#26 How To Take Back Control of your LinkedIn Feed

Thanks for diving into this newsletter! Ready for some real LinkedIn™ magic? First up, I'm sharing 10 game-changing tips to transform your feed. Say goodbye to the noise and ads, and hello to a streamlined, efficient overview. Plus, check out an eye-popping infographic and some insider insights I dropped in Denmark last month. Stick around for a fun little test and the exclusive release of my Content Toolkit 2024 edition – grab it while it's hot!

Stuck with a 70% Useless LinkedIn Feed? Here's How to Fix It!

Did You Know I Stopped Scrolling Two Years Ago?

Why? 

Because it's often a colossal waste of my precious time!

Check out the drawing below (thanks to Ivana Todorovic ) to see how LinkedIn composes our feeds. Lot's of advertisements in there and big content creators, right?

The average scroll session hits 11 posts on a laptop and 16 on mobile. But guess what? Only 30% of those are within your control. Shocking, right?

 Go ahead, refresh your Home Feed and start counting the Promoted Posts, LinkedIn Ads, and Collaborative Articles. Notice how some creators dominate your feed (sorry, not sorry), making it tough to catch the new, relevant updates from your network.

 But don't despair! Here are 10 tips to ensure you see updates from your favorite connections. These actions signal the algorithm to show you more content you actually want:

1. Engage with their posts. Don't see them? Search their profile's activity section and 'like' or, even better, 'comment.'
2. Visit their profile. Yes, a simple click on their profile will bring their content back to your feed. It's that easy.
3. Send them a Direct Message via LinkedIn. That's why I sometimes prefer to write my clients and peers a LinkedIn message over an email. It triggers the algo!
4. Endorse their skills or write them a recommendation. Providing social proof is a reminder to LinkedIn that there is an important relationship to manage.
5. Save their posts. The hidden gem. Saving a post is one of the strongest algorithm signals at the moment. May the force be with you!
6. Ring the Bell on their profile (though it’s not super reliable). This used to be a guarantee
7. Unfollow irrelevant creators or posts. Don't worry they won't get notified and you stay connected. You are just making room for others
8. Click 'not interested' on specific types of posts or formats. Click on the 3 dots (right upper corner) on a Poll, and LinkedIn will start showing you less polls.

However, still a lot of manual labour here. For a more efficient approach, try these Pro Tips:

9. Use LinkedIn Bookmark Search. Check out this Post to see how you can use Free Functionality on LinkedIn to create an ad-free experience, based on your preferred content creators

10. Check out the Aware app. I brought down my engagement from almost an hour to 15 minutes max, while stepping up my comments from 10 to around 25 a day. All relevant, insightful and leading to more conversion and leads.

With Aware you can create lists of favourite creators, peers or potential clients. The tool now provides you with a chronological feed for you to start commenting. No more searching, it's all there in one place. The same for topic related searches and in addition, the tool also shows you who engages most with your content, so you can reciprocate your ambassadors

Try Aware for yourself here. I guarantee you it's a game changer for your engagement. 

Bonus Tip: 

All new followers and connections get extra algorithm love for the first two weeks. If you're welcoming a lot of new connections, be sure to post amazing content in the following days. If they engage, they'll stick around. If not, they'll disappear into your echo chamber.

Happy scrolling (or not)! 😜

Sketch Note of my Keynote at Linked Summit 2024 in Denmark

The Sketch Note below was created by Silja Engelstoft , in Odense.

The 4 points I wanted to get across

1. Reach is down for all of us, stop worrying or changing your game plan. Accept, and start focusing on relevant one-to-one conversations more
2. Mix it all up! The LinkedIn™ algorithm loves a dynamic approach. Change your type of content, like Personal Storytelling, Thought Leadership and Industry Related, but also the formats. Choose a minimum of 3 and mix it up for better results
3. Companies looking to leverage LinkedIn for brand awareness and employee advocacy? Dive into the network and personal power of your employees. But, have a diversified approach, as there are 4 different type of ambassadors and one size doesn't fit all.
4. In the era of AI and Automation, it's hyper-personalisation that leads to results. Do less, but be more effective.

The Secret on LinkedIn™'s Collaborative Articles?

Collaborative Articles – LinkedIn's shiny new AI-written content hub where you can score a Top Voice badge just by leaving insightful comments. It’s been almost a year, and people are diving in to flaunt their badges (yes, you can collect a bunch, but only one gets the spotlight on your profile). Some say it’s just another vanity metric, while others believe it spices up your expert image.

Then, last week, a lightbulb went off! What if LinkedIn rewards extra organic reach for commenting on their AI articles? I kicked off a little experiment.

Results so far? Two badges. Too soon to tell if engagement is skyrocketing, but I’m sticking with it for another two weeks.

What do you think about Collaborative Articles? Gimmick or goldmine?

My LinkedIn™ Content Toolkit 2024 is available now

Finally, it’s here! Last year's Content Toolkit (edition 2023) flew off the shelves with over 1,000 savvy buyers. It was packed with 120+ content items, checklists, Carousel posts, and videos, all bursting with proven tactics and strategies to skyrocket your business.

Now, get ready for the 2024 edition! With 110+ brand-new content gems designed to make you a LinkedIn™ genius, this toolkit is your secret weapon. Think videos, checklists, infographics, and a truckload of Carousel posts. This isn’t a course; it’s a treasure trove of the most insightful posts ever.

And the best part? Buy now for just €47 (or less with pricing parity), and enjoy updates throughout the year. Don’t miss out – transform your LinkedIn™ game and watch your business soar!

Ready to level up? Grab your 2024 Content Toolkit now and let’s crush it!

PS: Buy 2024 and get 2023 with a 35% discount. That's almost 250 content pieces and insights for less than € 80 (!)

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About Me

Unleash Your Full Potential on LinkedIn with Richard van der Blom, Founder of Just Connecting HUB - Your Trusted Expert in Virtual Selling.

As a member of a European LinkedIn Think Tank and sought-after keynote speaker, Richard has trained and spoken to over 300,000 professionals at more than 1,000 companies worldwide, including top names like Nestlé, Capgemini, Deloitte, Siemens, PwC, and InterSystems. His Virtual Selling Program has been implemented by companies with instant and sustainable growth in conversions, leads, and revenue as result.

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