The LinkedIn Posts That Took Off—And Why They Worked

LinkedIn is full of updates, but every so often, a post takes on a life of its own—traveling far beyond your immediate network and making an impact you didn’t see coming. Here, members of the Dreamers & Doers collective share the stories behind their most successful LinkedIn posts.

They reveal the post-performance details that surprised them most, along with the content, structure, and timing that helped each one stand out. They also reflect on what those results meant for their visibility, relationships, and opportunities.

Whether you’re just starting to post on LinkedIn or you’re looking to level up your content, these examples are proof that a single post can be a powerful catalyst for connection and growth.

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Nicole L. Leon  

Founder of L Leon Virtual Assistance, a boutique virtual support business providing emotionally intelligent executive support to overwhelmed founders.

This post was a raw reflection on the emotional weight of running a business while raising a child. I shared honestly about the guilt, exhaustion, and love that comes with trying to hold both well. It generated 752 impressions and reached 472 members with 35 reactions, 43 comments, and five profile views. It even brought in a new follower! But more than the numbers, what exceeded my expectations was the depth of connection: dozens of moms messaged me to say, “Thank you. I needed this.”

It was vulnerable, unpolished, and written straight from the heart—more like a journal entry than a strategy post. That level of emotional honesty resonated. I always prioritize storytelling over selling, and this one certainly hit home for a lot of people. Sharing this post reminded me that sometimes, the most impactful thing we can do as entrepreneurs is tell the truth. Showing up authentically online opens doors for deeper community, better-fit clients, and shared healing.

Amanda Pearce  

Owner of Funding For Good, Inc., offering coaching and consulting services for growth.

This post engaged my audience with a question about their experiences. I wasn't sharing about something I had done, was going to do, or needed them to participate in. Instead, I was simply asking for their stories. People like to share when they feel like it can help others. The more people commented, the more folks saw it, and the more people continued to engage.

I credit a couple of things for the success here. I asked a simple question and actively solicited feedback. I tagged folks I knew had the experience I was seeking and asked others to share, as well. I took the time to comment on a few other posts before I made mine to ensure that people could find my current activity if they looked me up later. Also, while I usually use a recent photo on my LinkedIn posts, this one didn’t feature a photo at all.

Catherine Valega

Founder & Bespoke Wealth and Tax Management Advisor at Green Bee Advisory

After dropping my daughter off at college, I posted this, which featured some helpful, easy-to-do action items to think about when you have kids—from birth through college and beyond! People like personal posts that make it clear that you’re real, so when it comes to LinkedIn, try to apply something personal (but not too personal) to your business life. I'm not a fan of people celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, etc. on LinkedIn, but I do think about how to incorporate pieces of my own life into posts.

Sometimes, what you expect to work doesn't—and sometimes, other posts surprise you. Don't take it too seriously and just keep trying!

Catalina Parker

Co-Founder & CEO of Relatable Nonprofit, empowering purpose-driven professionals to turn their nonprofit expertise into thriving consulting businesses so they can create meaningful impact on their own terms.

One of my most successful posts started with this call to action: “New nonprofit consultants, stop undercharging!” It hit a nerve. I spoke directly to the biggest struggle I see in my community: pricing with confidence. The response was immediate. More than 75 people DMed me asking for my free pricing calculator (a lead magnet to build my email list) and several others booked sales calls to join my paid program. 

This post succeeded because I kept it simple: strong hook, relatable truth, and a clear call to action. It was easy to skim, emotionally validating, and gave people a next step that felt doable.

Hawwa M.

Founder & CEO of Pink Trumpet, providing project management and communications support for mission-driven work so that good ideas for social change move from concept to completion. 

I took a policy headline and turned it into something personal and urgent. One of the reasons I started Pink Trumpet was because I wanted more people to see their role in the social sector. This post reflected that belief while simultaneously responding to frustration with growing cuts to the nonprofit sector. It reminded readers that nonprofits touch everyone. The post secured 81,767 impressions, 836 reactions, 41 comments, and 198 reposts. Never in my wildest dreams would I have anticipated this! 

Based on this experience, here’s what the playbook looks like: Lead with a compelling statistic, establish the context by sharing everyday examples, and close with clear stakes to make it feel urgent and personal.

