Posting Best Practices
Esteban Puttner
Last updated: Aug 15, 2024
LinkedIn is like that one fancy networking event where everyone’s wearing their best suits, but also carrying a glass of sparkling water—keeping it classy yet approachable. If you're new to the platform, it might seem a bit overwhelming, and yes, there’s a good chance you’ve seen some posts that are, well, a bit weird.
Oh wait, we have another word as well : cringe. You know the ones: overly personal anecdotes, vague motivational quotes with zero context, or a play-by-play of someone’s breakfast meeting. But fear not!
This guide is here to help you start on LinkedIn without falling into the trap of weird posts. Let’s get into it together!
TL;DR: Use LinkedIn confidently by embracing its quirks, creating a strong profile, engaging with quality content, and avoiding superficial posts. Stay authentic and professional for meaningful connections and growth.
Acknowledge the Weirdness
Let’s be real—LinkedIn can sometimes feel like a mix between a professional networking site and a social media platform that's having an identity crisis. You’ll see everything from serious industry news to someone announcing their cat’s promotion to “Chief Napping Officer.”
The first step to avoiding the weirdness is simply acknowledging that it exists. LinkedIn is a unique space where professional and personal lines can blur, which sometimes leads to posts that miss the mark. Recognizing this will help you navigate the platform more confidently and avoid the common pitfalls.
Here’s a little secret: most people aren’t trying to be weird. They’re just unsure of how to balance being personable with being professional. That’s where you come in! With the right approach, you can make a strong impression without ever having to post about what you had for lunch.
Understanding the Value of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is not just another social media site; it’s a powerful tool for building your professional network, showcasing your skills, and growing your career. Understanding the true value of LinkedIn will help guide your content and interactions on the platform.
At its core, LinkedIn is about making meaningful connections and sharing valuable insights. Whether you’re a job seeker, a recruiter, or a thought leader in your industry, LinkedIn offers endless opportunities to expand your visibility and influence.
When you start using LinkedIn with this mindset, you’re more likely to contribute positively to the community—and less likely to post something cringeworthy.
Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s move on to identifying quality content and profiles.
Identifying Quality Content and Profiles
LinkedIn is full of incredible content and impressive professionals—if you know where to look. By identifying quality profiles and content, you’ll not only learn from the best but also understand what works well on the platform. This will guide you in creating your own content that stands out for the right reasons.
What Makes a Good LinkedIn Profile
Before you even think about posting, take a moment to craft a LinkedIn profile that reflects your professional brand. A good LinkedIn profile is like your digital business card, but with a little more pizzazz.
Here are the key elements:
Profile Picture: Your profile picture is the first impression people get on LinkedIn. Make it professional and high-quality, with a friendly and approachable look. Avoid casual photos like selfies or vacation shots. Remember, this image represents you across the platform, so invest in a good one. Quality is key!
Headline: Your LinkedIn headline is crucial—it’s what makes people click on your profile. Keep it short, clear, and impactful. Define your positioning and sum it up in a punchy sentence (10 words max). Creativity is great, but clarity and authenticity are essential.
Your headline is your chance to make a strong, lasting impression, so make it count!
Summary: Your LinkedIn summary is like the opening chapter of your professional story—this is where you get to draw people in and make them want to know more about you. Think of it as your personal introduction, where you highlight not just what you do, but why you do it and what you bring to the table.
Start with a hook that captures attention, then highlight your key achievements and what drives your passion. Keep it concise—three to five short paragraphs that tell a compelling story.
Experience and Skills: Showcase your career journey with a focus on growth, achievements, and key skills. Quantify your successes with numbers and results. Highlight both hard and soft skills to show your technical proficiency and teamwork abilities. Don’t forget to gather endorsements to add credibility.
Remember, your experience and skills section is a vital part of your LinkedIn profile—it’s your chance to tell the story of what you’ve accomplished and how you’ve done it, making it clear why you’re someone worth connecting with.
Engagement: This is the secret sauce that keeps your LinkedIn profile dynamic and relevant. A good profile isn’t just a static page; it’s a reflection of an active, engaged professional who’s genuinely interested in connecting with others.
Stay active on LinkedIn by liking, commenting, and sharing posts. Engage meaningfully by adding value to conversations. Share content that resonates with you, and build relationships through thoughtful interactions. Your engagement helps you stand out and build a strong network.
A strong profile sets the foundation for everything else you do on LinkedIn. It’s your first impression, so make it count!
