Why Can’t I Schedule Posts to the Past on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn scheduling capabilities make it easy to plan and queue content for automated future posting. However, while you can schedule up to 30 days out, why can’t you schedule posts to past dates on LinkedIn? There are key reasons LinkedIn restricts scheduling to future dates only.

Introduction to LinkedIn Post Scheduling

LinkedIn scheduling allows users to plan posts and schedule them to publish automatically later.

Benefits include:

• Saving time over manual posting
• Optimizing timing for audience engagement
• Maintaining consistent visibility

However, limitations exist compared to platforms like Facebook.

Overview of Scheduling Limitations

When scheduling your LinkedIn posts, keep these current restrictions in mind:

Can Only Schedule Up To 30 Days Out

LinkedIn caps scheduling at 30 days in the future maximum.

No Scheduling Posts in The Past

Unlike some platforms, you cannot backdate or schedule historical posts on LinkedIn.

Reasons You Can’t Schedule Past LinkedIn Posts

So why doesn’t LinkedIn allow scheduling content to past dates? There are a few key reasons:

Maintains Chronological Order

Posting to past dates would disrupt the chronological flow of feeds. LinkedIn displays posts in time order.

Avoids Confusion

Backdated posts could mislead viewers about when content was actually published.

Prevents Misuse

Scheduling old posts could artificially inflate engagement metrics if viewed as “new” again.

Alternatives to Reach Wider Audiences

If you want to recirculate older content, alternatives include:

Share Older Posts

Reposting directly to feeds drives renewed interest.

Use Paid Promotion Tools

Sponsored content can extend reach beyond your existing followers.

Leverage Groups

Share posts with relevant industry groups over time.

Connect to New Followers

Broaden your network to find new audiences for content.

Best Practices for LinkedIn Post Scheduling

When scheduling posts:

• Space out scheduled updates evenly over time.
• Mix up content formats like articles, images, and videos.
• Analyze performance data to refine your approach.
• Remain actively engaged daily on LinkedIn beyond scheduled posts.

The Future of LinkedIn Scheduling Features

LinkedIn may expand scheduling functionality in the future. Potential changes could include:

• Increasing the 30-day limit for longer-term planning.
• Allowing historic scheduling to re-promote evergreen content.
• Adding a social media calendar for visual organization.
• Advanced analytics around best timing and content.

For now, third-party tools help fill gaps in native LinkedIn scheduling capabilities.

Conclusion

While it lacks some flexibility other platforms offer, LinkedIn scheduling can still be utilized strategically to plan your content. Work within current limitations while finding creative ways to give older posts new life. Consistently posting value-driven content remains key to expanding your professional connections and reach.

FAQs

Can I schedule past dates on the LinkedIn mobile app?

 No, the LinkedIn mobile app also restricts scheduling to future dates up to 30 days maximum.

 If I’m an administrator, can I schedule past posts to a Company Page?

 No, even admins on Company Pages cannot schedule posts in the past – only future dates.

 What if I need to delete a scheduled post on LinkedIn?

 You can easily delete pending scheduled posts. Just access the scheduler and remove unwanted queued posts.

 Can third-party tools allow past post-scheduling on LinkedIn?

 Unfortunately, third-party tools are also limited by LinkedIn’s API restrictions, so they cannot schedule historical posts.

 Does Facebook have the same scheduling restrictions as LinkedIn?

 No, Facebook does allow scheduling past-dated content up to 6 months back and 5 years in the future.