkedIn suppresses reach for posts with links. Add links in comments instead. Mention "link in comments" or "grab it below" as CTA.
Engagement Optimisation
- Opening hooks that work: Questions, bold claims, "If you do X...", contrarian takes, surprising stats.
- Closing CTAs that work: "โป๏ธ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ if...", "Save this for later", "Tag someone who needs this", "What's your take? ๐"
- Whitespace is your friend: Dense text gets scrolled past. Airy, scannable layout wins.
- The "see more" hook: LinkedIn truncates posts after ~210 characters on desktop. Make sure the first 2 lines create enough curiosity to click.
Process
- Analyse the source content (text, HTML, image, or idea).
- Identify the best post structure pattern (HookโContentโCTA, Listicle, StoryโLesson, Resource Share).
- Extract the core message and 3-5 key points.
- Apply Unicode bold/italic formatting to headers and emphasis words using
references/unicode-charmap.md.
- Add visual separators between sections.
- Write a compelling hook for the opening.
- Add a CTA and hashtags at the end.
- Verify the post is copy-paste ready for LinkedIn.
