How to Engage on LinkedIn Like a Human
Ever feel like LinkedIn engagement is a mystery? đ¤ Youâre not alone!
From AI-generated comments, shifting algorithms, and the pressure to âpost for the algorithm,â it can be tough to figure out what actually works. đ¤
In this Mondays with Mindi session, we dive into practical strategies to optimize your engagement while staying true to your unique voice. No gimmicks, no generic commentsâjust real, actionable tips to help you connect and thrive on LinkedIn. đŁď¸
Hereâs what we'll cover:
đĄ How dwell time, early engagement, and Instant Reposts affect your post visibility
đ¤ The dos and donâts of engaging like a human on LinkedIn (because nobody wants to feel like theyâre talking to a bot!)
đ A breakdown of key engagement stats from Richard van der Blomâs latest LinkedIn Algorithm reportâand what they mean for your strategy
Whether youâre looking to build deeper connections, boost your reach, or just make LinkedIn a little less overwhelming, this session is for you. đ
Why Should We Care About the LinkedIn Algorithm?
So, why should we care about LinkedInâs algorithm updates? We all know that LinkedIn engagement isnât as simple as hitting âpostâ and waiting for the reactions to roll in. The algorithmâs job is to decide who gets to see your content, and understanding how it prioritizes certain actionsâlike comments, dwell time, or repostsâcan make a real difference.
Think of it like this: every time we post, LinkedInâs algorithm takes in signals about our content to see if itâs worth sharing with more people. And with engagement tactics evolving, itâs crucial to keep testing what works.
The statistics weâll discuss today come straight from Richard van der Blom's Update Algorithm Insights report released in October 2024. If you're curious about whatâs driving LinkedIn in 2024, this report is a must-see. (And no, Iâm not affiliatedâI just think heâs one of the best when it comes to gathering data and making sense of LinkedInâs numbers!)
Today, Iâll walk you through how some of these little tweaks can help your content stick around in peopleâs feeds longer and reach more of the right folks.
LinkedIn Engagement By the Numbers
Knowing the numbers is not the end-all, be-all, but it does help us realize when itâs time to change things up if a tactic is no longer working.
The Decline of Comment Impact
Comments used to be the holy grail for LinkedIn engagement, but the landscape is shifting. With more AI-generated comments flooding posts, thereâs a volume boost but less substance. LinkedIn seems to notice this, so instead of focusing solely on getting a ton of comments, itâs now about the quality of interactions. Meaningful comments and real conversations still make an impact, and Iâm playing around with strategies to create these authentic exchanges. And, a lot of real connections actually happen in my DMs, which keeps things low-key but impactful.
I have also been noticing people âovertaggingâ in the comments section to drive more engagement on their posts, which can come off as a bit self-serving. Yes, we know what youâre doing. I may engage the first time someone does this, but I do hope they learn that this is a bit annoying if I do not know them well enough. This is not keeping it classy on LinkedIn.
Dwell Time Still Matters
Dwell timeâbasically how long people spend with your postâis still a big factor. If your post keeps people lingering, LinkedIn considers it valuable. To encourage dwell time, focus on interactive content like carousels, documents, or well-structured text. Iâm testing carousels with shorter, more engaging slides to keep people scrolling. Structuring your post to be skimmable and scannable also helps draw readers in and encourages them to stay longer.
Dwell time might not be the end-all, be-all metric, but itâs still significant. To keep viewers engaged longer, try using carousel posts or documents with 6-12 slides, each slide with around 30-50 words. For images, consider multiple photos or graphics that invite viewers to swipe through. The goal is to create a âstickyâ experience that draws people in and keeps them interested.
The First Two Hours
The first couple of hours after you post are key for reaching a wider audience. LinkedIn heavily weighs engagement in this early windowâup to 40% of your reach happens within the first 4 hours. To maximize visibility, set aside time to actively respond to comments, like relevant replies, and tag people who will genuinely engage with your post. Just be mindful with taggingâonly tag those who are likely to interact to avoid coming off as spammy.
