How to Tag Someone on LinkedIn: Complete Guide 2026

To tag someone on LinkedIn, type the @ symbol followed by their name. A dropdown list will appear with matching profiles. Select the correct person, and they'll receive a notification when you publish your post or comment.

This guide covers everything about LinkedIn tagging—the step-by-step process, best practices for engagement, and common issues you might encounter.

Key Takeaways

• Use @ symbol: Type @ followed by the person's name to tag them
• Works in posts and comments: You can tag in both new posts and comment replies
• Tagged people get notified: They receive both email and app notifications
• Limit tags for best results: Tag fewer than 5 people per post for optimal engagement
• Connection matters: 1st-degree connections appear faster in suggestions

How to Tag Someone in a LinkedIn Post

Tagging someone in a LinkedIn post is straightforward. According to LinkedIn's official help documentation, here's how to do it.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Start a new post: From your LinkedIn homepage, click "Start a post"
2. Type the @ symbol: Position your cursor where you want the tag
3. Enter their name: Type the first few letters of their name after @
4. Select from dropdown: Choose the correct person from the suggestions
5. Complete your post: The name will appear in bold, indicating a successful tag
6. Publish: Click "Post" to share

Example

Excited to share this project with @John Smith!
Looking forward to collaborating further.

When published, "John Smith" becomes a clickable link to their profile, and John receives a notification.

How to Tag Someone in a LinkedIn Comment

The process for tagging in comments is identical to posts.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Find the post: Navigate to the post you want to comment on
2. Click "Add a comment": Located at the bottom of the post
3. Type @: Enter the @ symbol where you want to tag
4. Enter the name: Type the person's name
5. Select from list: Choose from the dropdown suggestions
6. Post comment: Click the "Post" button

When to Tag in Comments

Tagging in comments is useful for:

• Bringing someone's attention to a relevant discussion
• Crediting someone mentioned in the post
• Continuing a conversation with a specific person
• Introducing someone to a thread they'd find valuable

How to Tag a Company on LinkedIn

You can also tag companies and organizations using the same @ method.

Company Tagging Steps

1. Type @ in your post or comment
2. Start typing the company name
3. Look for company profiles (shown with company icons)
4. Select the correct company page

According to LinkedIn's mention feature, the company's page administrators receive a notification when you tag their organization.

Why LinkedIn Tags Don't Always Work

Sometimes tagging fails or the tag disappears after publishing. Here's why.

Privacy Settings Block Tags

According to LinkedIn's privacy settings, members can choose whether others can mention or tag them. If someone has disabled this setting:

• Their name won't appear in tag suggestions
• The tag may disappear when you publish
• No notification is sent to them

Common Name Issues

People with very common names may not appear in suggestions because:

• LinkedIn limits dropdown results
• Hundreds of "John Smith" profiles exist
• Algorithm prioritizes closer connections

Solution: Type more of their name or scroll through the suggestions carefully.

Not a Direct Connection

While you can tag anyone on LinkedIn, suggestions prioritize:

1. 1st-degree connections (appear first)
2. 2nd-degree connections
3. Group members
4. Others based on relevance

If you're not connected, you may need to:

• Type their full name exactly
• Wait a few seconds for suggestions to load
• Search for their profile first, then copy their exact name

Best Practices for LinkedIn Tagging

Follow these guidelines to use tags effectively without appearing spammy.

Limit the Number of Tags

According to LinkedIn engagement research, best practice is to tag fewer than 5 people per post. More tags can:

• Appear spammy
• Reduce engagement rates
• Annoy tagged individuals
• Trigger LinkedIn's spam detection

Only Tag Relevant People

Every tag should make sense in context:

Good Reasons to Tag	Poor Reasons to Tag
Crediting their work	Hoping they'll share your post
They're mentioned in content	Just to get their attention
They'd find value in discussion	To reach their audience
Continuing a conversation	Random engagement bait

Get Permission for Frequent Tags

If you plan to tag someone regularly:

• Ask their permission first
• Explain the context
• Respect their preferences
• Don't over-tag even with permission

Use Descriptive Context

Don't just tag—explain why:

Bad: "Check this out @Jane Doe"

Good: "This reminds me of the strategy @Jane Doe shared at last month's conference about content distribution."

Tagging for Engagement and Authority Building

When used strategically, tagging supports your LinkedIn authority building efforts.

Strategic Tagging for Inbound Leads

For professionals focused on inbound lead generation, thoughtful tagging:

• Acknowledges thought leaders in your space
• Builds relationships with potential referral partners
• Adds value to discussions where prospects are reading
• Demonstrates industry connections and credibility

When Tagging Adds Value

Tag people when you're:

• Sharing their content with added commentary
• Referencing something they said or wrote
• Introducing them to someone who should connect
• Thanking them publicly for help or insights
• Collaborating on shared content

When Tagging Hurts Your Brand

Avoid tagging when:

• You're only trying to get views from their network
• The tag feels forced or promotional
• You're tagging influencers hoping they'll notice you
• The tagged person isn't relevant to the content

How to Edit Tags After Posting

You can add or remove tags after publishing.

Adding a Tag to an Existing Post

1. Click the three dots (...) on your post
2. Select "Edit post"
3. Add the @ mention where needed
4. Save changes

Removing a Tag

1. Edit the post
2. Delete the tagged name (like regular text)
3. Save changes

The previously tagged person won't receive a notification about the removal.

Tagging vs. Mentioning: Are They Different?

On LinkedIn, tagging and mentioning are the same thing. Both refer to using the @ symbol to create a clickable reference to another profile. Some platforms distinguish between these terms, but LinkedIn treats them identically.

Both actions:

• Use the @ symbol
• Create a clickable profile link
• Send notifications to the tagged/mentioned person
• Work in posts and comments

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I tag someone on LinkedIn who isn't connected to me?

Type @ followed by their full name as it appears on LinkedIn. Non-connections may take a few seconds to appear in suggestions. If they don't appear, they may have disabled mentions in their privacy settings.

Why did my LinkedIn tag disappear after posting?

The tagged person likely has their privacy settings configured to prevent mentions. When someone disables the "Allow others to mention or tag you" setting, any tags of them are automatically removed when the post is published.

Can I tag someone in a LinkedIn article?

Yes, you can tag people in LinkedIn articles using the same @ method. Tags work in the article body, and tagged individuals receive notifications. However, tags may not be as visible as they are in regular posts.

How many people can I tag in one LinkedIn post?

While LinkedIn doesn't publish an official limit, best practice is to tag fewer than 5 people per post. Excessive tagging appears spammy and can reduce engagement. Tag only people who are genuinely relevant to your content.

Do tagged people see my post even if we're not connected?

Yes. When you tag someone, your post appears in their notifications regardless of connection status. However, if they've disabled mentions in their settings, they won't receive the notification and the tag won't appear in your published post.

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