How to Cite LinkedIn in APA (7th)

LinkedIn APA is basically the official way to cite content from LinkedIn posts, profiles, articles, newsletters using the rules of the APA 7th edition.

Think of it as a LinkedIn way of giving proper credit to ideas you find on LinkedIn when you’re writing papers, reports, or research.

It’s not just about being “academic” it’s about making sure your sources are clear, verifiable, and professional.

Why do we need LinkedIn APA?

Because LinkedIn is no longer just a social network; it’s a hub of thought leadership, industry insights, and real-world business updates.

If you’re quoting a CEO’s post, referencing a company article, or analyzing trends, you can’t just drop the link and call it a day.

Using APA citations keeps your work credible, shows you’re organized, and avoids plagiarism.

In short: LinkedIn APA lets you treat LinkedIn like a real source, not just a random social media page. And yes, it sounds boring but once you know the rules, it’s actually straightforward.

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Quick answer: APA 7 citation templates for LinkedIn

Before we deep dive, here’s your cheat sheet. Copy-paste these, tweak for your content, and call it a day.

LinkedIn post reference list template

Author, A. A. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. URL

LinkedIn post example reference and in-text

Doe, J. [@JohnDoe]. (2023, May 10). Just finished building my first SaaS product and here’s what I learned [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johndoe_saas-product-lessons-activity-123456789/

In-text citation (parenthetical): (Doe, 2023)

In-text citation (narrative): Doe (2023) shares…

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LinkedIn profile or company page reference list template

Author, A. A. [Username]. (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn. URL

(Use n.d. if no publication date is available profiles are always “living” pages.)

LinkedIn profile or company page example

Millerssss, S. [@Brad Millerssss]. (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/Bradmillerssss/

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LinkedIn article or newsletter reference list template

Author, A. A. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Title of article: Subtitle if any [LinkedIn article]. LinkedIn. URL

LinkedIn article or newsletter example

Millerssss, S. [@BradMillerssss]. (2023, July 22). The secret to starting products nobody asks for [LinkedIn article]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/secret-starting-products-nobody-asks-Bradmillerssss/

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Step-by-step: How to cite LinkedIn APA (quick start)

Think of this like a recipe. Follow these five steps, and you’ll cook up a perfect APA LinkedIn citation every time.

1) Identify the author (person or organization)

Look at the name at the top of the post or page. That’s your author. If it’s a company page (e.g., Microsoft), the company is the author.

2) Capture the exact date (and time if shown)

APA wants the year, month, and day. No shortcuts. If LinkedIn shows the time, ignore it.

3) Create the title from the first 20 words of the post

Don’t overthink it. Just count words. Hashtags and emojis? Yep, they count.

4) Add a bracketed description of format/media

This is your little label: [LinkedIn post], [Video], [Document], etc.

5) Include the site name (LinkedIn) and the post’s permalink URL

Click the timestamp on the post. That gives you the permalink. Don’t just copy the profile homepage.

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APA 7 rules specific to LinkedIn content

Here’s where things get spicy.

Posts vs profiles vs articles what changes in the reference

• Posts: use first 20 words + [LinkedIn post].
• Profiles: use (n.d.) and a retrieval date.
• Articles: use full article title, no brackets.

Usernames, job titles, and corporate (group) authors

• Don’t include job titles or degrees. It’s not “Jane Doe, MBA.” Just “Doe, J.”
• If it’s Microsoft posting, cite Microsoft.

Emojis, hashtags, and @mentions in titles

Yes, APA wants them. If the first 20 words include “🚀” or “#hustle,” keep it. Don’t sanitize.

Images, videos, documents, carousels, and external links

Add the bracketed media type: [Image attached], [Video], [Document].

When to include a retrieval date (profiles and dynamic pages)

Only for stuff that changes (like profiles). Not for static posts.

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In-text citation examples for LinkedIn sources

This is where professors trip people up.

1) Parenthetical and narrative forms

• Parenthetical: (Millerssss, 2025)
• Narrative: Millerssss (2025) said AI is a multiplier.

2) No author or unknown author

If no clear person, use the group (e.g., LinkedIn News). If really unknown, use the first words of the title.

3) Unknown date (n.d.) and approximate dates

Profile pages = (n.d.). Add retrieval date in reference.

4) Corporate or group author examples

(Microsoft, 2024)

5) Multiple posts by the same author in the same year (a, b)

(Millerssss, 2025a), (Millerssss, 2025b)

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Edge cases and special situations

LinkedIn is messy. APA has guardrails.

Private or members-only content

Treat it like personal communication: not in reference list, just in-text: (J. Doe, personal communication, March 3, 2025).

Deleted or changed posts

If you’ve got an archived copy, cite that. If not, note it as “post no longer available.”

Shared/reposted content

Credit the original, not the resharing person.

Comments and replies

You can cite them, but mark them as [Comment on LinkedIn post].

Multiple contributors, teams, or editorial groups

List the group if they’re the credited author. Don’t list every intern.

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Formatting checklist (APA 7th)

Run through this like a pilot before takeoff.

1) Sentence case titles and italics rules

Titles of posts = sentence case, no italics.

2) Bracketed descriptions and punctuation

Brackets go right after the title, before the period.

3) Counting the first 20 words correctly

Yes, hyperlinks count. Emojis count. Don’t skip.

4) URLs, permalinks, and access dates

Always permalink. Access dates only for profiles.

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Common mistakes to avoid

Here are the screw-ups I see all the time:

Using the profile tagline as the title

Nope. “CEO @ OpenAI” is not the title.

Omitting [LinkedIn post] or [LinkedIn profile]

That little bracket matters.

Linking to a home/profile page instead of the specific post

Always click the timestamp.

Ignoring corporate authors

If it’s a company page post, don’t invent a human author.

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FAQ

Do I include the author’s job title or credentials?

No. Strip it. Just name, initials.

Do I capitalize hashtags or transcribe emojis?

Keep hashtags as-is. Emojis too.

Can I shorten long URLs?

Nope. Give the full permalink.

Is LinkedIn Learning cited the same way as LinkedIn posts?

No. LinkedIn Learning is like an online course cite it like a video or course material, not a post.

How do I cite a LinkedIn message or InMail?

Treat it like personal communication. Only in-text, no reference entry.