LinkedIn Expands Analytics with Saves & Sends Metrics
LinkedIn has upgraded its analytics with two new metrics for creators: Saves and Sends. These are rolling out for individual posts and in the main analytics section under Engagements:
Saves: How many times posts were bookmarked
Sends on LinkedIn: How often posts were shared via LinkedIn direct message
The platform has been strategically paving the way for these metrics through recent updates. For example, the Save button is now more prominent on video content, and the experience of sharing posts via DMs has been improved.
Why Creators Should Care
These metrics give creators a more complete picture of the impact of their content. Likes and comments are important, but they don’t always tell the full story. Saves and Sends capture deeper engagement, showing which posts audiences truly value and use.
Saves signal long-term value. High save counts indicate content with utility, depth, and staying power—such as tutorials people want to reference later, in-depth analyses that require more time, or resources worth keeping handy.
Sends go even further. Sharing a post is an active recommendation, often putting a user’s reputation on the line. High send counts signal trust, authority, and a distribution path that bypasses the public feed.
Personally, as someone active on LinkedIn, my posts don’t always generate massive visible engagement. Yet people often share the impact of my content at events, during calls, or via inbound messages, even from those who don’t engage through likes or comments. These metrics help me understand this quieter engagement at scale.
Opportunities for Creators
Creators can use these metrics to identify patterns and refine their strategy. Some questions to consider:
Which formats (video, carousel, text, newsletter) or content types (personal stories, industry analysis, tactical how-tos) drive the most Saves versus Sends?
Do longer, in-depth posts get more Saves, while shorter, punchy insights get more Sends?
Are Saves and Sends correlated with impressions and engagements, or independent of public metrics?
Which posts achieve both high Saves and high Sends—the sweet spot for content with staying power and spreadability?
These insights allow creators to double down on content that lasts (Saves), spreads (Sends), or achieves the rare combination of both. They can also use this data when pitching to brands or reporting on partnerships, helping them close more deals and demonstrate the full ROI of the content they create.
The Rise of Quiet Consumption
Dedicated metrics for Saves and Sends highlight a growing trend of private, or “quiet,” consumption. Some users prefer not to engage publicly, whether because content is sensitive, controversial, or better suited for private sharing.
This isn’t unique to LinkedIn. Instagram has said that content shared via DMs is a strong algorithm signal, with Adam Mosseri even encouraging creators to focus on Sends per Reach to measure how much their content is resonating with people.
Part of LinkedIn's Broader Analytics Evolution
Saves and Sends are part of a broader evolution of LinkedIn analytics, which have recently seen additions like:
Insights for when posts drive profile visits and follower growth
Member Post Analytics API for third-party social media management apps
Together, these updates give creators and marketers a more complete toolkit to measure both public and private engagement.
The result is more informed content strategy, better demonstration of impact, and deeper insights into how audiences really interact. While there’s more work to be done, this is a meaningful step forward for a platform where creators and marketers increasingly invest their time.
Want to level up your LinkedIn game? Check out Stanley, an AI Content Coach that studies your best posts, curates top-performing content from creators in your niche, and gives you insights to improve your strategy.
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