LinkedIn Post Templates (Swipe File)
A blank LinkedIn post box is slow to fill. This swipe file gives you 20 post frameworks, each with a fill-in hook line, a body structure, and a closing CTA. Pick the one that fits what you want to say, fill in your own details, and run the formatting checklist before you post.
Social & GrowthPDF + CSV7 sectionsfree, no paywall
What you get
- 20 LinkedIn post frameworks with when-to-use notes, hook line templates, body structures, and CTAs
- A fill-in draft sheet for turning any framework into a finished post
- A formatting checklist for line breaks, length, links, and tagging
- Editable CSV for Google Sheets or Excel, plus a branded print-ready PDF
How to use this template
- 1. Start from what you want to say. Pick the framework that fits your idea, not the other way round. A lesson suits the story format; a strong opinion suits the contrarian take.
- 2. Fill the hook line first. Replace the brackets in the hook template with your specifics. Only the first few lines show before the 'see more' cut, so the hook has to earn the click.
- 3. Draft the body in the draft sheet. Follow the body structure beat by beat, then cut any sentence that repeats a point. Add real numbers, names, or details from your own work.
- 4. Format and rotate. Run the formatting checklist, then log which framework you used. Rotate frameworks so your feed doesn't read like one template on repeat.
Still choosing the tool you will run this in? Compare two side by side, or read how each profile is built in our review methodology.
What's inside
3 of 7 sections shown; the remaining 4 come with the free download.
What is a LinkedIn post template?
A LinkedIn post template is a reusable pattern for one kind of post: a hook line with blanks in it, a body structure listing the beats in order, and a closing ask. It decides the shape of the post so your effort goes into the specifics, which is the part only you can supply.
Templates earn their place when you are posting several times a week and the blank box is slowing you down. The risk is sameness, so a swipe file is only useful alongside a log of which pattern you used last, and a habit of rotating between story, list, opinion and proof.
20 LinkedIn post frameworks
Each row is a complete post pattern. Swap the [brackets] for your own details. The CTA column is a starting point; change it to fit your goal for the post.
| Framework | When to use | Hook line template | Body structure | CTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story with a lesson | You learned something the hard way | In [year], I [mistake or moment]. Here's what it taught me. | Scene > tension > turning point > lesson in one line | What would you have done? |
| Contrarian take | You disagree with common advice | Unpopular opinion: [common advice] is wrong for [audience]. | The advice > why it fails > what to do instead > when the advice does apply | Agree or disagree? |
How to use templates without sounding templated
Frameworks give you a structure. The details make the post yours. Swap every generic phrase for something specific: the client's industry, the real number, the tool you used, the day it happened.
Don't use the same framework twice in a row. Readers notice patterns fast. Rotate between story, list, opinion, and proof posts over a week or two, and check the rotation log before you pick.
If a hook template doesn't fit your idea, drop it. Write the post you want to write, then check it against the body structure to see if anything is missing.
4 more sections and the PDF + CSV are behind the free download.
Tools that help with this
The template does the thinking; these are the products creators run it in. The full software directory has the rest.
Taplio
Taplio is a LinkedIn-focused growth tool that combines AI-powered post writing, scheduling, carousel creation, and lead generation into one dashboard.
$39/mo
Hypefury
Twitter/X scheduling and growth automation that turns your best-performing posts into newsletter signups and product sales.
quote only
Jasper
Jasper is an AI writing platform built for marketing teams and content creators who need on-brand copy at scale.
$69/mo
Buffer
Buffer is a [social media scheduling](/categories/social-media-scheduling) tool that lets you plan, queue, and publish posts across all major social platforms from one dashboard.
$0/mo
Categories to browse: AI Writing Tools, Social Media Scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
What is a LinkedIn post template?
It is a reusable post pattern made of three parts: a fill-in hook line, a body structure that lists the beats in order, and a closing call to action. You supply the real details; the template supplies the shape.
What is the best format for a LinkedIn post?
There isn't one best format. Text posts, carousels (PDF documents), polls, and short videos all have a place. Start with the framework that fits your idea, keep the hook in the first two lines, and use short paragraphs with white space so the post is easy to read on a phone.
How long should a LinkedIn post be?
LinkedIn allows up to 3,000 characters. Use as many as the idea needs and no more. A single lesson can work in a few lines; a case study may need most of the limit. Cut anything that repeats a point.
How do I write a LinkedIn hook?
Only the first few lines show before the 'see more' cut, so lead with the payoff, a surprising detail, or a clear promise. The hook line templates in this swipe file give you 20 starting points to fill in with your own specifics.
Will people notice I am using templates?
Only if you reuse the same one repeatedly or leave the generic phrasing in. Rotate patterns across the week and replace every vague phrase with a real number, name or date, and the structure becomes invisible underneath your own material.