The LinkedIn Algorithm Hates You (Here's How to Fix It)

Hello Reader,

Just dropped a post on LinkedIn about what actually works in 2025 after 50+ weeks of experimenting. If you want the TL;DR version, check it out here.

But since you're subscribed to this newsletter, I'm guessing you want the unfiltered version. The stuff I couldn't fit in LinkedIn's character limit. Let's dive in.
(also shared some action items in the end)

1/ Your dead connections are killing your reach

This is the most underrated hack I've found. LinkedIn's algorithm works on percentages, not absolute numbers.

Think about it: You post about B2B marketing. Your 500 HR connections from your last job see it. They don't engage (why would they?). Low dwell time. Algorithm thinks your content sucks. Post dies.

I've removed 4,000+ connections since November. Old colleagues, random adds from 2019, that guy who pitched me crypto. Since then, "more" of my posts have taken off, and been introduced to newer, and more importantly, my actual target audience.

Every founder I've advised to do this has seen results. Not "maybe it helped." Actual, measurable improvement.

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2/ Don't take advice from "Engagement Pod Mafia"

If someone gets 200+ engagements on EVERY post and sells LinkedIn courses, they're either:

• Already famous
• Running a pod
• Both

Their advice is useless to you. It's like Elon Musk teaching you how to get Twitter followers. Different game entirely.

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3/ Unethical way to go viral (if you really must)

Want to go viral on LinkedIn? Write for:

• Software engineers
• Recruiters
• Job seekers

They're the biggest groups. Say something controversial about remote work, hiring, or tech salaries. Watch the numbers explode.

But do keep in mind: Going viral on LinkedIn for the wrong reasons is useless. Preferably aim for the "right way" that actually brings $ for your business.

I wrote in detail on how you could do it, in the previous newsletter edition (we've tried this method twice, worked both times).

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4/ Post Volume Beats Perfection

The algorithm is now completely unpredictable. I've seen:

• Great posts die at 700 impressions (50+ engagements)
• Mediocre posts hit 5K+ (10-20 engagements)

Same account. Same time. Same format.

Josh Braun and Maja Voje figured this out. They post daily, sometimes multiple times. Most posts do okay. Some explode. But the compound effect is unstoppable.

In short ... don't try too hard to 'understand' the algorithm. Since late 2024, LinkedIn's algorithm is designed to prevent content from going viral: https://lnkd.in/e5tjkFHA
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A great post might get throttled at 1000 impressions by LinkedIn, a low-performing post might rack up 10K+ impressions ... your best bet is to just aim for consistency. Some will hit, some tank. Accept, and move.

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5/ The Hook is Everything (But Not How You Think)

Your first 125 characters are 80% of your post's success. But here's what most people miss: It doesn't need to be 'clever', it needs to be 'clear'.

Bad hook: "I learned something incredible about leadership today..." Good hook: "I fired my best developer. Revenue went up 40%. Here's what happened:"

One creates curiosity gaps.

The other opens loops.

Guess which one wins?

(Goal: Make the target audience click "See more" and the others to scroll away, so linkedin starts to understand more and more who your content is for).

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6/ LinkedIn News is Your Cheat Code (for impressions)

This feels dirty to share, but it works.

Check "LinkedIn News - Top Stories" before posting. Write about trending topics. The algorithm gives these posts a boost.

Posted about AI when it was trending?

Example: 30 engagements, 4K impressions.
​https://lnkd.in/eS6GXpaV​

Yet .. many posts with 50+ engagements get throttled at 1K impressions.

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7/ The "Golden Hour" is Dead

Everyone still preaches about the first hour being "make or break" for your post. It mattered in 2023/2024.

Now? I've seen posts 3x posts go viral 4 days after posting.

LinkedIn's algorithm got smarter. It tests your content with small audiences, waits, tests again. Some posts need time to find their people.

Even if we take out the viral post examples, here's another basic non-viral post that also slow burned & acquired impressions (with the right audience over time):

​https://www.linkedin.com/posts/junaidkhalid22_chatgpt-claude-can-now-publish-schedule-activity-7332435866402832384-fn9c?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAB_r4zkBxX3wQW59nLbY30VCMI-iWvG_n9Y​

It had ~150 impressions in the first hour and maybe 5 engagements. Now, it's at 8K+ impressions.

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8/ There's no "standard" best day & time to post

Every guru says post at 8 AM on Tuesday.

My best performing day: Sunday afternoon.

My best performing time: 3-5 PM.

And we reviewed this for 1K+ LiGo users, and there was no "singular" trend, it's different for every person.

Your audience isn't everyone else's audience. Track YOUR data here: LiGo Performance Insights.​

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9/ Should you add "links" to your post?

Greg Isenberg confirmed this with LinkedIn insiders (3 months ago): Links don't hurt your post... after 4 hours.

The play:

• Post without links
• Let it gain traction
• Add link after 4 hours
• Or put it in comments immediately

But honestly?

I'd personally recommend not including them anywhere in the post or the comments. Best to just get them to your company page or personal profile -> link to website or similar.

Because LinkedIn is working on penalizing even links in comments, which means.. they'd likely start penalizing links in posts regardless of however many hours after you added it.

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10/ Comments have MUCH higher RoI than posts

My most successful comment last week got 35% of my total weekly post impressions. Took maybe 5 minutes to write.

My posts in the same week took 1+ hours total.

My deduction: Commenting on the right posts with valuable insights is 10x more efficient than posting. If you like a "human in the loop" option for this, try out LiGo's Chrome Extension.

I mean look at this (it has more engagements than some of my dead posts, and more impressions that 70% of my posts lol):

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Note: I'm not saying make your profile a "ghost town". If you have an engaged audience, posting is high leverage, builds trust faster. But if you've less than 4K followers, 10 engagements per post.. then, commenting to build more connections for a few weeks with maybe 1 or 2 posts per week is actually better.

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What This All Means

LinkedIn in 2025 rewards:

• Clean, engaged networks (not big ones)
• Consistent posting/engagement
• Strategic commenting (not just posting)

Most importantly: It rewards people who understand it's a long game.

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Your Next Steps:

1. Audit your connections. Remove anyone who hasn't engaged in 2+ years
2. Pick a posting schedule you can maintain (even if it's 2x/week)
3. Spend at least 30 minutes per week on commenting (ideally, per day)
4. Track what works for YOU, not what gurus preach

The algorithm isn't your enemy. But it's not your friend either.

It's a system. Learn the rules. Play accordingly.

Still grinding under 10K followers?

Reply and tell us your biggest LinkedIn struggle. We read every email.

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​P.S: If you want to activate your entire team (or just the founders) on LinkedIn to push your brand harder?

We have a limited seats, $299/per person, done for you service. Reply to this email if that's of interest.

Cheers,

LiGo Team

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