# How to boost a LinkedIn post for free in 7 steps, starting before you publish

> How to boost a LinkedIn post for free: a strong hook, ten people lined up, the first hour, two groups and LinkedInLikes, then a 24-hour check of reach.

Source: https://linkedinlikes.com/how-to-boost-linkedin-post-for-free · Updated: 2026-11-12

## Key takeaways

- Write three versions of the first two lines and fit your image to LinkedIn's format before publishing.
- Ask ten people the day before to comment, save and like in the first hour, and remind them 15 minutes before you post.
- The first 60 minutes are the free alternative to LinkedIn's paid Boost button.
- Two groups and LinkedInLikes add readers from outside your circle; auto-like tools that ask for your cookie put your account at risk.
- Check impressions after 24 hours and compare with your last 5 posts to see which step to repeat.

To boost a LinkedIn post for free, work through seven steps: write first two lines that make people expand the post, line up ten people before you publish, and collect comments, saves and likes in the first hour. Done in order, they take a post well past the people who already follow you.

## 1. How do you make a post worth spreading before you publish?

Start before you press publish. Everything that follows depends on content people actually want to open.

### Steps

1. Open the [LinkedIn hook generator](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-hook-generator) and write 3 versions of your opening two lines.
2. Keep the version that would make you click "see more".
3. Fit your image to LinkedIn's format with the [image resizer](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-image-resizer).
4. Pick a picture with something in it to look at: a chart, a screenshot or a face.
5. Check the finished post on mobile and desktop in the [post preview](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-post-preview).

**Myth:** a good idea spreads on its own. **Reality:** when readers expand your post and spend time on the image, LinkedIn reads that as a strong signal and shows the post to more people.

**What you have after this step:** a post people open, read and look at.

## 2. Why line up ten people before you publish?

A message sent the day before works better than a request sent once the post is already live.

### Steps

1. List 10 colleagues, friends and clients who use LinkedIn every day.
2. Look up the [best time to post on LinkedIn](https://linkedinlikes.com/best-time-to-post-on-linkedin) for your audience and choose a slot.
3. Send each of them a short note, such as: "I'm posting at 9:00 tomorrow. Could you comment, save and like it in the first hour?"
4. Send a reminder 15 minutes before you publish.

**Myth:** post it and your network will notice. **Reality:** the people you asked ahead of time are the ones who show up in the first hour, which is when it matters.

**What you have after this step:** 10 people ready to react as soon as the post is up.

## 3. How does the first hour replace LinkedIn's paid Boost button?

LinkedIn's paid option is the Boost button. The free option is the first 60 minutes after you publish.

### Steps

1. Publish at the time you chose.
2. Send the link to your 10 people straight away.
3. Ask each of them for a comment, a save, a like and, if they're happy to, a repost.
4. Answer every comment within a few minutes.
5. Stay with the post for 60 minutes and reply to anything new.

**Myth:** getting a post in front of more people means paying for the Boost button. **Reality:** the free route is friends, colleagues and anyone else you can reach giving the post as many signals as possible in its first hour.

**What you have after this step:** a first hour full of comments, saves and likes.

## 4. Which groups can bring new readers to your post?

Groups put your post in front of people who have never seen your name. Choose two and use them the same way every time.

### Steps

1. Pick 2 groups from the table that match your language and niche.
2. Read the pinned rules, then join.
3. Share the link with one line about what the post covers.
4. Like and comment on 3 other members' posts the same day.

**Myth:** there's a free tool that will spread any post for you. **Reality:** hardly any exist, because someone has to make money from each one. Groups of real people let you get help without handing anything over.

**What you have after this step:** new readers from outside your own circle.

Member counts below are the figures each platform displayed on Oct 21, 2026:

| Group | Where | Members | Language | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [LinkedIn Engagement Pod & Group](https://t.me/linkedin_engagement_pod) | Telegram | 1,833 members | en | a general pod for likes and comments |
| [LinkedIn Engagement Pod (RVision Digital)](https://t.me/linkedinengagementpod) | Telegram | 1,064 members | en | sharing posts for likes and comments, plus connections and skill endorsements |
| [Linkedin engagement pod](https://t.me/linkedinpod1) | Telegram | 488 members | en | a general LinkedIn pod |
| [Social Linkedin/FB/IG Engagement Pod](https://t.me/socialengagementpod) | Telegram | 77 members | en | LinkedIn pod: react to the last 5 posts and leave a meaningful comment before you share yours |
| [LinkedIn For Breakfast](https://www.skool.com/linkedin-for-breakfast) | Skool | 6,603 members | en | a free LinkedIn community with pods and live events |
| [Linkedin Likes and Engagement](https://t.me/linkedinlikesandengagement) | Telegram | 697 members | en | trading likes and comments, plus connections |
| [Linkedin Pod (SF founders like-for-like)](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DBOyIPrDR5IK27yzW606sF) | WhatsApp | n/a (WhatsApp doesn't show the count) | en | like-for-like among founders on LinkedIn |
| [r/linkedintips](https://www.reddit.com/r/linkedintips/) | Reddit | 38,314 members | en | LinkedIn tips for building your brand |
| [LinkedIn Club](https://t.me/linkedinclub) | Telegram | 552 members | en | networking and connections on LinkedIn |
| [r/LinkedInGrowth](https://www.reddit.com/r/LinkedInGrowth/) | Reddit | - | en | LinkedIn growth and connections |

