Linkedin | Step-by-Step Tutorial Post | AI Writing Assistant

⚡ Quick Start: The Most Important Fields

Even if you’re short on time, focusing on these core fields will dramatically improve your tutorial quality.

What Are You Teaching?

This field defines your entire tutorial scope. Vague topics create confusing tutorials; specific goals create actionable content.

Why this works: Clear scope prevents you from trying to teach too much at once, which overwhelms readers and dilutes your message.

❌ “How to use SQL for data analysis”
✅ “How to write SQL queries that perform well in production environments”

The specific version gives readers a clear outcome and helps you stay focused.

List Your Steps (One Per Line)

This is where expert blind spots show up most. You’ll naturally skip steps that feel obvious to you but aren’t obvious to beginners.

Why this works: Breaking your intuitive process into explicit steps forces you to think like a beginner again, which dramatically improves tutorial clarity.

💡 Pro Tip: Write your steps list, then pretend you’re explaining to someone who’s never done this before. What did you assume they already knew? Add those missing steps.

Who Is This Tutorial For?

Knowing your audience determines everything–language complexity, prerequisite knowledge, detail level, examples used.

Why this works: A tutorial for absolute beginners needs different language and examples than one for intermediate practitioners. Getting this wrong makes tutorials either too basic or too confusing.

🎯 Strategy & Best Practices: Step-by-Step Tutorials

🎯 Key Takeaway: Effective tutorials combat expert blind spots by making implicit knowledge explicit, provide troubleshooting for predictable problems, and balance thoroughness with readability through clear sequencing.

Great LinkedIn tutorials do three things simultaneously: teach a valuable skill, demonstrate your expertise generously, and position you as someone who makes complex things understandable.

Start with the End in Mind

Why this matters: When readers know exactly what they’ll accomplish, they’re more likely to follow through and less likely to get lost in the middle steps.

Before diving into Step 1, show them the finished result. “You’ll have a SQL query that runs 10x faster” is more motivating than “You’ll understand query optimization.”

🎯 Key Takeaway: Frame every tutorial around a concrete, measurable outcome. Readers want to achieve something specific, not just “learn about” a topic.

Overcome Expert Blind Spots

Why this matters: The biggest tutorial killer is assuming knowledge readers don’t have. You’ve been doing this so long, you forget what was confusing when you learned it.

Three techniques that help:

1. The Five-Year-Old Test: Could you explain this to someone with zero background? If not, you’re assuming too much.
2. The Fresh Eyes Review: Show your steps to someone unfamiliar with the topic. Where do they get confused?
3. The Assumption Audit: List everything you’re assuming readers know. Then decide what needs explanation.

⚠ Common Mistake: Don’t skip “obvious” setup steps. What’s obvious to you (like “open the database connection”) might be a complete blocker for beginners.

Provide Troubleshooting

Why this matters: When things go wrong (and they will), readers without troubleshooting guidance just give up. Anticipating problems builds confidence.

For each step where failure is common, tell them:

• How they’ll know something went wrong
• What probably caused it
• How to fix it
• When to try a different approach

Balance Detail with Readability

Why this matters: Too much detail overwhelms; too little leaves gaps. The right balance depends on your audience’s skill level and the topic’s complexity.

Use the “ladder” approach: Start with the essential steps (everyone needs these), then add optional depth for readers who want to go further. This lets beginners succeed quickly while giving advanced readers the depth they crave.

💡 Pro Tip: If a step requires 5+ sentences to explain, consider breaking it into sub-steps. Long explanations signal you’re trying to teach too much at once.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

⚠ Common Mistake: Starting with background instead of the problem. Readers came to learn a skill, not read a history lesson. Get to the actionable steps quickly.

⚠ Common Mistake: Using jargon without explanation. Terms like “index optimization” or “execution plan” mean nothing to beginners. Either explain them or use simpler language.

⚠ Common Mistake: Skipping prerequisites. If readers need specific tools, accounts, or baseline knowledge, tell them upfront–not halfway through Step 3 when they’re stuck.

⚠ Common Mistake: Making steps too big. “Optimize your database” isn’t a step–it’s a project. Break it into specific, atomic actions: “Add an index to the user_id column.”

⚠ Common Mistake: Forgetting to explain why. Steps without reasoning feel arbitrary. “Do this because it improves performance by 10x” is more compelling than just “Do this.”

⚠ Common Mistake: Writing for yourself, not your audience. Advanced practitioners need different language and examples than absolute beginners. Check your tone matches your target skill level.

💼 LinkedIn Best Practices & Tips

💡 Pro Tip: Post tutorials during weekday mornings (Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 AM) when professionals are starting their workday and most receptive to learning content.

Keep it scannable with formatting

LinkedIn tutorials work best with clear visual breaks. Use:

• Numbered steps (Step 1, Step 2) for sequence
• Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
• Line breaks between steps
• Bold text for key actions or concepts

Why this works: Users scroll LinkedIn quickly. Dense text blocks get skipped; well-formatted tutorials get saved and shared.