Lakeya Cherry, DSW, MSSW, PCC  

CEO & Founder of Lakeya Cherry LLC, a dynamic executive coaching and consulting business that empowers leaders and organizations to maximize their potential. 

In this post, I vulnerably shared a major life transition: stepping down as a nonprofit CEO after nearly a decade and simultaneously stepping into entrepreneurship as a business owner of Lakeya Cherry LLC and a new role as a Partner at Evolution. The post also highlighted a deeply personal milestone: On the same day, my partner was sworn in as a Superior Court Judge, and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made history. The post was a reflection on endings, new beginnings, and the power of legacy.

It resonated because I told a real, emotionally grounded story that connected a personal milestone to a broader cultural moment. The post reminded me that vulnerability, timely reflection, and showing up as a whole person often create the deepest impact—and it continues to guide my approach going forward.

Sydney de Arenas Sherman

Founder of The Hive, a business concierge service designed for entrepreneurs who need structured support to grow (without burnout).

One of my most successful LinkedIn posts was a simple celebration in which I reshared a publication feature and tagged the other women who were highlighted. It took off because it created visibility for others and sparked genuine engagement. The post worked because it was concise, tagged others, and appeared during a week when I was posting consistently, which helped the algorithm promote it further. 

Consistency has been the most effective strategy for me on LinkedIn. It builds trust, works with the algorithm, and keeps you top of mind. Consistency tells LinkedIn you're an active user, and when people engage with your content, the platform is more likely to show your future posts to a wider audience and keep you visible in your network’s feed.

Clara Ma

CEO & Founder of Ask a Chief of Staff, a boutique executive search and career development platform that places strategic operators—primarily Chiefs of Staff—into high-impact roles at fast-growing companies.

I wrote a post titled “7 Signs That You’re a Chief of Staff (even if you don’t have the title)” to help people see themselves in this often-hidden role. It ended up striking a chord far beyond my network, with more than 72,000 impressions, nearly 600 reactions, and dozens of comments and reposts from operators and executives alike. It also led directly to new hiring inquiries and sign-ups for our community.

The post worked because it was highly skimmable, useful, and validating—people love seeing themselves in clear, numbered lists. I also focused on specific insider language that made Chiefs of Staff feel seen while helping others recognize the value of the role. Since then, I’ve leaned into sharing more practical, no-fluff content that people can immediately see themselves in and share with their teams.

Cydnee DeToy

Founder & CEO of Cydnee DeToy Coaching, equipping ambitious millennial women with the mindsets and strategies to create and thrive in the careers they want through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and speaking.

I dashed off a quick post about an indicator that I was scaling with a plug for my group coaching program—and it got more than double the average engagement and impressions of my typical posts. This was especially notable since it included a sales pitch, which usually seems to deflate engagement.

I've now made a habit of using some variation of this hook: A thrilling + unexpected thing happened yesterday... It always performs well! This language piques readers' interest, and then they're excited to celebrate the thrilling and unexpected thing I highlighted in my post. The posts are so simple and fun to write as long as you’re willing to let your community celebrate you!

Liz Morrison

Story Coach & Narrative Navigator of Liz Morrison Strategic Storytelling, guiding ambitious professionals and purpose-driven teams to navigate pivotal moments by uncovering the wisdom within their personal stories—creating clarity, confidence, and meaningful impact in the process.

My "Surfer Girl" story post completely exceeded my expectations, generating over 6,000 impressions and continuing to gain hundreds of views weekly since posting. The post tells the vulnerable story of my attempt to learn surfing in Portugal and how it taught me about surrender. That universal experience of being a beginner and having to let go of perfectionism clearly resonated. 

The breakthrough moment came when I organically tagged Co-Active Training Institute (my coach training program with more than 75,000 LinkedIn members). When they commented, it catapulted my post into the feeds of people who'd never seen my content before. 

I recommend experimenting with PDF carousels to stand out visually and to keep people clicking through your story rather than scrolling past. Structure your caption with strategic emojis as visual guideposts, generous white space, and a clear story arc—hook, struggle, breakthrough, lesson—so your post becomes both compelling content and proof of your hard-won expertise.

Yemi Oluseun

Founder & Retention-Led Growth Strategist of The Change Hive, a boutique consulting firm helping B2B SaaS and service businesses plug the leaks in their customer journey. 

