15 LinkedIn Profile Hacks to Beat the LinkedIn Algorithm Part 1

Don’t fall into this trap: Don’t buy followers on LinkedIn. If you ever find yourself wondering whether you should buy followers on LinkedIn, thinking, “X must have bought them for sure, should I give it a try, what harm could it do,” please bid farewell to those thoughts.

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of content, directions, and news on news sites about buying followers on LinkedIn. You should never, ever buy followers on any platform, especially not on LinkedIn.

Let’s look at the reasons in 3 questions:

• Why is buying followers prohibited? Buying followers for your LinkedIn account directly violates LinkedIn’s terms of use and community guidelines.
• What happens if I buy followers? LinkedIn bans practices like purchasing fake accounts and artificial followers as soon as they’re detected. This could lead to your account being suspended or banned outright. It might even prevent you from ever creating another account.
• Does it pose a security risk? Some follower-buying applications ask for your password, while others don’t and only redirect to your account name. Those that ask for your password create a significant security vulnerability because you’re essentially granting access to a platform with your password, which opens the door to phishing scams.

Keep on reading for more tips!

Top 15 Hacks To Get LinkedIn Growth

Not enough? On any social platform, there exist observers, participants, and leaders. If you aim to outshine your competitors and establish yourself as a trailblazer in your industry, aspiring to leadership status on LinkedIn is non-negotiable. If you want to sharpen your profile on LinkedIn, here in this series called #Discover (#Keşfedin), I will share practical tips. Enjoy!

#Discover1

Do you find yourself struggling to allocate time for LinkedIn? Even if you have only 10 minutes, you can make them count strategically. Here’s how:

• Share Your Content: Begin by sharing any content you have for the day.
• Check Messages and Notifications: Respond to comments and messages that require your attention. Consider deleting or archiving messages you don’t wish to respond to.
• Review Connection Requests: Take a moment to accept or reject incoming connection requests. Avoid leaving requests pending.
• Engage with the Main Feed: Spend a few minutes browsing your main feed. Like or comment on posts that catch your interest.
• Respond to Post Comments: Check for comments on your recent posts. Respond or like them to maintain engagement.

Remember, the sequence of these steps is crucial for efficiency. Over time, you’ll develop a routine that maximizes your 10 minutes on LinkedIn.

#Discover2

Analyzing your LinkedIn performance requires tracking specific metrics and understanding what they signify. Let’s discover these metrics together:

1. Impressions:

Definition: The total number of times your LinkedIn update was visible for at least 300 milliseconds. The post should be visible on at least 50% of the user’s screen.

Significance: Impressions indicate the reach of your content and your success in engaging a diverse audience.

2. Reactions, Comments, and Shares:

Definition: The number of reactions, comments, and shares your post receives.

Significance: These metrics reflect the level of engagement with your content and the interest it generates among users.

3. Clicks:

Definition: The number of times users clicked on your LinkedIn update, company name, or logo.

Significance: Clicks measure the response rate to your content and its appeal to users.

4. Engagement Rate:

Definition: Calculated by dividing the sum of interactions, clicks, and new follower gains by the total number of impressions the post received.

Significance: The engagement rate indicates the effectiveness of your content and the level of interaction it garners from users.

For comprehensive analysis, consider the following metrics for both profiles and company pages:

• Follower Metrics: Changes in follower count over time, total followers, and follower demographics.
• Visitor Metrics: Page views, unique visitors, and visitor demographics.
• Employee Advocacy Metrics: Changes in recommendations, posts from recommendations, reactions, comments, and shares.
• LinkedIn Profile Metrics: Search views, post views, and detailed post analyses.

Remember, it’s advisable to review these metrics weekly, complemented by monthly analyses. Also, keep in mind that LinkedIn data is typically delayed by 1-2 days, so for accurate insights, analyze the data a few days after the reporting period ends.

#Discover3

Today, we’re diving into the concept of Micro Networking on LinkedIn. Are you ready to explore?

Micro Networking is LinkedIn’s new strategy for effective networking, emphasizing quality over quantity. Instead of casting a wide net, it focuses on cultivating deep, meaningful connections within specific areas of interest or expertise. Let’s discover its key elements:

Core Elements of Micro Networking:

• Select a Focused Group: Begin by choosing a niche industry, professional community, or area of interest. This ensures that your network remains targeted and purposeful.
• Identify Influential Individuals: Identify key figures in your chosen field who have a significant impact. These could include industry leaders, thought influencers, or respected professionals.
• Engage through Content: Follow the content shared by these individuals and engage thoughtfully with comments. Meaningful interactions demonstrate your expertise and build rapport.
• Add Value: Contribute valuable insights and perspectives to discussions, showcasing your expertise. Quality contributions help establish your credibility within the community.
• Create Small Groups: Establish specialized groups or communities with like-minded professionals over time. These smaller, focused groups foster deeper connections and collaboration opportunities.
• Maintain Regular Communication: Stay connected with your micro network through consistent communication. Regular interactions strengthen relationships and open doors to new opportunities.

