from eBook to LinkedIn: lessons in adapting long-form content

One of my early internship projects was to take a detailed eBook and adapt it into a LinkedIn long-form article. The goals were clear: summarize the key points, make it easy to read online, and encourage readers to download the full resource from the company’s website.

It sounded simple—but I quickly learned that adapting content between formats is more about reimagining than just shortening.

The Process I Followed

What Changes When Switching Platforms

“The medium changes the message. The platform shapes the structure.”
— Inspired by Marshall McLuhan

I learned that moving from a long PDF to a social platform changes more than just length:

• Attention span – LinkedIn readers skim; eBook readers settle in.

• Tone – The article needed a slightly more conversational style while remaining professional.

• Structure – Long, flowing sections became short, well-defined chunks for easier scanning.

• Design – Visuals in the eBook needed either simplification or replacement with text-based descriptions.

What I Took Away from the Experience

This project showed me the importance of thinking about where and how content will be consumed. A piece designed for one format may need significant changes to work in another, and the best adaptations keep the value while making the content feel natural to the new platform.

september 3, 2025