A Comprehensive AI Prompt for Writing LinkedIn Articles

What This Is

This is a structured AI prompt I've been using to generate professional LinkedIn articles with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and similar AI assistants. Instead of starting from scratch every time, this prompt provides a complete framework for creating articles that actually perform well on LinkedIn's algorithm.

If you're writing LinkedIn content and find yourself stuck on structure, headlines, or how to make articles engaging—this might help.

Why I'm Sharing This

LinkedIn articles can be powerful for building professional visibility, but they have specific requirements:

• The first 210 characters need to hook readers before "see more"
• Paragraphs need to be mobile-friendly (2-3 sentences max)
• The algorithm favors native content with high engagement
• Article length matters (1,300-2,000 words tends to perform best)

Rather than remembering all these details every time, I packaged them into a reusable prompt.

The Complete Prompt

You are a LinkedIn Content Strategy Expert specializing in creating high-impact professional articles that build thought leadership and drive engagement.

Your mission: Help me write a LinkedIn article that positions me as an industry expert, sparks meaningful conversations, and maximizes visibility through LinkedIn's algorithm.

# Article Requirements

**Topic**: [Your article topic]
**Target Audience**: [Job titles/industries of your ideal readers]
**Your Expertise**: [Your background/credentials in this area]
**Key Message**: [Main takeaway you want readers to remember]
**Article Goal**: [Build authority / Generate leads / Share insights / Drive conversation]

# Output Structure

## 1. Attention-Grabbing Headline
- 40-100 characters optimized for LinkedIn feed
- Include power words and clear value proposition
- Use formats: "How to...", "X Lessons from...", "Why [Industry] is..."

## 2. Hook (First 2-3 Lines)
- Must stop the scroll within first 210 characters (visible before "see more")
- Lead with a bold statement, surprising statistic, or provocative question
- Create curiosity gap that compels click to "see more"

## 3. Article Body (1,300-2,000 words)
- **Opening Story/Context** (150-200 words): Personal anecdote or industry observation
- **Core Content** (800-1,200 words): 
  - Break into 3-5 main sections with clear subheadings
  - Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
  - Include bullet points and numbered lists
  - Add relevant data, examples, or case studies
- **Actionable Insights** (200-300 words): Practical steps readers can implement
- **Conclusion** (100-150 words): Reinforce key message and transition to CTA

## 4. Call-to-Action (CTA)
- Encourage specific engagement: "What's your experience with [topic]?"
- Invite connection: "Follow me for more insights on [industry]"
- Drive traffic: "Link to full resource in comments" (then comment with link)

## 5. SEO & Discovery Elements
- **Hashtags**: 3-5 relevant hashtags (mix of popular and niche)
- **Keywords**: Naturally integrate 2-3 industry keywords throughout
- **@Mentions**: Tag relevant people or companies (when appropriate)

# Writing Style Guidelines

✅ **DO:**
- Write conversationally (like talking to a colleague over coffee)
- Use "you" to speak directly to readers
- Share personal experiences and lessons learned
- Break complex ideas into digestible chunks
- Include specific examples and numbers
- Ask rhetorical questions to maintain engagement
- Use formatting (bold, italics) for emphasis

❌ **DON'T:**
- Use corporate jargon or buzzword overload
- Write wall-of-text paragraphs
- Be overly promotional or salesy
- Assume expert-level knowledge
- Use clickbait without delivering value
- Forget to proofread for errors

# LinkedIn Algorithm Optimization

- **Dwell Time**: Create content worth reading to completion (drives reach)
- **Early Engagement**: First hour determines visibility - share strategically
- **Native Content**: Keep readers on LinkedIn (no external links in post body)
- **Comment Strategy**: Respond to comments within first hour to boost algorithm
- **Document Format**: Consider LinkedIn document posts for longer articles

How to Use It

Step 1: Choose Your AI Assistant

This prompt works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok. Copy the entire prompt above.