Is there an optimal number of connections for a Micro Network?

The ideal size of a micro network depends on your goals and your capacity for meaningful interaction. Quality trumps quantity in micro networking, emphasizing authentic, personal connections.

Each connection should offer value, whether it’s expanding your industry knowledge, presenting new opportunities, or supporting your career growth. Therefore, as you build your micro network, prioritize connections that align with your objectives and add genuine value to your professional journey.

#Discover4

Attention! Some post belongs in your “Saved” collection! Do you utilize LinkedIn’s “Save” feature, and do you encourage your followers to do the same?

While we’re accustomed to the “Save” feature primarily from Instagram, it’s equally valuable on LinkedIn. It’s both practical for us and essential for the algorithm’s operation.

The “Save” feature allows you to flag job postings, articles, or other content that catches your eye but requires further exploration when time permits. These saved items are easily accessible from your profile, enabling convenient review later on.

Where to Find the “Save” Feature?

Simply click on the three dots at the top right of the post, and you’ll find the “Save” option at the top. Your saved posts can be located in the “My Items” section on the left side of your homepage.

Why is the “Save” Feature Significant for the Algorithm?

Saving content indicates its value or interest to users, which significantly impacts the algorithm in four ways:

Content Recommendations: Users’ saved content informs the algorithm about their preferences, aiding in tailored content recommendations. For instance, consistent saving of industry-related articles suggests a preference for similar content.

Content Ranking: The frequency of saves influences a piece of content’s ranking, reflecting its popularity and relevance. The algorithm considers these interactions when selecting content to display to users.

Personalization: Saved content provides insights into users’ interests, enhancing LinkedIn’s ability to deliver personalized content and improve user experience.

Feedback for Content Creators: Content that is frequently saved indicates its value, encouraging creators to produce similar content.

Therefore, it’s beneficial to prompt our network to save posts, especially those offering informative and valuable insights. The message “Don’t forget to save the post” can be particularly effective in such cases.

#Discover5

Are you familiar with your LinkedIn Social Selling Index (SSI) score? Let’s discover the main question.

What is the SSI score and why is it important?

The SSI score is a commonly overlooked metric that evaluates social selling skills, showcasing your activity level on the platform and your position in the competitive landscape.

Here are the four main components that make up your SSI score:

• Building a Professional Brand: The SSI measures the strength of your personal brand and professional reputation. A robust professional brand instills confidence in potential customers and business partners.
• Reaching the Right Audience: It demonstrates how effectively you engage with your target audience. Reaching the right individuals is crucial for the success of the sales process.
• Engagement and Relationships: The SSI assesses your interactions and relationship-building skills on LinkedIn. Strong relationships are fundamental to long-term business success.
• Creating Sales Opportunities: It measures your ability to generate potential sales opportunities through LinkedIn. This directly contributes to your sales performance.

What’s the ideal SSI score?

Determining an ideal SSI score can be challenging as it varies based on industry, target audience, and objectives. However, let’s look at the generally accepted benchmarks:

70 and Above: An excellent score! Your activity and engagement on LinkedIn are impressive.

Between 60 – 70: A good score, but there’s room for improvement.

Below 50: A low score indicates that you need to review and enhance your social selling strategies on LinkedIn.

Understanding your SSI score and striving to improve it can significantly impact your effectiveness in social selling on LinkedIn.

#Discover6

Looking to boost your visibility on LinkedIn? Explore the power of comments. Let’s look into how comments can make a difference. Comments have always held significant weight in the LinkedIn algorithm.

An effective comment should be more than just a couple of words and should reflect that you’ve read the entire post. Share your thoughts, add insights, and engage the audience.

How impactful are comments?
1. Comments can increase your post’s reach 15 times more than likes.
2. They are 5 times more effective than sharing someone else’s post with your thoughts and 2.5 times more effective than the “reshare” feature.
3. Interestingly, comments with 15 words or more are rated higher than shorter ones. The algorithm favors in-depth perspectives and detailed feedback.

When commenting:

What to Do:

• Read the post fully and comment on the content, not just the headline.
• Share praise or an insightful comment. Explain why the post caught your interest.
• Be engaging yet professional.

