Personally, I find LinkedIn a very hard platform to “link in” with, and I am not alone. Do you find that your feed engagements are mostly one-way eg. you comment/like a post and then get zero return engagement from that connection when you post content? I did some digging and their may be a reason why. I hope this may help.
LinkedIn’s feed defaults to a “top” view, which uses an algorithm to prioritise posts based on relevance and potential engagement rather than strict chronology. This can include older content (even weeks old) if it aligns closely with a user’s interests and history. In contrast, the “recent” view simply shows posts in reverse chronological order from your network.
To appear in a fellow contact’s “top” feed (assuming a first-degree connection), your post must pass initial quality checks, gain quick engagement from a test audience, and rank highly for that person based on your mutual relevance signals like shared topics, interaction history, and their activity patterns. The algorithm favours content that sparks meaningful professional discussions over generic or promotional material.
Key Factors for Visibility in a Connection’s Top Feed
- Relationship Strength: Frequent past interactions (e.g., comments or likes on each other’s posts) boost priority; the LinkedIn algorithm starts by showing content to close connections.
- Content Relevance: Topics matching their skills, followed hashtags, or career interests increase chances; dwell time (how long they read) and saves signal value.
- Initial Engagement: Strong reactions in the first hour from your network (including them) expand reach; thoughtful comments outweigh simple likes.
- Your Authority: Consistent posting on a niche they follow establishes you as an expert, aiding distribution.
Tips to Optimise for a Connections’s Top Feed
- Tailor Content to Their Interests: Research their profile for shared topics (e.g., industry trends or skills) and create value-driven posts like actionable advice or questions on those areas. Avoid broad appeals; niche expertise performs better in 2025’s interest-based algorithm.
- Build Mutual Engagement First: Comment thoughtfully on their recent posts 10-15 minutes before yours to “warm” the connection and encourage reciprocity. Aim for 150+ weekly comments across your network to signal activity.
- Craft a Compelling Hook: Start with the first 1-3 lines using a personal story, provocative statement, or specific question (e.g., “What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced with X in your role?”) to boost dwell time and comments.
- Use Native Formats: Opt for text (1,250-3,000 characters with paragraphs and bullets), videos (under 90 seconds), polls, or carousels over external links, as they keep users on-platform and earn 5x more engagement.
- Tag and Time Strategically: Mention them or a shared company (up to 5 tags) if relevant, and post during their active hours (e.g., Tuesday mornings or Thursday evenings). Space posts 12+ hours apart, aiming for 2-3 per week.
- Encourage Conversation: End with a targeted prompt for insights, then reply promptly to build depth – the algorithm rewards professional dialogues.
- Monitor and Iterate: Use LinkedIn analytics to track what resonates with similar contacts, refining based on saves and comments rather than views alone.
Consistency in these practices can significantly lift visibility, though results vary by network dynamics.