Lead with the outcome in your post introduction

Don’t bury the value. Your first sentence should tell readers exactly what they’ll be able to do after following your tutorial.

❌ “Today I want to share some SQL tips I’ve learned”
✅ “Learn how to write SQL queries that run 10x faster in production”

End with a question or call-to-action

Tutorials naturally drive engagement because they provide value. Amplify this by ending with:

• “What’s your go-to technique for [related topic]?”
• “Have you tried this approach? What results did you see?”
• “What other [topic] tutorials would be helpful?”

🎯 Key Takeaway: Engagement signals (comments, saves, shares) tell LinkedIn to show your tutorial to more people. A question or discussion prompt dramatically increases these signals.

Position yourself appropriately

You don’t need to be the world’s leading expert to teach. Frame your experience honestly:

• “Here’s what I learned after 5 years of [doing this]”
• “This approach saved me hours–here’s how it works”
• “I used to struggle with [X] until I figured out [Y]”

Why this works: Authentic positioning is more relatable than claiming expertise you don’t have. People want to learn from someone who’s recently solved the problem they’re facing.

📋 Field-by-Field Guide

What Are You Teaching?

Be ruthlessly specific. Define the exact skill or process readers will master, with a concrete end goal.

Think outcome, not topic. “How to optimize SQL queries for production” is better than “SQL query optimization” because it tells readers exactly what they’ll achieve.

Character minimum: 30 characters to prevent overly vague entries

Who Is This Tutorial For?

Identify your target audience’s role, experience level, or context in 5-10 words.

Examples: “Junior data analysts,” “Marketing ops specialists new to HubSpot,” “Product managers learning SQL”

This calibrates the entire tutorial’s complexity and language.

What Do They Need Before Starting?

List required tools, access, baseline knowledge, or setup needed before Step 1.

Be explicit about prerequisites to prevent frustration. If they need “a SQL database with sample data” or “HubSpot Professional account or higher,” say so upfront.

Pro tip: If prerequisites are extensive, that’s a signal your tutorial scope might be too advanced for beginners. Consider simplifying or creating a prerequisites tutorial first.

List Your Steps (One Per Line)

Break your process into sequential, distinct actions. Each step should represent one clear thing to do.

Use this format:

Step 1: [specific action]
Step 2: [specific action]
Step 3: [specific action]

Start each step with an action verb. “Add an index to user_id column” not “Indexing.”

Why this format works: Simple numbering keeps you focused on sequence. Complex hierarchies (Step 1a, 1b) signal you’re trying to teach too much at once.

What’s The Final Result?

Describe the concrete outcome after completing all steps. Be specific and measurable.

❌ “You’ll understand SQL optimization”
✅ “You’ll have a SQL query that runs 10x faster and returns results in under 2 seconds”

Specific outcomes motivate readers to complete the tutorial.

Target Skill Level (Intermediate Mode)

Choose from: Absolute Beginner, Beginner-Friendly, Intermediate, or Advanced.

This controls language complexity, terminology usage, and how much foundational explanation to include.

Beginner-Friendly (default) works for most LinkedIn tutorials–assumes basic familiarity but explains technical terms.

Step Detail Level (Intermediate Mode)

Select: Brief Overview, Moderate Detail, or Comprehensive Detail.

This controls how much explanation each step gets:

• Brief: High-level overview, assumes readers can fill in details
• Moderate: Explains key actions with some context (recommended for most tutorials)
• Comprehensive: Thorough walkthrough with extensive explanation

Common Mistakes to Address (Intermediate Mode)

List confusions, errors, or pitfalls learners typically encounter when following this process.

This helps overcome expert blind spots. Think about:

• What did you get wrong when you first learned this?
• What mistakes do you see junior team members make?
• Where do people typically get stuck?

Example: “Beginners often forget to add indexes before the WHERE clause, causing slow queries. Also common: using SELECT * instead of specific columns, which loads unnecessary data.”

Why These Steps Matter (Intermediate Mode)

Explain the reasoning or principles behind your approach. This adds educational depth beyond just following procedures.

Help readers understand the “why” behind each step, not just the “how.” This builds genuine understanding rather than rote copying.

Example: “This sequence matters because query optimization follows the database execution order. Starting with indexes improves the foundation before adding complexity.”

Troubleshooting Tips (Intermediate Mode)

Provide guidance on what to do when something doesn’t work as expected.

For each common problem, include:

1. How they’ll know something went wrong
2. What likely caused it
3. How to fix it

Example: “If query still runs slowly: 1) Check if index is being used (EXPLAIN command), 2) Verify table statistics are up to date, 3) Consider if data volume exceeds what indexing can handle”

Your Teaching Experience (Advanced Mode)

Select your level of experience teaching this specific topic:

• First time teaching this – You know the topic but haven’t taught it before
• Taught informally – Helped colleagues or team members one-on-one
• Taught in workshops – Led formal training sessions or workshops
• Extensive teaching experience – Regular instructor, course creator, or educator

This helps position your tutorial appropriately. You don’t need extensive teaching experience to create valuable content–authentic expertise matters more.

