Hey "Linkedin Influencers"... Knock It Off

Ok ladies and gents, I am writing this article as a mini venting session. So if you are also in need of blowing off some social media induced stress, why don't you come along on this ride with me...

Now, let me preface this article by saying I'm sure I am a little emotionally overstimulated because, well, it feels like the world is on fire every. single. day.

I can't open an app or platform without being bombarded with some real fear-inducing shit. And I know, I know... we're in a pandemic. So it is to be expected.

But your girl needs a break sometimes.

So I have found myself heading over to everyone's favorite professional network: Linkedin.

And here's why...

With all the shit going on in the world, it's easy to feel like you don't have control over anything, and that is a scary feeling.

But something I can control is my own development.

If everything is going to burn to the ground, I can at least go out being the best damn version of myself as I can be.

So... I hit Linkedin and start to scroll...

and scroll...

and scroll...

And eventually, I leave Linkedin feeling WORSE than I felt when I started. No professional development, just more fear.

What gives?!

Then today, it hit me. I know who is to blame.

I AM LOOKING AT YOU "LINKEDIN INFLUENCERS."

Now that I have thrown the first punch, let me explain myself.

Let's Get Hypocritical

(And yes, when I wrote that I definitely sang it to the tune of "Physical." Thanks Olivia.)

It isn't lost on me that the whole theme of this post is aimed at making Linkedin Influencers feel bad... for making me feel bad... so I am going to acknowledge that hypocrisy outright, but hear me out.

When I was scrolling Linkedin this morning and starting to feel that fear pit in the bottom of my stomach, I realized...

These Linkedin Influencers who are trying to "teach me things" have gone negative. Like, real negative.

All in the name of click bait baby.

Now, we all know the new way to write on Linkedin is, well, the way I am writing this post. But if you have been living under a rock, let me share the recipe:

First, every sentence must be its own line. Because, readability.

Plus, this games the Linkedin "See More" button to hide the juiciest content behind your flashy, attention grabbing first line. That is preferably in ALL CAPS.

Now that you have your reader's attention, hit 'em with the good stuff.

I'll admit. I am a sucker for this recipe. I click "See More" every time.

So my beef isn't with the click bait recipe. It's with the tone in which I have seen them evolve over the past few months.

Let me share a fake example.

Imagine you're scrolling Linkedin and you see an influencer's post that looks something like this...

If YOU'RE STILL USING MQLS, YOU'RE AN IDIOT!

See More...

[Insert your personal opinion on why you think this is a bogus metric and why anyone still using it is living in the stone age and is destined to fail at their job.]

Obviously this is exaggerated to make my point, buuuut is it really that far off base?

And therein lies the problem that influencers have created...

Instead of helping followers feel like they have learned something to make them better at their jobs, you make them feel as if they are doing everything wrong and heighten their imposter syndrome.

All because they still uses a metric you think is outdated.

What's worse is this fear mongering bullshit is working. Because it invokes heavy emotion and opinions one way or another and gets people to battle it out in the comments.

So the influencer's reach grows and grows...

And professionals looking to better themselves are the emotional casualties on their quest to the top.

The Missing Piece

Now we're all entitled to our opinions.

And the points these influencers are trying to make might very well be right and could help you get better at your job.

But what these fear mongering posts are missing is what we actually came to Linkedin for.

EDUCATION!

So, let me edit my above fake post in the way I wish a Linkedin Influencer would write it:

If YOU'RE STILL USING MQLS, YOU NEED TO READ THIS!

See More...

[Insert your personal opinion about why this metric is outdated.]

[Now, insert what a user still using this metric could do to change their strategy. Using real life examples are greatly appreciated.]

If you want to be an effective Linkedin Influencer, you need to teach people, not just scare the shit out of them for more engagement.

I've seen plenty of fear mongering Linkedin Influencer examples in recent months, but I won't share them as examples.

Because I am not a dick.

But my guess is, if you've made this far into my rant, you know exactly the type of post I am talking about.

Instead, I want to do something positive and share a mini hall of fame as a thank you to those I turn to when I actually want to learn. Those who give me actionable takeaways.

So I leave you with my hall of fame and this simple request:

When you're about to hit "Post" on your next Linkedin post, imagine yourself at the beginning of your career. If start-of-career you were to read it, would they finish feeling empowered? Or scared shitless? If it's the latter, please go back and try again.

Sarah's Helpful Linkedin Hall of Fame

Katie Mitchell - Head of Marketing at UserLeap

Jason Widup - VP of Marketing at Metadata.io

Side note: Jason's "3 things I f*cked up this week" posts give me life every week. Follow him for those alone.

Sara Pion - Brand Content Manager at Alyce

Josh Braun - Founder Josh Braun Sales Training

Eddie Shleyner - Founder of VeryGoodCopy.com

Aubyn Casady - Principal Product Marketing Manager at G2

Devin Reed - Content Strategy at Gong

And anyone at Gong really. Those Gong folks know what's up.