Write once, then fit the post to each channel
The same words rarely work everywhere. Know the limits first, then adjust the few things that matter.
Know the limits before you write
Each channel cuts text off at a different point. Writing for the strictest one first makes the rest easy.
- X: 280 characters, and a link counts towards the limit.
- Threads: 500 characters.
- Instagram and TikTok captions: 2,200 characters.
- LinkedIn: 3,000 characters.
- Facebook: far longer than you will ever need.
Start with the shortest version
Write the one-sentence version of your post first. If it works at 280 characters, it will work everywhere, and you can add detail for the channels that allow it. Going the other way, cutting a long post down, usually loses the point.
Adjust the few things that differ
You do not need six different posts. Change only what each channel treats differently.
- Instagram and TikTok need a photo or a video. A text-only post cannot go there.
- LinkedIn readers tolerate a longer, more thoughtful opening.
- X and Threads reward a clear first line and a single idea.
- Links work best where the platform shows them as a card, and are weaker on Instagram, where they are not clickable in captions.
Preview before you publish
Look at each version as it will appear before you send it. A tool that shows one preview per channel, and warns when a post is over a limit or missing media, saves you from the common mistakes. After publishing, check that every channel shows its own result, so a failure on one does not hide behind a success on another.