How Does the LinkedIn Algorithm Work and How to Leverage It?

How Does the LinkedIn Algorithm Work and How to Leverage It?

LinkedIn has long evolved from a simple platform to share resumes to a powerhouse for professional networking, lead generation, and even a place to share expertise.

But with over 1 billion users, it’ll take quite a lot to stand out. 

One of the fastest ways to stand out is to understand the LinkedIn algorithm changes. 

Wondering where to start? 

Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered!

We’ve been experimenting with various posts since the beginning of this year. Ever since the LinkedIn algorithm changes, it has gone pretty viral.

So yeah, I’ll give you some pointers that have helped our posts shine. 

I’ll be covering topics like:

👉 What exactly is the LinkedIn algorithm?

👉 How does it work?

👉 What type of content should you be focusing on?

👉 What are the common mistakes that you should be avoiding?

👉 How to simplify content creation and boost lead generation?

Let's crack the formula, shall we?

Man with confused expression and math equations overlaid.

What is the LinkedIn Algorithm?

If you already know what LinkedIn’s algorithm is, you can skip to the next section. 

If you have no clue, then let me explain a bit:

The LinkedIn algorithm consists of a dynamic set of rules that decides which posts appear in your feed and in what order. 

This way, you’ll see posts that interest you or are relevant to you.

Here’s how LinkedIn is different from other social media platforms. 

If you take Instagram or Facebook, they usually focus on providing the latest or most recent posts based on your interest.

LinkedIn, however, focuses on delivering relevant, engaging posts and, of course, relevant to you.

And over the years, LinkedIn’s algorithm has undergone some changes, so things don't exactly work the same, which I’ll be covering in the next section.

How Does the LinkedIn Algorithm Work?

There are four crucial parts to the LinkedIn algorithm:

  • Relevance of Content:

Your posts will be evaluated based on their relevance to your audience. 

Rather than solely focusing on the number of likes and shares your post gets, LinkedIn’s algorithm checks whether the content of your post is actually relevant to your first-degree connections and the connections you regularly interact with.

Once it does that, it checks the engagement the post has received and then recommends it to a broader audience of the relevant niche.

This helps you strengthen your relationship with your connections mainly and reach out to a broader audience.

So, to test this out, we ran an experiment: We shared 2 posts on LinkedIn.

While we boosted one via an engagement pod (where 2nd and 3rd-degree connections engage) The other, we didn’t. Here are the results: 

LinkedIn post showing 2,712 impressions.

With engagement pod

LinkedIn post showing 11,815 impressions.

Without engagement pod 

  • Long Term Visibility:

Posts that are evergreen are valued more.

Let’s take an example to understand better. 

Posts with keywords like “Best marketing strategies for 2025” usually do well. New comments can help spark discussions.

That’s not all. LinkedIn’s algorithm also checks for how much time users spend on your posts before engaging with them (liking, commenting, or sharing).

Content that’s engaging and not only captures but also retains people’s attention for longer periods of time are more likely to be recommended (this is another sign of relevance).

  • Quality Over Quantity:

Comments relevant to the post and creating meaningful discussions are valued more.

Almost every post these days has very generic comments like “Wow, this is great!” or “This post was really insightful!”. 

Yeah, these comments aren’t worth anything anymore. LinkedIn evaluates comments based on their relevance to the post and whether they generate meaningful conversations.

LinkedIn comments and post

The number of comments on your post doesn’t matter if they are not generating conversations.

  • Knowledge and Advice:

Content that revolves around sharing knowledge or advice showcasing expertise in that field is prioritized.

Laptop and phone displaying AI chat.

With the LinkedIn algorithm changes in 2025, users are encouraged to share their valuable insights or any form of advice they can offer that’s relevant to their fields.

Posts like “I’m so excited to announce that I’ve done this!” or other forms of personal updates that don't really contribute to anything are not going to be on the top of your feed anymore.

How Do I Fix My LinkedIn Algorithm?

Don’t worry too much if your posts aren’t up to the mark. There are multiple strategies to help you with this but let me just make it simple for you.

