AI prompt for writing a LinkedIn post

Written for Claude. Compiled as a writing task — producing original prose: articles, essays, stories, letters, and long-form copy.

<role>
You are a senior writer and editor with a decade of experience in this exact form.
</role>

<audience>
This is for {{audience}}. Pitch the level of detail, vocabulary, and assumed background at that reader specifically, not at a general audience.
</audience>

<context>
The point I want to make: {{point}}. What happened that prompted it: {{story}}.
</context>

<task>
Write a LinkedIn post about {{topic}}.
</task>

<constraints>
- First line must work as a standalone hook — it is all that shows before "see more".
- One idea only. Do not add a second point.
- End with a question or a clear statement, not a request for engagement.
- Avoid thrilled to announce.
- Avoid humbled.
- Avoid game-changer.
- Avoid agree?
- Avoid thoughts?
- Write in plain, direct prose. Do not restate the prompt, and do not open with a throat-clearing sentence.
- Vary sentence length. Do not begin consecutive sentences with the same word or structure.
- Do not invent facts, statistics, quotations, or attributed opinions.
</constraints>

<output_format>
Respond in Markdown. Use descriptive headings, and keep paragraphs to three sentences or fewer. Tone: direct, first person, no corporate register. Length: 150 words. Treat this as a requirement, not a suggestion.
</output_format>

Now, write a LinkedIn post about {{topic}}.

Open this in the prompt builder to add your own context and see what would improve it most.

What makes writing a LinkedIn post hard to prompt for

LinkedIn truncates after roughly two lines, so a post that buries its point in paragraph two is a post nobody reads. The banned phrases matter more here than anywhere: the platform has a house style that reads as insincere.

Why this prompt works

Background comes before the instruction

The model reads the situation before it learns what to do with it, which stops the instruction being diluted by everything that follows. The task is then restated as the final line, where models weight it most heavily.

Rules a writing task assumes but nobody writes down

Write in plain, direct prose. Do not restate the prompt, and do not open with a throat-clearing sentence. Vary sentence length. Do not begin consecutive sentences with the same word or structure. These are added automatically because leaving them implicit is the most common reason this kind of output disappoints.

What to replace

Check the output before you use it

• Read only the first line. Would you tap "see more"?
• Count the ideas. More than one means it should be two posts.
• Check it does not end by begging for comments.

The same prompt for other models

Identical content, packaged the way each model reads most reliably.

## Role

You are a senior writer and editor with a decade of experience in this exact form.

## Audience

This is for {{audience}}. Pitch the level of detail, vocabulary, and assumed background at that reader specifically, not at a general audience.

## Context

The point I want to make: {{point}}. What happened that prompted it: {{story}}.

## Task

Write a LinkedIn post about {{topic}}.

## Constraints

- First line must work as a standalone hook — it is all that shows before "see more".
- One idea only. Do not add a second point.
- End with a question or a clear statement, not a request for engagement.
- Avoid thrilled to announce.
- Avoid humbled.
- Avoid game-changer.
- Avoid agree?
- Avoid thoughts?
- Write in plain, direct prose. Do not restate the prompt, and do not open with a throat-clearing sentence.
- Vary sentence length. Do not begin consecutive sentences with the same word or structure.
- Do not invent facts, statistics, quotations, or attributed opinions.

## Output format

Respond in Markdown. Use descriptive headings, and keep paragraphs to three sentences or fewer. Tone: direct, first person, no corporate register. Length: 150 words. Treat this as a requirement, not a suggestion.

Now, write a LinkedIn post about {{topic}}.

**Task**

Write a LinkedIn post about {{topic}}.

**Role**

You are a senior writer and editor with a decade of experience in this exact form.

**Audience**

This is for {{audience}}. Pitch the level of detail, vocabulary, and assumed background at that reader specifically, not at a general audience.

**Context**

The point I want to make: {{point}}. What happened that prompted it: {{story}}.

**Constraints**

- First line must work as a standalone hook — it is all that shows before "see more".
- One idea only. Do not add a second point.
- End with a question or a clear statement, not a request for engagement.
- Avoid thrilled to announce.
- Avoid humbled.
- Avoid game-changer.
- Avoid agree?
- Avoid thoughts?
- Write in plain, direct prose. Do not restate the prompt, and do not open with a throat-clearing sentence.
- Vary sentence length. Do not begin consecutive sentences with the same word or structure.
- Do not invent facts, statistics, quotations, or attributed opinions.

**Output format**

Respond in Markdown. Use descriptive headings, and keep paragraphs to three sentences or fewer. Tone: direct, first person, no corporate register. Length: 150 words. Treat this as a requirement, not a suggestion.

Now, write a LinkedIn post about {{topic}}.