LinkedIn recently rolled out new analytics for LinkedIn profile pages, which really begs the question, “what took so long?”
Were they afraid their platform would be abandoned because people realized no one engaged with their posts?
Were they spending SO MUCH development time on their advertising platform that the profiles were an afterthought?
Considering it’s 2025 and platform analytics have been a thing for over a decade, it’s shocking that a platform as large and established as LinkedIn is just now layering in metrics that actually matter. What makes it even more baffling is that EVERY person who logs into LinkedIn has a personal profile.
The latest estimates are that there are over 1 BILLION users on the platform, each with a profile that only recently was given analytics that are actionable.
All rants aside, the new analytics are actually good. If you are active on LinkedIn, they provide incredible insight. If you are not, I highly recommend posting some content, interacting with your network and analyzing your analytics to see what kind of response you get. Here is a summary of the most important updates.
Related article: How to Become a Thought Leader on LinkedIn: 5 Actionable Tips
Profile Views and Follows
For the first time, you can now see exactly how an individual post contributes to your profile growth and lead generation:
- Profile Views from Post: This shows you the precise number of users who clicked from your post directly to view your personal profile. This is a massive signal of interest. Your content was compelling enough to make a casual reader stop and investigate who you are, what you do, and what services you offer. This is a direct measure of content-to-lead generation.
- Followers Gained from Post: You can now track the specific new followers who joined your audience as a result of seeing one piece of content. This allows you to scientifically determine which topics and content formats (videos, carousels, long-form thoughts) are best at converting simple viewers into dedicated audience members.
Link Engagement
If you utilize a LinkedIn Premium profile or the “Services” section, the platform now tracks clicks on your profile’s custom call-to-action button (e.g., “Visit Website,” “Book a Call,” “Subscribe”). This is the closest LinkedIn has ever come to a direct content ROI metric, clearly showing which posts drive bottom-funnel action.
Quality and Authority
LinkedIn is also surfacing data that indicates the quality and authority of your content, not just its popularity:
- Saves: This tracks how many people bookmarked your post to revisit later. A high number of saves means your content is perceived as a highly valuable, actionable, or reference-worthy resource (like a guide or checklist). This is a strong indicator of thought leadership.
- Sends: This metric reveals how many times your post was shared privately via direct message (DM). A “Send” means your content was so relevant or provocative that a user felt compelled to recommend it to a colleague or peer. This shows your content is fueling private, high-value conversations.
Related article: Why Work With a Social Media Agency?
For years, we’ve had to guess whether our LinkedIn activity was doing anything other than feeding the content machine. Now, these new analytics provide the data needed to treat LinkedIn as a true business development tool.
The assignment is simple: If you are an active user, go look at your analytics now and double down on the content that drives Profile Views and Saves. If you have been a ghost, it’s time to start posting. You can finally stop chasing the basic “like” and begin using the platform to generate actual curiosity, authority, and conversions. LinkedIn finally provided the shovel; now it’s time to start digging.
KWSM is ready to help. We’re a team of brand journalists who can tell your brand’s unique story through thought leadership, content strategy, and other digital marketing tactics, building strong connections with your customers so you can generate more leads. Contact us today or learn more about our digital marketing services.
