How Historical & Genealogical Societies Can Thrive on LinkedIn in 2025

LinkedIn might feel like a platform built for resumes and recruiters but in 2025, it’s becoming a surprising ally for historical and genealogical societies.

Thanks to the latest insights from the Metricool LinkedIn Study, we now have data-backed proof that societies focused on heritage, preservation, and research can absolutely build thriving communities on LinkedIn.

Here’s how your society can grow, engage, and make history relevant - one post at a time.

💡 Share the Stories, Not Just the Stats

Too often, societies focus only on event promotions or membership updates. But LinkedIn users are hungry for narrative-driven, human-centered content.

Try this:

• Spotlight a historical figure from your archives each month.

• Share diary excerpts, old photos, or handwritten letters with quick reflections.

• Turn research highlights into bite-sized, engaging stories.

📊 Pro Tip: Posts with carousels (multi-slide stories) had the highest engagement rate at 45.85%!

🎬 Embrace the Power of Short Videos

Video views on LinkedIn rose by 52% in 2025, and impressions are up across the board.

Video ideas:

• Behind-the-scenes at your archive or library

• Volunteer interviews or “Why I Joined the Society” testimonials

• Timelapse of document digitization or event setup

Keep it under 2 minutes, focus on storytelling, and don’t worry about fancy equipment, authenticity wins.

🗳️ Start Conversations with Polls

Polls are LinkedIn’s most underused gem. They get 206% more reach than the average post!

Poll prompts:

• “Which local landmark deserves more historical attention?”

• “Would you attend a virtual genealogy workshop?”

• “What’s your favorite era of local history?”

Polls build connection and offer quick feedback for planning events and content.

🔗 Share Links Without Fear

Gone are the days when LinkedIn penalized link-sharing. In fact, posts with external links now see 13.57% more interactions.

What to link:

• Blog posts

• Digital archive collections

• Event signups

• Volunteer or grant opportunities

This is your chance to drive meaningful traffic back to your website and showcase your resources.

📈 Even Small Pages Are Growing Fast

Don’t worry if your society only has 200 LinkedIn followers. According to Metricool, small accounts (<1,000 followers) saw a 22% boost in impressions.

This is your sign to start or restart your society’s LinkedIn presence. Regular, thoughtful posts help you reach local historians, potential members, and funding partners.

🛠️ Strategy Snapshot for Societies

Here’s a simple monthly content structure based on Metricool’s top-performing formats:

Week	Content Idea	Format
Week 1	Archive Gem Spotlight	Carousel
Week 2	Local History Poll	Poll
Week 3	Behind-the-Scenes Clip	Video
Week 4	Event Recap or Blog Link	Text + Link

Aim for 3–4 posts a month to stay consistent without burnout.

🌱 LinkedIn Is About Legacy, Too

Yes, LinkedIn is professional but so is preserving the past. It’s about legacy, education, and storytelling. If your society wants to:

• Recruit new members

• Connect with educators, researchers, and libraries

• Showcase your impact for grants and sponsors

Then LinkedIn is a tool you can’t afford to overlook in 2025.

One More Thing…

When you post, don’t forget to:

• Tag your volunteers, board members, and community partners

• Use hashtags like #localhistory, #genealogy, #archives, #nonprofits

• Respond to comments to keep the conversation going

You’re not just posting. You’re creating a ripple of connection that stretches through time.