This post about retention as a growth engine unexpectedly outperformed across all metrics. It landed over 1,200 impressions, more than 60 reactions, 47 comments, and 48 reposts —including senior CROs, founders, and RevOps leaders. It also led directly to three booked calls and a speaking opportunity.

It worked because it led with data, pain-first messaging, and a clear POV. I borrowed the format from the “Perfect Webinar” structure: agitate, educate, elevate. I also used active voice, short line breaks, and ended with a non-salesy call to action to guide people to my newsletter. Clear beats clever every time.

Catharine Montgomery, MBA

Founder & CEO of Better Together Agency, a Black woman-founded, full-service, AI-forward communications agency that creates integrated campaigns for mission-driven work. 

My LinkedIn post about being featured in Forbes for my work on AI bias reached over 85,000 people and generated 1,200 comments, far exceeding my typical average of 8,000 impressions. It took off because I combined professional achievement with authentic storytelling about the challenges Black women face in tech, creating a post that celebrated progress while acknowledging the work still needed, which sparked conversations about representation in tech and the importance of diverse voices in AI development.

Since then, I've focused on leading with personal stories that tie to business outcomes, which creates the human connection LinkedIn's algorithm rewards while still delivering professional value.

Caitlin Kawaguchi

Co-Founder & COO of Parkes Philanthropy, an award-winning nonprofit consultancy helping organizations scale their impact.

When the new administration took office, many vulnerable communities and impact initiatives found themselves under attack. I started sharing resources and guidance for organizations and leaders to help them navigate this new environment. This post from that series performed exceptionally well, reaching more than 20 times what I usually see and aligning directly with nonprofit senior leaders, which was my ideal audience for this information. 

I think this post was successful because it was timely, but also because it was offering genuine help in a moment of uncertainty. My big takeaway from this was not to hesitate in a moment where your unique perspective could be valuable. I can sometimes be a perfectionist about content, but this post's success showed me how meeting the moment is actually the most important!

Brittany Martin Déjean

Founder & CEO of Inclusion Jumpstart, eliminating disability discomfort in business to accelerate inclusion through speaking and consulting.

I posted a carousel to elevate ten disabled leaders for my audience, encouraging followers to diversify their feeds in honor of Disability Pride month. I was happy to feature so many people I respect, but never expected it to blow up like it did. Three days after posting, it had reached nearly 15,000 people, more than three times my last most successful post. It also garnered 294 likes, 71 comments, and 71 reposts. Many chimed in with suggestions of new leaders to follow, which expanded my network and awareness of my work. 

This post showed me how much good can come from centering others you respect and giving without an expectation of receiving. Leveraging a timely moment (Disability Pride Month, in my case), also offered additional motivation for people to share. 

Amanda Hofman

Chief Swag Officer of Go To Market - Anti-Boring Branded Merchandise, turning thoughtful design into tangible brand love and teaching our clients that merch can be a powerful sales and marketing tool—and a way to build real community around your brand.

I posted about Stanley's new line of branded merchandise a year ago, commenting on its creativity and betting that their audience would go nuts for it. Stanley's CFO reposted it and their President said, "’Five stars, no notes?!’ Thank you. Get yourself some and wear the bear.” When I responded, he said, "My pleasure. I had to comment. There's only one swag expert and apparently it's you. Thanks again for your review of the Stanley swag."

The president's comments have since been removed—likely because of staff changes in the past year—but this strategy has worked for me many times, including on this post I did about Taco Bell, which started a heated debate about merch styles in the comments.

My takeaways from this approach are to write nice things about brands I genuinely admire (the more specific and thoughtful the better!) and then tag key people at the company. From there, I go a step further and will DM anyone in the company in the marketing or social department with a link to the post. If they comment or share, it will blow up your post! You don't need to already have them as a connection to try this strategy.

Kelly Hubbell

Founder & CEO of Sage Haus, helping busy parents find and hire support systems (like house managers and family assistants) and create home systems that lighten the mental load and bring balance back.

One of my most impactful posts was about leaving my in-laws’ lake house five days early because the trip—with no childcare or support—became totally unsustainable. I shared the chaos, the decision to protect my peace, and the importance of support systems. The post resonated deeply, reaching over 55,000 views and generating hundreds of comments, DMs, and inbound leads for Sage Haus. It struck a chord because it gave voice to what so many parents feel but rarely say out loud.