  • Clear Your feed:

You can do this by deleting underperforming posts. LinkedIn analytics can help you identify posts with low engagement and remove them.

LinkedIn analytics dashboard showing top performing posts.

Based on these analytics, you can choose which posts you want to delete and which ones you want to be showcased on your profile. 

All you need to do is click on the post and select the relevant option.

Menu options on a LinkedIn post, including 'Remove from featured' and 'Delete post'.

Engaging with posts can also help you boost your visibility. Look out for trending posts in your niche and comment on them (please don’t type something like “very insightful”). 

  • Optimize Your Profile:

If you post anything, people will always be drawn to your profile. It is key that you have an updated profile.

Highlight relevant skills and certifications, complete all profile sections including the projects tab where you can showcase any case studies. 

  •  Rework Your Content Strategy:

Having an effective content strategy can essentially help LinkedIn’s algorithm recommend you better.

Posting around 3-4 times a week and making sure those posts have keywords that fit the SEO will help you stand out easily.

When it comes to posting on LinkedIn, remember consistency is key. It doesn’t matter if you don’t do well initially; just stay consistent, and you will see the results!

Which Type of Content Performs Best on LinkedIn?

  • Question-Based Posts:

Remember how I was talking about sharing knowledge and insights? What better way to do it than by asking relevant questions?

A good question-based post can not only hook more people but also help spark multiple discussions and even boost your comment counts significantly.

Considering how the comments are all actual discussions, LinkedIn’s algorithm will pick it up and recommend it to others.

Spotify playlist as a LinkedIn connection request.

Read the post here!

  • Timely Updates and Industry Insights:

Sharing news or your original insights on various industry trends can help establish your position as a thought leader, boosting your profile’s visibility.

Make sure that whatever update you are posting is accurate, up-to-date, and data-driven which can educate professionals. 

LinkedIn’s algorithm prioritizes these kinds of posts over random news updates. 

A screenshot of a LinkedIn post showing a spreadsheet with a list of business owners.

Read the post here!

  • Visual Content:

Images, infographics, or charts tend to grab attention in a crowded feed. Creating an eye-catching visual has more visibility than plain text-based posts.

Remember that LinkedIn’s algorithm checks the relevance of your posts based on how much time viewers spend on your post before engaging with it.

Make sure to create carousels, this can provide valuable infographic information to your audience all the while keeping them engaged with your post.

A comparison chart of Twitter vs LinkedIn for building a personal brand.

Read the post here!

  • Video Content:

You can get very creative when it comes to video content; the only thing you need to remember is to keep it short. Under 3 minutes will do.

Short form content is the meta for quite some time and it’s best to capitalize on it, plus they get way more engagement than longer videos.

LinkedIn’s algorithm prefers native uploads over YouTube links. 

LinkedIn video post

Read the post here!

  • Polls and Interactive Content

So here’s the thing: polls are a very low-effort but high-impact way to engage with your audience. 

As long as people scroll through their feed, a poll will definitely catch their attention, and all they need to do is click once and move on.

If you use it effectively, you can gain insights from various people and base the content you’re going to create on that.

What Are the Common Mistakes That Should Be Avoided?

Even the best content can be lacking if you fall into these common traps. Don’t worry; I’ll help you steer clear of them.

Essential LinkedIn Etiquette:

  • Avoid Spamming: 

💣Mass tagging people will not get you more visibility (it’ll get you reported 💀). 

💣Avoid sending unsolicited sales pitches through messages (unless you want to get blocked).

  • Keep It Professional:

💣 LinkedIn is a platform for professional; try not to create overly personal posts.

💣 You could use a few memes here and there (only if it’s relevant to your post). It’s the best way to lighten the mood and even retain your audience’s attention.

  • Avoid AI Slop:

💣 LinkedIn is all about creativity. Please don’t use stock images or AI-generated images to promote your brand. 

💣 This includes posts too. You can use AI to help you get new ideas, but never solely rely on AI for content.

Optimal Posting Times and Frequency:

  • Timings:

💣 Aim to post during the weekdays at around 9 AM - 11 AM, 1 PM - 2 PM, or 5 PM - 7 PM for the maximum engagement.

