Want to know how the LinkedIn algorithm works and how you can use it to your advantage?
I did, too. So I did some digging. Here’s what I discovered.
There’s a couple of things that happen right off the bat when you post something on LinkedIn:
- The LinkedIn content filter uses AI to place your content into one of three categories: spam, low-quality, or clear. Obviously, you want to be in the “clear” category here for your post to be seen the most.
If the bot decides your post has violated the spam policy, and it is of a high certainty, it’ll be automatically filtered out and never appear in the feed. But even some of the posts that have been flagged as a possible spam violation (but with less certainty) will make it through to the next step, which is the testing phase.
Image Source: LinkedIn Engineering Blog
2. The bot will then test the post by sending it to your audience to see if it is received well by your audience. In this phase of the test, you really want to avoid people “hiding” the content from the feed, unfollowing you, or reporting it as offensive or spam. If this happens, a human will review your content to determine whether it continues to appear in the feed.
Then, if you pass this test, the LinkedIn algorithm “scores” your posts based on engagement signals, or interactions, people have with it. And some interactions are worth more “points” than others.
For example, if someone likes your post, that’s not as impactful as if someone shares the post. And if someone comments on the post, that’s more valuable than simply sharing it. Also, the algorithm only considers the first action someone has taken. So if you receive a like and then a comment from the same person, it’s not as impactful as if they comment first, then like.
Also: All of the reactions are worth the same amount of “points.” So it doesn’t matter if you choose like or celebrate or use any of the other options; the effect is the same.
This is just one of many different engagement signals that the LinkedIn algorithm uses to determine which posts are shown more in a user’s feed.
The first 60 minutes after posting content is the most crucial time frame for these engagements to happen. It’s the “Golden Hour” for your post. The more comments/reactions/shares you have within this hour, the better. High engagement within this timeframe helps the LinkedIn algorithm determine if they show this post to more people that are outside your existing network, giving you further reach.
So, knowing this information, what should you be writing about to encourage these high engagements right off the bat?
LinkedIn Hack #1: Share something surprising or unexpected
Post something that’s an uncommon or controversial opinion, or isn’t the same generic advice everyone else is saying. I’ve seen several people refer to this as having a “spicy take” or even a “prickly take.” Basically, have a unique point of view on something, and don’t be afraid to share it. Even LinkedIn’s Alice
LinkedIn Hack #2: Share content that makes people laugh
Everyone loves a good meme once in a while, even if they don’t want to admit it. And I have found that people are more likely to engage with funny content. Probably for the fact that it isn’t really the norm on LinkedIn to share that kind of thing, so it stands out in the feed a bit more.
The key here is to have a good blend of funny vs informative posts. If you are posting from a company page, use your brand personality to help guide you in finding the right balance.
LinkedIn Hack #3: Share useful, insightful information, with real examples
In an interview with Entrepreneur.com, Alice Xiong, the Director of Product Management at LinkedIn said, “People tell us that they find it most valuable when content is grounded in knowledge and advice. And they find it most valuable when the content is from people they know and care about.”
Basically, it’s one thing to spout out the same strategies and tips that anyone can find on Google, but it’s another to then share a real-world example where you have used the strategy and can share the results from doing so.
Give your reader the inside scoop on what worked and what didn’t. Don’t hold back the details here either. Walk them through exactly what you did and how you did it. Giving away your method is OK. It won’t cause you to lose clients. Because the people who are out to just steal your methods? Those people weren’t ever going to be your clients anyway. And the other people who see how genius it is and will want to hire you for your LinkedIn marketing knowledge and proven ability to get results.
“You’ll get more visibility from people outside of your connections and followers when what you have to say is rooted in professional knowledge, advice, and expertise”
Daniel Roth, Editor in Chief at LinkedIn
LinkedIn Hack #4: Lose the buzzwords
On LinkedIn, more so than other social media platforms, it’s incredibly common for people to get a heightened sense of ego in a weird attempt to be all, “business-like.” For some reason, those people think being professional equates to using lame cliches or buzzwords. And so they start using words like synergy, or alignment, and sooner or later they are asking you to “take this offline” or to “think outside the box.”