Instant Reposts for Fresh Eyes
A surprising win in LinkedInâs algorithm is the Instant Repost feature, which can extend your reach without creating a new post. When used selectively, this can bring in a 5-10% boost in visibility, with up to 80% of the new viewers being fresh eyes. Iâm experimenting with reposting valuable content a day or two after it first goes up to see if it captures a new audience without feeling repetitive. For high-impact postsâlike event announcements or content that really resonated with your audienceâthis can be a handy tool to keep your best content in circulation.
10 Tips to Engage âLike a Humanâ on LinkedIn
When it comes to LinkedIn engagement, itâs not just about reacting to every post you scroll past. Instead, the goal is to engage in a way that adds value and builds real connections. Here are some practical tips for engaging effectively on LinkedIn:
1. Be Selective
Focus on content that aligns with your expertise and interests. You donât have to engage with everything; choosing posts that genuinely resonate with you allows you to share insights that are relevant and meaningful. Quality over quantity!
2. Add Value
When you comment, aim to bring something new to the conversation. Think about sharing your own experiences or unique perspective. A meaningful comment does more than just acknowledge the postâit shows youâre interested in contributing thoughtfully.
3. Personalize Your Comments
Generic responses like âGreat post!â can get lost in the mix. Tailor your comments to the specific post and its author. Mention something specific that caught your attention or add a personal anecdote. This helps you stand out and creates a stronger connection.
4. Follow Up
If someone responds to your comment, keep the conversation going! Reply back and build on the discussion. This follow-through shows genuine interest and can lead to deeper connections over time.
5. Take it Offline (when it feels right)
Some conversations are worth continuing beyond the post. If the exchange is engaging and relevant, consider suggesting a direct message or even a video call. Taking a conversation offline can help strengthen professional relationships and open up new opportunities.
6. Engage on Weekdays
Make engagement a part of your LinkedIn routine, but remember to focus on quality. A few well-thought-out interactions each week can be more impactful than constant commenting. Regular, thoughtful engagement builds a reputation of authenticity and reliability.
7. Ask Good Follow-Up Questions
Asking thoughtful questions is a great way to show that youâre truly engaged with the content. Questions encourage further conversation, which LinkedInâs algorithm tends to favor, and they help build rapport with the postâs author.
8. Do NOT Overshare
Only share posts that you find truly valuable and think will resonate with your own network. Sharing selectively makes your LinkedIn presence feel curated and intentional, which enhances your personal brand.
9. Comment First (if you can)
If possible, try to comment on posts shortly after theyâre published. Early engagement can increase your visibility since LinkedIn tends to boost posts with immediate interactions, helping both your comment and the post itself reach a wider audience.
10. Keep Track of Your Interactions
Not every conversation will lead somewhere, but itâs worth keeping track of the ones that do. Make a note of connections where the exchange felt meaningful and follow up with them periodically. This can be as simple as checking in or engaging with their latest post.
Remember: the goal isnât just about gaining reactions, reposts, or commentsâitâs about building actual relationships. By focusing on quality interactions, youâll create a LinkedIn experience thatâs not only more fun but also more likely to lead to business growth and career opportunities.
To wrap things up, today we looked at ways to navigate LinkedInâs engagement landscape by focusing on strategies that build real connections. From maximizing dwell time with interactive content to leveraging that crucial early engagement window, we explored actionable steps to boost visibility and interaction on your posts. We also covered tools like Instant Reposts for re-sharing high-impact content and dug into practical engagement tips that keep LinkedIn authenticâencouraging us to be selective, add value, and show genuine interest in conversations.
At the end of the day, LinkedIn is about creating meaningful relationships that last, and todayâs tips are all about using the algorithm to support, not replace the human touch. Whether youâre experimenting with new formats, timing your posts strategically, or diving into thoughtful interactions, these strategies can help you stay true to your brand while amplifying your reach.
Thanks for hanging out with me! Letâs stay connected here on LinkedIn, and feel free to reach out if you want to discuss LinkedIn engagement strategies further.
I am in the process of updating my LinkedIn resources right now, and I donât want to send you anything outdated. If you want to join my email list, you can do so on my website: http://www.mindiramsey.com
Until next time, keep those connections real and those conversations meaningful.