What Not to Do:

• Avoid copying others’ comments or making one-word comments.
• Don’t share your own links or job ads.
• Avoid generic AI-generated comments; make them personal.
• As content creators, we shouldn’t just expect comments; we can stimulate engagement by initiating the first comment and responding to every comment.

#Discover7

Do you analyze your competitors on LinkedIn? Today, we’re exploring how to do this in 6 simple steps!

In addition to our own LinkedIn strategy, periodically analyzing what our competitors are doing and how they are progressing is crucial for gaining a competitive edge and solidifying our position in the industry. However, this doesn’t mean we should mimic everything our competitors do. Be cautious! Remember, competitors aren’t always correct, and we are also someone’s competitor.

That’s why, while preparing our monthly reports, we also look at our competitors. This isn’t just for company pages; if you are a personal brand, you should do this too.

So, what should we focus on when analyzing our competitors on LinkedIn?

• Profile Analysis: Analyze competitor LinkedIn profiles to understand their branding and positioning strategies.
• Content Strategy: Examine their content strategies, noting the types, frequency, and engagement levels of their posts.
• Audience Interaction: Observe how competitors interact with their audience through comments and messages.
• Follower Demographics: Analyze the demographic characteristics of your competitors’ followers. Review their job postings to gain insights into growth opportunities and company culture.
• Keywords and Hashtags: Analyze the keywords and hashtags used in their posts.
• Event Participation: Join webinars or live events hosted by competitors to evaluate their thought leadership and community engagement.

If you have LinkedIn Premium, the Sales Navigator feature will provide more detailed information about your competitors’ network activities and trends.

#Discover8

Start B2B marketing on LinkedIn and review your strategy! Did you know that 93% of B2B marketers use LinkedIn?

Although LinkedIn has increasingly attracted B2C marketers, it remains the indispensable platform for B2B content marketers for social selling.

Why?
Because businesses can effectively reach and engage their target audience on LinkedIn more than on other platforms. LinkedIn users possess twice the purchasing power of the average web audience, with 77% claiming LinkedIn is the best platform for organic results.

When properly positioned and customized, LinkedIn messages boast four times the open rates of emails. Statistics reveal that LinkedIn users have a conversion rate six times higher than those on other platforms.

When formulating your B2B marketing plan, begin with three fundamental questions:

• Who is my company’s ideal customer?
• Who should I target on LinkedIn to generate leads and drive conversions?
• What types of content will attract my ideal audience?

How can you identify your target audience?

• Analyze customer profiles.
• Conduct surveys.
• Join LinkedIn groups.
• Utilize LinkedIn social analytics.

#Discover9

What is LinkedIn’s favorite type of content? Video, image, or PDF? We definitely know the answer is not a link, so I didn’t include that as an option.
Video is the favorite of all platforms, including LinkedIn. This is determined by user behavior, not the platform itself.
According to Buffer’s analysis of over 1 million LinkedIn posts, users show more interest in video content. Therefore, video receives the most engagement, with photos and carousel PDF documents closely following!

#Discover10

When should we post on LinkedIn? For instance, is Sunday suitable for posting?

To determine the best day and time to post on LinkedIn, we need to consider when our network is active on the platform and likely to engage with content. Therefore, there isn’t a single correct answer to this question, but there are studies and analysis results to guide us.

HubSpot’s research from recent years indicated that the best days for posting are Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the optimal times being between 12:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

Buffer, in its latest research this week, states: For greater reach and engagement, the best time is generally weekdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Despite the increase in personal content on the platform, this content is more closely followed by professionals during working hours.

So, which is the best day?
Friday is the best day of the week for posting, followed by Thursday and Wednesday. The worst day is Saturday because it is a family day.

So, which days and times should we use?
As I mentioned earlier, there isn’t a single correct answer, but our observations indicate that users spend time on LinkedIn on Sundays, with engagement continuing until 10:00 PM, and that there is interest in LinkedIn on Mondays with the start of the new week.

However, the most important thing is to discover your own network. The right question is: when do you think your connections/followers are most active? The answer will lead us to the right time to post.

#Discover11

Have you explored the post scheduling feature on LinkedIn? For the past year, LinkedIn users have had the ability to schedule posts, allowing content to be automatically shared at specific dates and times. Surprisingly, this feature remains underutilized, with many users unaware of its potential benefits. However, for those who know about it, there may still be hesitation about its usefulness. Yet, it offers remarkable advantages in terms of time management.

Both individual profiles and company pages on LinkedIn can leverage this functionality. Particularly for managers of company pages, it’s a tool that streamlines their workflow and provides greater control.

