Thought Leadership Playbook

Publish ideas and evidence that set your brand apart.

Positioning7 min

Overview

Opinion + proof beats vague platitudes. Share data, stories, and decisions.

Ship frameworks that others can reuse.

Preflight Checklist

  • Connect your LinkedIn profile or company page to Postly and verify permissions.
  • Define your content pillars (e.g., thought leadership, company updates, customer stories).
  • Prepare visual assets, caption templates, and hashtag lists.
  • Identify your target audience’s active hours and time zones.
  • Ensure compliance with LinkedIn’s policies and brand guidelines.

Step-by-Step Playbook

  1. List 10 non-obvious opinions your team holds.
  2. Pair each with evidence: data, examples, or stories.
  3. Turn winners into carousels and articles.
Icon representing Postly’s content calendar for scheduling and collaboration.

Creative & Copy Tips

  • Be specific; avoid buzzwords.
  • Credit inspiration and collaborators.
  • Invite counter-points to deepen the thread.

Example Template

LinkedIn Post Example for “Thought Leadership Playbook

  • Hook: Start with a bold question or metric (e.g., “Did you know 70% of LinkedIn users engage with carousels?”).
  • Body: Share 2–3 key insights or steps (e.g., “Step 1: Define your audience, Step 2: Craft a story, Step 3: Add a CTA”).
  • Close: End with a clear CTA (e.g., “Comment your top tip!” or “Save this for later!”).
  • First Comment: Include a link with UTM parameters for tracking.

SEO & Compliance Checklist

  • Use primary keywords (e.g., “thought leadership playbook”) naturally in the post’s opening line.
  • Add 3–5 relevant hashtags at the end of posts to enhance discoverability.
  • Ensure compliance with LinkedIn’s policies, including proper disclosures for branded content.
  • Link to your profile or company page in posts and pin top-performing content.

Postly Workflow

Postly streamlines your LinkedIn strategy by allowing you to connect profiles and pages, save caption and hashtag templates, and schedule posts via a collaborative calendar. Assign roles for drafting, reviewing, and approving content to maintain brand consistency. Use Postly’s analytics to track performance and optimize future posts for maximum impact.

Icon representing Postly’s analytics dashboard for tracking LinkedIn metrics.

Metrics to Watch

  • Engagement Rate: Measure likes, comments, and shares relative to impressions.
  • Click-Through Rate (CTR): Track clicks on links to assess conversion potential.
  • Impressions: Monitor reach to understand content visibility.
  • Comment Quality: Evaluate the depth and relevance of comments to gauge audience resonance.
  • Follower Growth: Track follower trends over 7–30 days for long-term impact.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Low Engagement: Refine hooks to be more specific and test posting times.
  • Poor Reach: Use niche hashtags and engage with similar content before posting.
  • Approval Bottlenecks: Set clear deadlines and roles in Postly’s collaboration tools.
  • Compliance Issues: Review posts for brand safety and LinkedIn policy adherence.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is controversy good?
Be bold but respectful; avoid performative hot-takes.

Next Steps

Set up your Postly account, connect your LinkedIn profile or page, and start creating your first content batch. Schedule posts using Postly’s analytics-driven timing suggestions and review performance weekly. Iterate based on data to refine your strategy and drive consistent growth.