The 2024 layout change
In 2024, LinkedIn switched organic posts to a smaller thumbnail layout for link previews. Previously, shared links got a full-width image. Now, organic posts show a compact thumbnail next to the text.
This is a platform design change, not a bug in your tags.
Organic vs. sponsored
- Organic posts (regular shares): small thumbnail
- Sponsored content (paid/promoted): still gets the full-width image
If organic posts show a small image but your ads show a large one, that’s working as designed.
Images under 200px wide
Separate from the layout change: images under 200px wide display as an even tinier thumbnail or disappear entirely. This has always been the case. If your thumbnail looks unusually small, check the og:image dimensions.
Optimizing for the thumbnail
You can’t force the large format on organic posts, but you can make the thumbnail look good:
- Still use 1200x627 images. LinkedIn may revert or adjust the layout, and these dimensions give the best quality at any size.
- Keep important content centered, since the thumbnail center-crops.
- Use high contrast and bold text. Small display size means fine details get lost.
- Check the Post Inspector to make sure the thumbnail looks right before sharing.
Not a bug
If the Post Inspector shows everything correctly but your organic post still has a small image, the preview is behaving as intended.