Default: Taught informally (reflects most professionals who’ve helped others even without formal teaching)

Technical Assumptions to Clarify (Advanced Mode)

Identify background knowledge, terminology, or concepts you initially assumed readers would know but should actually explain.

This is a powerful tool for overcoming expert blind spots. Think about:

• What jargon are you using without defining?
• What concepts feel “basic” to you but might not be to readers?
• What setup or context are you assuming?

Example: “I initially assumed people would know what a ‘database index’ is and why it matters for performance. I should explain this briefly before discussing index optimization.”

Visual or Interactive Elements (Advanced Mode)

Describe visual components you would normally show when teaching this in person–screenshots, diagrams, live demos, or hands-on practice.

Since LinkedIn is primarily text-based, the AI will help translate these visual concepts into clear text descriptions.

Example: “I’d normally show a side-by-side comparison of execution plans before and after optimization. Also would demonstrate live in a database tool, showing exactly where to click and what results to expect.”

Alternative Approaches (Advanced Mode)

Mention other valid methods or approaches to accomplish the same goal, and when your method might not be the best choice.

This demonstrates nuanced expertise and intellectual honesty, building credibility with readers.

Example: “Alternative: Some DBAs prefer using database-specific optimization tools rather than manual index creation. This approach works better when you’re working with small datasets (< 1M rows) where optimization matters less.”

Tutorial Length Preference (Advanced Mode)

Choose your preferred tutorial scope:

• Concise (focus on essentials) – Streamlined tutorial covering core steps; ~800-1000 words
• Balanced (moderate detail) – Good depth without overwhelming; ~1200-1500 words
• Comprehensive (thorough coverage) – In-depth tutorial with full context; ~1800-2200 words

Default: Balanced works for most LinkedIn posts–stays under the platform’s engagement sweet spot while providing real value.

Consider your audience’s attention span and topic complexity when choosing.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my tutorial be for LinkedIn?

Aim for 1200-1500 words (Balanced mode). This provides real value without overwhelming readers. LinkedIn’s algorithm favors posts that keep people engaged for 30-60 seconds–long enough to feel valuable, short enough to finish.

If your topic requires more depth, consider creating a series: “Part 1: Setup” and “Part 2: Advanced techniques.”

What if I’m not an expert–can I still create tutorials?

Absolutely. You don’t need to be the world’s leading authority. If you’re 2-3 steps ahead of your target audience, you can teach effectively.

In fact, recent learners often make better teachers because they remember what was confusing and can anticipate beginner struggles. Just be honest about your experience level.

How do I know if my steps are too detailed or not detailed enough?

Use the “minimum viable understanding” test: For each step, ask “Could someone with my target skill level complete this action based on what I’ve written?”

If yes, it’s detailed enough. If you’re explaining sub-concepts or multiple techniques within one step, it’s probably too detailed–break it into separate steps.

💡 Pro Tip: Read your steps out loud to someone unfamiliar with the topic. Where do they ask clarifying questions? Those spots need more detail.

Should I include screenshots or can this be text-only?

LinkedIn tutorials can absolutely work as text-only, especially if you:

• Describe visual elements clearly in words
• Use numbered steps to create clear sequence
• Format with line breaks for scannability

If you have valuable screenshots, include them–but make sure your text stands alone. Many readers scroll past images and just read the text.

How do I handle prerequisites without making the tutorial too long?

Put prerequisites in a clearly labeled section at the top, before Step 1. Keep it brief–just list what’s needed with minimal explanation.

If prerequisites require significant explanation, consider linking to another resource or creating a separate prerequisites tutorial: “See my previous post on setting up your SQL environment.”

What’s the best way to end a tutorial post?

Use a three-part closing:

1. Summarize the outcome: “Now you have a SQL query that runs 10x faster”
2. Invite engagement: “What optimization techniques have worked for you?”
3. Optional next step: “Want to go deeper? I’ll share advanced techniques next week”

This creates closure, drives comments, and can tease future content.

How technical should my language be?

Match your target audience’s skill level. For “Beginner-Friendly” (the default), explain technical terms when you first use them:

❌ “Add an index to improve query performance”
✅ “Add an index (a database structure that speeds up data retrieval) to improve query performance”

After the first explanation, you can use the term freely.

Should I address mistakes readers might make?

Yes–addressing common mistakes is one of the most valuable parts of a tutorial. It shows you’ve actually done this and care about readers succeeding.

Frame mistakes constructively: “A common mistake is X, which causes Y problem. Instead, do Z.”

🎯 Ready to create your step-by-step tutorial?

You’ve seen how to structure tutorials that actually teach, overcome expert blind spots, and position you as a generous expert. Now it’s time to share your knowledge.

Whether you choose Get It Done (quick essentials), Make It Shine (balanced guidance), or Perfect It (comprehensive building), the form will guide you through creating a tutorial that readers can actually follow and successfully implement.

Your expertise is valuable–make it accessible. Start your tutorial below.