💣 You can post on weekends, but the engagement rate would be way lower so try to avoid it if possible.

  • Frequency:

💣 Posting 3-5 times every week is a good amount as it’s the perfect balance between staying active and avoiding oversaturation.

💣 Use the 4-1-1 Rule. This includes four posts that share content that entertains or educates your audience, one post that works on soft promotion, and one post for hard promotion.

Common Mistakes and Misconception with Hashtags:

Hashtags, when used well, can easily carry your post and make them fall in the right spotlight.

  • Overloading:

💣 Using over 10 hashtags seems very desperate and can easily lower your post’s credibility. 3-5 hashtags per post are more than enough as long as they are relevant to the post.

  • Broad Hashtags:

💣 Don’t use broad and vague hashtags like #business or #marketing. Try to use hashtags that fit your post. For example, for this article, we can go with something like #LinkedInAlgorithm2025.

The common misconception with hashtags on LinkedIn is that, unlike Instagram, it doesn’t drastically boost reach; they just help with discoverability within your niche.

How to Simplify Content Creation and Boost Lead Generation Simultaneously?

I’ve already established that creating high-quality and engaging content is what’ll help you master the LinkedIn algorithm and also build a strong presence. 

However, staying consistent and maintaining a steady stream of posts that not only continue to engage but also resonate with your audience can be quite challenging.

This is where Postzilla comes in with a clutch.

Postzilla website displaying 'Articles & index links from unique sites'.

Okay, first off, we’re still in beta testing and if you wish to join our waitlist, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (now X) by clicking here

It can streamline the whole process of LinkedIn content creation ensuring that you always have a fresh set of relevant posts ready to engage your audience and also keep you profile active.

Now that you’re done posting content on your profile, what’s next?

Keep this in mind, even though you’ve created amazing posts, leads don’t usually reach out to you first. 

This is one common issue that many of us face; your content attracts attention, but turning that into engagement is where the real struggle begins 🥲.

Enter SalesRobot!

SalesRobot website advertising 'Message 100s of people on Email & LinkedIn Every Week. Automatically'.

SalesRobot is a LinkedIn automation tool that allows you to reach out to hundreds of prospects every week.

The process of reaching out to your prospects could have never been easier. All you need to do is create a campaign and:

💣 Import your leads from your CSV file or

💣 Add them from your LinkedIn or Sales Navigator search (just copy the URL after your search and paste it into the campaign) or

💣 Even add prospects based on lookalikes of your ideal leads.

SalesRobot features for adding profiles to your campaign: Import from CSV, Add from Sales Navigator Search, Add from LinkedIn Search, Add Lookalike prospects.

You also have the option to add prospects that have commented on your posts.

After that, you can finally begin sending connection requests to those leads and message them, too (you can also create schedules to set the time interval between each action).

SalesRobot basic steps: Send Connection Request, Send Message, Send Email.

If you want to make your outreach a little more… human-like, well, you can also warm up your account before you send any connection requests or messages.

SalesRobot advanced steps for warming up LinkedIn profiles and connecting to new LinkedIn profiles.

You can try out SalesRobot for free with their 14-day free trial. You can check these features and many more all for yourself.

SalesRobot free trial link
P.S: Don’t forget to check out the AI assistant that can not only find ideal customers for you, but also automatically reply to them and book meetings too!

Conclusion

LinkedIn’s algorithm will never remain constant. It’ll constantly keep evolving to make sure that the right content is being recommended to its users.

Staying up-to-date on these LinkedIn algorithm changes can help you create a strategy to maximize reach.

Focus on using high-performing content like questions, visuals, videos, and polls. Make sure to maintain proper etiquette and avoid overuse of hashtags. 

Create content that is engaging, relevant, and professionally valuable. This is what LinkedIn’s algorithm is looking for and will be displayed on the user's feed.

That’s it from me for today, don’t worry, I’ll keep you updated in case LinkedIn’s algorithm changes again 🫡.

Peace out!

 

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