## 5. How does LinkedInLikes add readers in the first hour?

LinkedInLikes is a free community where members support each other's posts. Use it on top of your own ten people, not as a replacement for them.

### Steps

1. [Create a free LinkedInLikes account](https://linkedinlikes.com/signup) and confirm your email to get 100 starter points.
2. Right after you publish, paste your post link into a new task.
3. Pick the actions you want (likes, comments, saves or reposts), the points per action and how many actions.
4. Read how the [LinkedIn like booster](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-like-booster) page explains the options if you want a second look.

**Myth:** likes on their own are enough. **Reality:** a reader who spends time on your post, then likes, comments on and saves it in one visit sends a much stronger signal than likes alone.

**What you have after this step:** members acting by hand from their own LinkedIn accounts, with comments written in their own words. If someone confirms an action they didn't do, you can report it within 72 hours. [Get free likes on LinkedInLikes](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin/like).

## 6. Why should you avoid auto-like tools?

Tools that offer automatic likes want access to your account. Turn them down.

### Steps

1. Open any tool that promises automatic likes or like-for-like on autopilot.
2. Look for a request to share your LinkedIn cookie or session.
3. If it asks, close the tab.
4. Rely on people instead: your ten, your groups and LinkedInLikes, which never asks for your password, cookie or a browser extension.

**Myth:** auto-like tools carry no risk. **Reality:** they need your cookie, and handing it over puts your account in someone else's hands.

**What you have after this step:** more reach, with your account still fully under your control.

## 7. How do you check which steps worked?

Measure reach as well as likes.

### Steps

1. Open the post 24 hours after publishing and click the impressions number.
2. Put impressions, likes and comments into the [impressions calculator](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-impressions-calculator).
3. Compare the share of impressions that turned into reactions and comments with your last 5 posts.
4. Write down which step made the difference and repeat it on your next post.

**Myth:** the like count tells you whether the push worked. **Reality:** impressions show how far the post went, and comments and saves show why.

**What you have after this step:** a routine you can repeat for every new post.

## Grow on LinkedIn

- [LinkedIn growth course](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-growth-course)
- [How LinkedIn pods work](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-engagement-pods)
- [Swapping likes and comments on LinkedIn](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-engagement-exchange)
- [Connect for connect on LinkedIn](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-connect-for-connect)
- [Like for like on LinkedIn works when you give first and share early](https://linkedinlikes.com/how-to-do-like-for-like-on-linkedin)
- [Free LinkedIn growth tools](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin-free-tools)

Next step: pick your posting slot for tomorrow, message your ten people today, and keep your LinkedInLikes task ready to go the moment the post is live.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can you boost a LinkedIn post for free?

Yes. Write a strong opening, ask ten people in advance to react in the first hour, share the post in two groups, add it to [LinkedInLikes](https://linkedinlikes.com/linkedin/like), and reply to every comment. None of this needs LinkedIn's paid Boost button.

### Does the first-hour method work?

The first hour is when LinkedIn decides whether to show a post to more people, so comments, saves and likes in that window give it the best start. It works best when the post itself is worth reading.

### How many people do I need in the first hour?

Start with 10 people you know, then add two groups and LinkedInLikes.

### How do I get more likes on a LinkedIn post?

Line up people before publishing, ask for a like plus a comment and a save, and use free communities where members like posts by hand. Our guide on [how to get more likes on LinkedIn](https://linkedinlikes.com/how-to-get-more-likes-on-linkedin) covers more options.

### Is a LinkedIn like booster the same as an auto-liker?

No. Auto-likers ask for your LinkedIn cookie and act from your account. On LinkedInLikes, other members like your post by hand from their own accounts, and you only share a public link.

### What does the paid LinkedIn Boost button do?

It is LinkedIn's paid way to show a post to more people. The free alternative is to collect as many genuine reactions as possible in the first hour.