The post worked because it was relatable, vulnerable, and specific. Going forward, it reminded me that the more I speak from lived experience with honesty and heart, the more it resonates. People are craving real stories—not polished perfection.

Mathangi Swaminathan

Founder & CEO of Parity Lab, a global initiative that builds trauma-informed leadership by fostering inner self-worth and creating safe peer circles across diverse communities.

One of our LinkedIn posts introducing Global Fellow Sukanya Remesh outperformed our expectations with nearly 3,000 impressions, which is well above our usual reach. The success came from tapping into Sukanya’s active network—her peers reshared, commented, and amplified it—combined with a mission-aligned caption that spotlighted her work on India’s female labor force participation. The post’s authenticity, clarity of purpose, and use of strategic hashtags helped it resonate across multiple gender equity circles.

Since then, we’ve intentionally leaned into fellow spotlights that not only honor their work but also expand Parity Lab’s reach through authentic peer-driven engagement.

Charmaine G.

Founder & CEO of Chapter tOO, LLC, a data-backed, people-first coaching and consulting practice, helping organizations and people design their best chapters by optimizing performance, engagement, and organizational processes.

One of my most resonant posts was a personal reflection on being a deeply introverted leader, challenging the myth that introverts can’t lead powerfully. It got thousands of impressions, earned 125 reactions, 57 comments, and five reposts. The comment section became a conversation—people shared their own stories, challenged outdated assumptions, and celebrated the leadership strengths that introverts bring. 

It was a reminder that truth-telling—especially at its most personal—creates permission and community. It spoke to a specific group (high-performing introverts who’ve been overlooked or misunderstood) and a tension they were carrying. Going forward, I’ve leaned even more into content that educates and affirms without needing to go viral. When people feel seen, they show up—and that’s always the goal.

Anouck Gotlib

CEO of Belgian Boys, creating whole ingredient breakfast options that allow families to prep less, smile more, and indulge better.

Right before our biggest trade show of the year, Belgian Boys made a shipping mistake. We sent way too many pancakes. At first, it felt like a problem. 

It wasn’t polished or planned, but I posted about it on LinkedIn. The post was just a genuine invitation to partner, create, and play—and it took off, with more than 100 brands raising their hand to collaborate with Belgian Boys and nearly 50,000 impressions. The real magic happened at the show because we turned our booth into a hub of joy and collaboration!

The post was honest and unfiltered, and it was a real moment instead of a corporate pitch. (“We have too much product. Want in?”) It also invited others in! Instead of simply showcasing our brand, I opened the doors to co-create with us—and people want to be part of something that’s happening with them.

Leah M. Dergachev

Founder of Austley, a communications-driven marketing consultancy and coaching studio helping startups, small businesses, and lean teams grow with clarity, confidence, and smarter systems.

I posted a summary of a Business Insider article that gave insight into why we were seeing so many old posts on LinkedIn, and it absolutely exploded: more than 4,790 reactions, 1,150 comments, 375 reposts, and 90 DMs in 72 hours. To put this in perspective, my previous posts never passed 285 reactions. Beyond the numbers, I received speaking invitations, new business inquiries, global connections, and ongoing conversations that continued weeks later.

It worked because I answered a question everyone was asking with credible information, made it scannable with clear bullets, and included an actionable solution, all while the pain was fresh but answers were scarce. The combination of perfect timing and valuable information created viral momentum. The best part? I wasn't trying to sell anything. I was just being helpful, which made people want to know more about me and my work.

The key takeaway: Find the real questions your audience is asking, do the research, and lead with genuine value rather than self-promotion.

Taryn Talley

Marketing Director at Fuel AI, powering a global marketplace connecting data collectors to AI builders for first-party AI training data.

Over the last six months, I've had a handful of posts reach at least 20,000 impressions. The post that really took off in 2025 addressed a social media post shared by Donald Trump two days prior. Trump had posted what was widely seen as an anti-LBGTQ+ post.

As a transgender woman and a very public LGBTQ+ advocate, I had to bring what he did to a broader audience and explain its significance. When we see divisive content, we need to stand up and call a thing a thing. Within the first hour, the post began to gain traction. In the end, it had 95,182 impressions and 2,447 engagements, including 265 reposts.

What helped drive performance on this post (along with a few others) is recency (adding my perspective to recent news or current affairs), storytelling (focusing on a rich narrative that takes the reader through the post), and closing with a strong call to action.