Communications Toolkit

LinkedIn Best Practices

LinkedIn provides a professional space to connect with UC ANR staff and partners. We use the platform to share stories that showcase UC ANR achievements, highlight the impact of our staff, and feature our research and initiatives.

If your department or group wants its own presence on LinkedIn, a Showcase Page (a sub-page of the main UC ANR page) is an option. However, we generally encourage departments to explore LinkedIn Groups instead, as they offer richer engagement opportunities.

A LinkedIn Group can serve as a central hub for sharing knowledge, updates, and resources within your community. When well-moderated, groups are often more active than main pages and can provide greater value through ongoing conversation and collaboration.”

Assign at least two team members as backup account admins.

Register your new account here. 

Do not create a dummy account

Avoid allowing staff to create fake or placeholder LinkedIn profiles to manage your organization’s Page—even if they prefer to keep their personal profiles separate from business activities. Shared or fake profiles may result in the account being flagged or closed, potentially causing you to lose access to your business assets.

Optimize Your Page Profile

Profile Image: Use a clear, professional logo for brand recognition.

Cover Photo: Highlight your mission, programs, or impact visually.

Bio: Concisely describe your organization’s purpose and value.

About Section: Write a clear, engaging overview:

  • What UC ANR does

  • Who you serve (farmers, communities, researchers)

  • Unique contributions or impact

  • Include relevant keywords to improve search visibility

  • Custom URL: Secure a clean, shareable page URL for easier SEO.

Content Strategy

Types of Content:

Educational: Science-based tips, research insights, practical guidance for communities

Impact Stories: Successes of staff, partners, and community programs

News & Updates: Announcements, events, milestones

Visual Media: Infographics, photos, and videos—these drive higher engagement

Posting Frequency: 2–5 times per week to maintain visibility without overwhelming followers

Hashtags: Use 3–5 relevant hashtags per post to increase discoverability

Employee & Partner Engagement

Encourage staff to link their profiles to UC ANR and share content

Tag staff, collaborators, or partners in posts to increase reach

Highlight team achievements and program milestones to showcase expertise

Community Building

Respond promptly to comments and messages

Engage with related organizations and partners in comments or by sharing their content

Join relevant LinkedIn groups to position UC ANR as a trusted resource (without overtly promoting services)

Showcase Pages

Use Showcase Pages for specific programs, initiatives, or projects

Allows targeted content for different audiences without cluttering the main page

Analytics & Continuous Improvement

Track LinkedIn analytics:

  • Follower demographics

  • Engagement rates

  • Top-performing posts

  • Adjust posting times, content types, and messaging based on data insights

Professionalism & Branding

Keep a consistent, professional tone aligned with UC ANR’s mission

Ensure visuals and messaging are accessible and inclusive

Avoid overly personal content unless it highlights program or community impact

Make Content Accessible

Add alt text to images, use captions for videos, and avoid excessive text in graphics. Accessibility ensures your content can reach the widest possible audience.