Mastering LinkedIn: Tips, Tricks, and Takeaways from a 30-Day Challenge

A month ago, I set myself a challenge: to publish content on LinkedIn every single day for 30 days straight.

I’ve been an active user of various social media platforms for probably 15 years. In my past life, I was even a travel blogger. It’s easy to attract attention and build a community by posting inspirational photos of sunsets from different parts of the world.

But how about being a creator in a niche topic like Python coding, data, and AI?

LinkedIn is not just a platform for job hunting; it’s where you build your brand.

Posting there showcases your skills, attracts opportunities, and connects you with people who can open doors. However, since it’s a professional social media platform, you shouldn’t be completely unfiltered. You need to find the right balance between being professional and personal.

Most content on social media is based on three pillars: it should be either educational, inspirational/motivational, or entertaining. On LinkedIn, content should probably be less entertaining and more educational.

LinkedIn Tips I Learned from My Challenge:

Video content currently performs better than any other type.

LinkedIn is trying to introduce short-form content similar to YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok. As a result, creators posting short content are seeing better reach (posts are shown to more people) compared to other types of content. Take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts.

Don’t post links in the post.

Every social media platform wants users to stay engaged. When you post an external link, you’re encouraging users to click the link and leave the platform. LinkedIn penalizes this by showing your post to fewer people. Instead, post the link in the comments of your own post.

Reply to comments on your posts.

It boosts engagement, but more importantly, it shows respect. People take time to read your post and leave a comment—the least you can do is reply and say, “Thank you for your opinion/point of view/comment.”

Commenting is key.

When you leave insightful comments on other people’s posts, your comment becomes visible to your audience and the audience of the person whose post you commented on. At the moment, commenting is probably the best way to reach more people and increase your follower count on any social media platform. The same strategy works for Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Make sure your comments are meaningful, and potentially even controversial, to spark conversation and make people stop scrolling, read the comment, and check your profile.

As an example, my comment on one Threads post received 2,000 views. The same strategy works on LinkedIn.

If you want to start posting on LinkedIn, here’s my advice:

• If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your own content, start by commenting. Follow big creators in your niche (data, marketing, solopreneurship). Try to be one of the first people to comment on their posts—some of the creators schedule posts, so you can learn their posting schedule.

• Analyse posts in your niche and see which ones get a lot of engagement (reposts, likes, comments). What was the first line (hook)? Was there any call-to-action at the end of the post (i.e. “Have you experienced this”, “what is your opinion” etc)?
  Notice the styles people use, like spacing between lines.

• Once you feel more comfortable with LinkedIn, start reposting other people’s posts with your opinion. Remember, “Well said” or “This is interesting” is not an opinion.

• When you’re ready to create your own content, maybe start with a list of books that changed your life or helped your career, or share a cool tip/hack that improved your productivity.

  When I started my TikTok journey, I tried so many types of videos, and none of them got any engagement. You know which one took off? I learned about the Python module “faker,” which allows you to generate data, and I was so excited that I decided to share it. The video got 10k views, and I went from 27 followers to a thousand in a matter of a week or so. Tips and hacks always work, so don’t overthink it!

• If you want to connect with more people, don’t be shy about sending invites. Some people will accept your invites, others won’t, but that’s how I grew my connections to nearly 8,000 people before I started creating content. I think you can send 100 requests per week.

• Remember that 1 like from a CEO who can help you with job opportunities is way more valuable than 100 likes from peers. Focus on networking, not just on engagement rates.

Taking on this LinkedIn challenge taught me that building a personal brand and expanding your network is within reach for anyone willing to put in the effort. By sharing valuable insights, engaging with others, and experimenting with different content formats, you can significantly boost your visibility and open up new opportunities. Remember, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about being present. Start small, stay consistent and keep pushing 💪

Karina