By scheduling posts to coincide with peak activity periods, you can align your content with the times when the LinkedIn algorithm is most active. This strategic approach can result in higher engagement rates and increased visibility for your posts. Ultimately, it allows you to optimize your presence and interactions on the platform.

#Discover12

LinkedIn is undergoing a change: the “Other Viewers” feature, usually located on the right side of profiles on desktop, will be replaced by “Similar Profiles.”

Previously, many users disabled the “Other Viewers” section from their settings, as it could sometimes lead to mistaken identity based on user footprints. Now, this area will be transformed into “Similar Profiles.” This change is designed to assist members in expanding their networks and easily finding relevant individuals with whom they can connect.

The feature, scheduled for release on February 29th, will no longer be optional to disable and will become a standard feature for all users.

How does this change affect us?

• Highlighting LinkedIn Expertise: Recent LinkedIn updates have consistently emphasized showcasing expertise. With this update, when you view an expert in a field, LinkedIn will also show you similar professionals, further highlighting specialization.
• Addressing Network Expansion Slowdown: LinkedIn has observed a slowdown in users expanding their networks and connecting with new individuals, partially due to features like the “Follow” option introduced with Creator Mode. Recognizing this trend, LinkedIn is making changes to encourage discovery, interaction, and connection among users.
• Potential Outcomes of Similar Profiles: With the Similar Profiles feature, users may encounter direct referrals to professionals working in the same field when their profile is being viewed. While some may perceive this as a risk, it’s more akin to being listed among a reference group of experts in the field. Ultimately, your profile will appear in different lists, increasing traffic flow to your profile.

#Discover13

Carousel posts have become increasingly popular among both LinkedIn users and the platform’s algorithm. While we often share photos in this format, we can also provide valuable content such as detailed reports, guides, research papers, and presentations in PDF format.

Why Share Customized Documents Besides Technical Accessibility and Engagement?

• Showcases Your Expertise: By providing in-depth knowledge or research on a specific topic, you demonstrate your expertise and knowledge in your field.
• Offers Valuable Content: By offering useful and educational content to your followers or potential business partners, you add value to their experience.
• Strengthens Your Professional Image: Sharing high-quality and informative content helps strengthen your professional image and positions you as a reliable source of information.

#Discover14

LinkedIn recently announced updates to its Creator Mode, which will now become a standard feature available to all members. This change will eliminate the need to toggle Creator Mode on and off, resolving profile optimization issues and balancing profile visibility.

How Does This Affect Us?

• Creator Mode for All: The Creator Mode feature will be integrated into all profiles, removing the option to turn it on or off.
• Removal of Profile Hashtags: Profile hashtags will be removed. This could impact how users discover content based on specific tags.
• Enhanced About Section Visibility: The “About” section will be moved up for increased visibility, making it easier for visitors to learn more about you at a glance.
• Connection Requests with Creator Mode: Users will have the option to use the “Connect” button even with Creator Mode enabled, instead of just the “Follow” button.
• Detailed Analytics Page: All profiles will now have access to a detailed analytics page, allowing for better insights into profile performance and audience engagement.

These updates aim to streamline the Creator Mode experience and make profile management more efficient for all LinkedIn members.

#Discover15

How can you add a customized button that appears on your profile and all your posts, saying “View my blog,” “Visit my website,” or “Schedule an appointment”?

How to Add Customized Buttons
This feature is currently exclusive to Premium subscribers. If you have a Business or higher Premium package, you can activate this feature from your profile settings.

Can LinkedIn Company Pages Use It?
No, this feature is currently only available for personal profiles, not company pages.

Final Words

Remember, your journey on LinkedIn is about more than just numbers; it’s about building genuine connections, showcasing your expertise, and making a meaningful impact. So, resist the temptation to take shortcuts, and instead, focus on cultivating a strong presence through authentic engagement and valuable content. Let’s elevate our LinkedIn game together, don’t forget to follow me on LinkedIn!

💜 Hi, I’m Gamze; thanks for visiting my recent post!
In my company, which serves both global and local brands, I design digital journeys for brands and individuals, provide training, and give talks.
Now that we’ve met, what can you expect from the content on this profile?
⚡️ I share tips on the digital world, technology, generative AI, and branding, sales, and effective usage on LinkedIn.
👩‍💻 Every Monday, I analyze companies’ LinkedIn pages with the LinkedIn Employee Report Card.
🙋🏻‍♀️ Every Friday, I share the week’s highlights with the 20 Minute Bulletin.
Reach me via LinkedIn.

For more: 15 LinkedIn Profile Hacks to Beat the LinkedIn Algorithm Part 2