LinkedIn Smart Links: How to Create & Track Content 2026

You send a prospect your pitch deck and hear nothing back. Did they even open it? Did they read page 2 or skip to pricing? LinkedIn Smart Links answer these questions by tracking who views your content, which pages they focus on, and how long they engage.

Key Takeaways

• Smart Links are trackable URLs for PDFs, presentations, and documents shared through Sales Navigator
• Real-time analytics show viewer identity, time spent per page, and total engagement
• No login required for viewers—they access content directly via the link
• Sales Navigator required—Smart Links are exclusive to paid Sales Navigator subscriptions

What Are LinkedIn Smart Links?

LinkedIn Smart Links are trackable content links available exclusively in LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Unlike regular file attachments or cloud storage links, Smart Links capture detailed engagement data.

According to LinkedIn's Sales Navigator documentation, Smart Links reveal:

Metric	What You Learn
Viewer identity	Name, title, company of anyone who clicks
Open timestamp	Exact date and time of each view
Time per page	How long they spent on each slide/page
Total duration	Complete engagement time
Return visits	Whether they came back for another look

This intelligence transforms follow-up from "just checking in" to "I noticed you spent 3 minutes on the pricing page—any questions?"

How Smart Links Work

The Viewer Experience

1. Recipient clicks your Smart Link
2. Content opens in browser—no download or LinkedIn login required
3. They view at their own pace
4. All engagement data syncs to your Sales Navigator

What You See as the Sender

Your Smart Links dashboard shows:

• Views by person with LinkedIn profile data
• Engagement timeline showing when and how long
• Page-level analytics for multi-page documents
• Share tracking if the link gets forwarded

How to Create a LinkedIn Smart Link

Step 1: Access Smart Links in Sales Navigator

1. Log into LinkedIn Sales Navigator
2. Click "Smart Links" in the left sidebar
3. Select "Create Smart Link"

Step 2: Upload Your Content

Supported formats:

• PDFs (presentations, proposals, case studies)
• PowerPoint files
• Word documents
• Images (PNG, JPG)

File size limit: 100MB per Smart Link

Step 3: Configure Link Settings

Setting	Options
Link name	Internal reference (only you see this)
Privacy	Anyone with link vs. require email verification
Expiration	Set date when link stops working
Download	Allow or prevent file download

Step 4: Share Your Smart Link

Copy the generated URL and share via:

• LinkedIn InMail or messages
• Email outreach
• Calendar invites
• CRM sequences

What Most Guides Get Wrong About Smart Links

Myth 1: "Smart Links are just for sales decks"

Wrong. Top performers use Smart Links for:

• Case studies proving ROI
• Product comparison guides
• Whitepapers that demonstrate expertise
• Proposal documents with pricing
• Onboarding materials post-sale

Myth 2: "Viewers know they're being tracked"

Partially true. The Smart Link page shows a LinkedIn badge, but viewers don't receive explicit tracking notifications. According to LinkedIn's privacy disclosures, users consent to analytics when they access content through the platform.

Myth 3: "High view time always means interest"

Not necessarily. Someone might leave the tab open while doing other things. Look for patterns: multiple pages viewed, return visits, and engagement with specific sections (like pricing) are stronger signals than raw duration.

Strategic Uses for Smart Links

For Prospecting

Before reaching out to a cold prospect, send valuable content via Smart Link:

1. Create a relevant industry report or guide
2. Share via InMail with personalized context
3. Monitor who opens and engages
4. Prioritize follow-up based on engagement data

This approach qualifies interest before you spend time on calls.

For Deal Acceleration

When a deal stalls, Smart Links reveal what's happening:

Engagement Pattern	What It Means	Your Move
No views	They're not prioritizing this	Re-send with urgency
Viewed pricing only	Budget concerns	Address ROI proactively
Multiple viewers	Committee decision	Request group meeting
Forwarded internally	Champion selling for you	Provide support materials
Return visits	Close to decision	Ask for commitment

For Account-Based Marketing

Create personalized Smart Links for target accounts:

1. Build custom content mentioning their company/industry
2. Track which stakeholders engage
3. Map the buying committee based on views
4. Tailor outreach to each stakeholder's interests

Smart Links vs. Regular Document Sharing

Feature	Smart Links	Email Attachments	Google Drive/Dropbox
Viewer identity	Yes	No	Limited
Page-level tracking	Yes	No	No
No download required	Yes	No	Yes
LinkedIn integration	Full	None	None
Expiration control	Yes	No	Yes
Cost	Sales Navigator required	Free	Free

Limitations to Know

• Sales Navigator required—no free tier access
• LinkedIn members only for identity tracking (non-members show as anonymous)
• No offline access—viewers need internet connection
• Single document per link—can't bundle multiple files

Why Smart Links Work Better with Inbound Authority

Sending Smart Links to cold prospects gets low engagement. They don't know you, don't trust you, and delete your message.

The ConnectSafely approach builds authority first: create valuable content, engage authentically, and become recognized as an expert. When prospects already know your name from their feed, they open your Smart Links.

According to LinkedIn's B2B marketing report, content from recognized thought leaders sees 3x higher engagement than content from unknown senders.

The inbound Smart Links workflow:

1. Post valuable insights consistently
2. Engage with prospects' content
3. Build recognition before pitching
4. Send Smart Links to warm connections
5. Track engagement and follow up intelligently

This creates a context where Smart Links get opened—and where the engagement data actually means something.

Getting Started with Smart Links

1. Ensure you have Sales Navigator (Advanced or Advanced Plus for full features)
2. Create your first Smart Link with a case study or valuable guide
3. Share with warm prospects who recognize your name
4. Monitor analytics and adjust follow-up timing
5. Build the authority that makes people want to open your links

Start your ConnectSafely free trial to build the LinkedIn presence that makes Smart Links effective.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are LinkedIn Smart Links free?

No, Smart Links require a LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscription. Core, Advanced, and Advanced Plus plans all include Smart Links access. There's no free tier or trial-only access to this feature.

Can you create Smart Links without Sales Navigator?

No, Smart Links are exclusive to Sales Navigator. Alternatives for tracking document engagement include DocSend, Bit.ai, and PandaDoc—but these don't integrate with LinkedIn profile data.

Do recipients know they're being tracked with Smart Links?

Viewers see LinkedIn branding on the Smart Link page, indicating the content is shared through LinkedIn's platform. There's no explicit "you are being tracked" warning, but LinkedIn's terms of service cover analytics data collection.

What file types work with LinkedIn Smart Links?

Smart Links support PDFs, PowerPoint presentations (.pptx), Word documents (.docx), and images (PNG, JPG, GIF). Maximum file size is 100MB. Video files are not supported—use LinkedIn's native video features instead.

How long do Smart Links stay active?

Smart Links remain active indefinitely unless you set an expiration date or manually disable them. You can configure expiration when creating the link, and you can revoke access at any time from your Smart Links dashboard.

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Ready to create content worth tracking? Start your free trial and build the LinkedIn authority that gets your Smart Links opened.