Don’t be that person. It’s annoying.
LinkedIn Hack #5: Respond to your comments
Because comments are a signal of high engagement, it’s important that you respond to any comments on your posts, ideally within an hour of receiving them. Doing so helps generate further comments and shows the algorithm that you are actively participating in discussions and nurturing your audience.
LinkedIn Hack #6: Comment on other posts
This is one of the BEST social media hacks to generate more profile and post views on LinkedIn. When you comment and engage on other people’s posts, it naturally makes them want to reciprocate with a comment on your post. So take 10 minutes to engage with other posts, ideally for about ten minutes before you post, and then do this for 10 minutes again afterwards.
Keep in mind here that this method doesn’t work if you just write “Great post” or something with a similarly low-effort. You need to write a thoughtful response that provides additional value or insights. Also: Please no ChatGPT, here, folks.
LinkedIn Hack #7: Enable creator mode
Turning on creator mode has a lot of benefits on LinkedIn. The most valuable of these benefits is that it can help you grow your audience faster (if you are publishing at least three posts a week.) Those accounts that do, see on average between 15-35% more reach from their posts. They also see their followers increase 5X more than those without.
LinkedIn Hack #8: Consistency really is key
This is the most common advice you hear for any social media platform: Be consistent. But does that really hold true for LinkedIn? Turns out, yes it does. For example, if you are a regular creator and you decide to take a break from posting for more than a month, when you return, your first 4-5 posts will see on average 30% less reach.
LinkedIn Hack #9: Format for readability
Don’t be afraid to use bulleted or numbered lists in your posts to make them easier to read. People love lists—heck, you’re reading one right now.
Also try to avoid long paragraphs when writing your posts. It’s best to start a new line after every sentence or two, as it makes your post easier to read.
Some people still write a LinkedIn post as if it’s a book: long paragraphs stretching over miles of pixels putting their readers’ concentration to the test. I mean, think how funny, interesting, and engaging your LinkedIn post needs to be for your readers to hang in there even after they feel like they need to use their index finger to follow the lines? And no, sprinkling some bolded text here and there doesn’t make it better. This paragraph is a great example because it is excessively lengthy. Does your brain hurt yet? Shall I stop?
Do this instead:
Ah, the one sentence paragraph, both underrated and overlooked.
It’s like a breath of fresh air.
I find that it’s much easier on the eyes (and the brain).
Wouldn’t you agree?
LinkedIn Hack #10: Be genuine
This may seem obvious, but it’s so important that it’s worth saying anyway. You want to be authentic and genuine in all of the content you post on LinkedIn. People don’t want to interact with a faceless professional; they want someone who they can relate to, or be inspired by.
Why does this work? Being vulnerable builds trust with your audience. And it helps them see you as a relatable, interesting, and unique human-being. (Because you are!)
Yes, sharing these types of posts is riskier. But the risk is so worth it.
In Conclusion
While these hacks might make you feel like a digital ninja, remember that the best strategy is always a blend of ingenuity and honesty. Use these tips wisely to enhance your visibility and engagement, without turning into a keyword-stuffing, spam-generating robot (because let’s face it, nobody likes those).
As you experiment with these tactics, keep an eye on your performance metrics to see which ones truly resonate with your audience (because not even the best of us can predict the algorithm’s mood swings). Adjust your strategies accordingly, and always stay a step ahead of the game—not just to beat the algorithm, but to genuinely connect with your professional community.
If you want to make managing your LinkedIn presence even easier, why not give Agorapulse a try? First 30 days are totally free – no credit card necessary.
Note: The statistics provided here are based primarily off research done by Richard van der Bloom, who analyzed over 10,000 LinkedIn posts. His insights and findings are available to read in their entirety in the 2022 Algorithm Report. I also sourced some information from posts available on LinkedIn Engineering Blog. Any additional anecdotes are simply based on my own personal experience using LinkedIn.