Following the Right People
Now that your profile is in top shape, it’s time to start building your network. But instead of randomly connecting with everyone under the sun, be strategic. Who you follow and connect with can significantly impact the quality of content in your feed.
By curating your network with care, you’ll fill your feed with content that’s worth your time and attention. Plus, it’ll inspire you when it’s time to create your own posts.
Creating Valuable Content on LinkedIn
With a solid profile and a well-curated network, you’re ready to start contributing to the LinkedIn community. But how do you create content that’s valuable, engaging, and—most importantly—not weird? Let’s break it down.
Sharing Your Expertise
LinkedIn is a platform where expertise is valued. When you share your knowledge and insights, you position yourself as a credible voice in your field. But how do you do this without sounding like you’re bragging or trying too hard?
Here are a few tips:
Write About What You Know: Logical? Well, you are not here for nothing right? You already noticed that some people, especially on LinkedIn forget themselves. That’s why you need to focus on topics where you have genuine expertise.
Whether it’s a new development in your industry, a project you’re proud of, or lessons learned from your career, share content that reflects your knowledge and experience.
Be Helpful: Think about the last time a LinkedIn post truly made an impact on you. You likely followed the creator right after—or were already a fan. That sense of being genuinely helped is powerful, and it’s what you should strive to create in your own posts.
The best LinkedIn content isn’t just noise; it offers real value. Whether it’s practical advice, a solution to a common problem, or a fresh perspective, your posts should address what your audience needs.
Focus on the challenges they might be facing and how you can provide the insights or solutions they’re looking for. Being helpful makes you memorable, which is key to building a loyal following.
Tell Stories: Think about the people you follow on LinkedIn—chances are, they connected with you through a story. Everyone loves a good story. Instead of just listing facts or advice, turn them into a narrative.
Share personal experiences that taught you valuable lessons, or use case studies to illustrate your points in a way that’s both informative and engaging.
Storytelling makes your content relatable and memorable. It’s the difference between just reading and truly connecting. And when combined with the next tip, it can have a powerful impact.
Use Visuals: As we’ve mentioned before, a picture is worth a thousand words—and on LinkedIn, it can be worth a thousand likes too!
Posts with images or videos naturally attract more attention. Consider creating infographics to simplify complex ideas, sharing relevant photos that enhance your message, or recording a short video to bring your content to life.
Visuals make your posts stand out in the feed and make your message more digestible and engaging. For more LinkedIn content ideas, check out our full article.
Avoiding Superficial Posts
You know what to do on LinkedIn. You have the weapons to face this virtual realm. Let’s talk about what not to do now.
While LinkedIn encourages sharing, not all content is created equal. Avoiding superficial posts is key to maintaining your credibility and professionalism on the platform. You don’t want to be this “corny guy on LinkedIn” right?!
First off, skip the vague motivational quotes. You’re not on Facebook in 2011, and you’re not 14 anymore. If you want to share a quote, make sure it’s relevant to your industry and add your own spin on why it matters to you.
Next, keep personal stories professional. Sure, share experiences that have shaped your career, but leave the oversharing for other platforms. And as for your kids? We’re not that interested—keep them safe from the internet.
Finally, don’t go overboard with self-promotion. It’s great to share your wins, but no one likes a show-off. Talk about the journey, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. And iff you need to create promotional posts on LinkedIn, make sure to do it right so you don’t drive your audience away.
And when you repost someone else’s content, add your own take—don’t just hit the share button and call it a day. By avoiding these traps, you’ll keep your content fresh, engaging, and worth following.
By steering clear of superficial content, you’ll ensure that your posts are meaningful and respected by your audience.
LinkedIn Made Easy: Thrive Beyond the Weirdness
Starting out on LinkedIn doesn’t have to be an overwhelming ordeal full of oddball posts and uncomfortable interactions.
Think of it as your gateway to a professional adventure where you can turn those initial jitters into a smooth, confident experience. Embrace the platform’s unique quirks, get a firm grasp on its value, seek out top-notch content, create posts that truly matter, and build a standout professional brand.
LinkedIn isn’t just another social network; it's a vibrant community focused on connection and growth. Approach it with genuine curiosity, blend in a touch of professionalism, and add a hint of playfulness.
When you do, you’ll not only sidestep the awkwardness but thrive in this dynamic space, making meaningful connections and enjoying every step of the journey.
