Top 10 Rules of Thumb for LinkedIn

#1 FOLLOWER COUNT IS THE ULTIMATE METRIC

A high follower count will secure speaking engagements, board inquiries, and advisory invitations. It signals CXO-level reach and notoriety.

#2 IMPRESSIONS DRIVE FOLLOWER GROWTH

The main driver of follower growth is the number of impressions from second and third level connections that posts garner. A jump in profile views suggests follower growth is close.

#3 REACTIONS AND COMMENTS (ENGAGEMENT) DRIVE IMPRESSIONS

Reactions and comments made within 60 minutes of a post demonstrate engagement to LinkedIn. This often accelerates impression velocity.

#4 IMAGE QUALITY DRIVES IMPRESSIONS

High-quality images are bold, human and picturesque. Never miss a chance to post a stand-out photo or logo especially if it’s (appropriately) personal.

#5 EVENT & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS DRIVE IMPRESSIONS

LinkedIn loves posts and candid photos from real-world conferences. Post liberally before, during and after each event and speaking opportunity.

#6 @MENTIONS AND #HASHTAGS DRIVE IMPRESSIONS

@mentions notify others, giving them an opportunity to engage. Using up to five high-follower #hashtags cross-references your post to those feeds. Ditch niche #hashtags.

#7 ORIGINAL POSTS DRIVE MORE IMPRESSIONS THAN SHARES AND NEWS

Original posts sharing personal insights and opinions perform. LinkedIn Articles showcase thought leadership, and Google indexes them for broader discoverability.

#8 HEADLINES DRIVE MORE IMPRESSIONS THAN THOUGHTFUL INTROS

Grab attention with high-impact headlines. Use ALL CAPs and emojis. Capture interest before See more…

#9 TIMING MATTERS OCCASIONALLY

The urban legend that posts do better Tuesday-Thursday is unfounded. Post at least twice per week unless a post has gone viral. In this case, hold off posting to keep a rally strong.

#10 PROFILE SETTINGS MATTER

Use a compelling background photo. Create a high-impact title and headline. Optimize the Featured section. Dusty and dated LinkedIn profiles miss out.

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