Step 2: Fill in Your Details

Replace the bracketed sections with your specific information:

• [Your article topic]: e.g., "Transitioning from developer to engineering manager"
• [Job titles/industries]: e.g., "Mid-level software engineers eyeing leadership roles"
• [Your background/credentials]: e.g., "Engineering Manager at tech startup, led 3 teams"
• [Main takeaway]: e.g., "Leadership is about enabling others, not doing more yourself"
• [Article Goal]: Choose one or combine: Build authority / Generate leads / Share insights

Step 3: Paste and Run

Send the completed prompt to your AI assistant. It will generate:

1. A headline optimized for LinkedIn
2. A hook designed to stop scrolling
3. A structured article body
4. An engagement-focused CTA
5. Relevant hashtags

Step 4: Review and Personalize

The AI output is a starting point. Always:

• Fact-check any claims or statistics
• Add your personal voice and specific examples
• Verify the information is accurate and current
• Adjust tone to match your authentic style

Example Usage

Here's a real example of how you'd use it:

Topic: Using AI tools in software development workflows
Target Audience: Software developers and engineering managers
Your Expertise: Senior developer, integrated AI tools into team workflows for 2 years
Key Message: AI tools amplify developer skills rather than replace them
Article Goal: Share practical insights and start conversations

The AI would then generate a complete article following the framework above.

Additional Prompt Templates

The full prompt repository includes specialized templates for different article types:

1. Thought Leadership: Industry trend analysis and future predictions
2. Personal Experience: Career lessons and storytelling
3. How-To Guides: Step-by-step frameworks and actionable advice
4. Data-Driven Analysis: Research insights and market data

Each template adjusts the base prompt for specific content types while maintaining LinkedIn best practices.

Technical Considerations

Content Structure

• Short paragraphs render better on mobile (where most LinkedIn reading happens)
• Bullet points increase scannability
• Subheadings every 200-300 words help readers navigate

Algorithm Factors

LinkedIn's algorithm prioritizes:

• Time spent reading (dwell time)
• Engagement within first hour of posting
• Native content over external links
• Comment quality over quantity

SEO Elements

• Use 3-5 hashtags (not more—it looks spammy)
• Integrate keywords naturally in first paragraph
• Tag people only when genuinely relevant

Important Disclaimers

This is a tool, not a replacement for your expertise. AI-generated content requires human review, fact-checking, and personalization.

Quality over quantity: Don't publish AI-generated content as-is. Use it as a starting point, then add your unique insights and verify all information.

Platform compliance: Ensure all content follows LinkedIn's Professional Community Policies. Don't use AI to create misleading, spammy, or inauthentic content.

Attribution: If you're sharing research, data, or others' insights, always cite sources properly—AI tools sometimes hallucinate facts.

Your responsibility: You're accountable for everything you publish under your name. Review carefully before posting.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

1. AI can't verify facts: Always fact-check statistics, dates, and claims
2. Generic voice: AI output often needs personalization to sound authentic
3. Missing context: AI doesn't know your specific industry nuances
4. Outdated information: AI training data has cutoff dates
5. No real experience: AI can't share your actual stories—you need to add those

Who This Is For

This prompt is useful if you:

• Write LinkedIn articles but struggle with structure
• Want to maintain consistency in content quality
• Need a framework for different article types
• Spend too much time on drafting and not enough on insights
• Want to understand what makes LinkedIn content perform well

This probably isn't for you if:

• You prefer writing completely from scratch
• You're looking for fully automated content creation
• You don't plan to review and personalize AI output

Results May Vary

LinkedIn success depends on many factors beyond content structure:

• Your existing network size
• How engaged your audience already is
• Timing of posts
• Topic relevance to your industry
• Your consistency in posting

This prompt helps with content structure and quality, but it's not a magic formula for viral posts.

Final Thoughts

I built this prompt after analyzing what makes LinkedIn articles perform well and packaging those insights into a reusable format. It saves me time on structure and reminds me of best practices, but the actual value comes from the insights and experiences I add.

If you try this prompt, I'd recommend:

1. Start with one article to test the output
2. Heavily edit the first few times until you understand the framework
3. Gradually rely on it more as you internalize the patterns
4. Always fact-check and personalize before publishing

The prompt works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok—whichever you prefer. The key is using it as a productivity tool, not a content creation shortcut.

License & Usage

This prompt is shared for educational and professional use. Feel free to adapt it for your needs, but remember: great content requires human insight, not just AI assistance.

Disclaimer: This article describes a tool for working with AI language models. The effectiveness of AI-generated content varies. Always review, fact-check, and personalize AI output before publishing. You are responsible for all content published under your name.

What's your experience using AI tools for professional writing? Have you found prompts like this helpful, or do you prefer other approaches?