6 Common Mistakes Thought Leaders Make on LinkedIn (and How to Fix Them)

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Welcome back!

Today’s topic for LinkedIn Playbook for Leaders ???? is something I've been seeing more and more lately: small but critical mistakes that thought leaders are making on LinkedIn. These aren’t massive errors, but they can hold back your reach and engagement. Let’s break down the Top 6 Mistakes I see and, more importantly, answer the question of how to fix them.

1?? ?Packing Posts With Hashtags #??#??#??

Hashtags are not as effective on LinkedIn as they used to be. And they never had the importance that they have on Instagram. If you want to boost visibility, start tagging people and companies directly using the “@” instead of a hashtag. Tagging invites interaction, while hashtags can easily get lost in the feed.?

Instead of: "Excited to share our team’s latest project update! #innovation #tech #growth"

Try this: "Excited to share our team's latest project update! A big shoutout to [@YourTeam’sName] for pushing this forward. Also, thanks to [@RelevantIndustryPartner] for the insights that helped us get here."

Why this works: Tagging specific people and companies delivers your post to their notifications list. This makes it easiest for tagged people or company teams to directly respond to your post, which LinkedIn values more highly than generic hashtags. Direct tags make your post feel like a conversation and encourage responses, amplifying visibility.

2?? Sharing Without Adding Your Own Thoughts ??

Sharing someone else’s post without your take is a missed chance to add value. Don’t just hit the share button—take the time to add two or three sentences of your opinion. Better yet, copy the link, create a new post, and explain why the content matters. This approach does three things:

• It places the focus on your profile.
• It tells LinkedIn’s algorithm to show it to more people.
• It gives your audience a reason to engage with you, not just the original post.

3?? Starting with a Weak Opening ??

You’ve got two or three lines to hook your audience before LinkedIn hides the rest behind “... more.” Don’t waste that space with a long intro or general statement.

Let’s face it – your opening lines on LinkedIn are what decide whether people stick around or scroll past. If you want to make your content stand out, you need a hook that grabs attention instantly.?

Start strong with a headline that promises value, follows up with content that’s relevant, and ensures you deliver exactly what your readers are looking for.

Here are three types of hooks that get results:

?? X reasons why [specific method] works better than [common method]. Example: 3 reasons why storytelling beats data in building trust on LinkedIn.

?? According to [research]: ______. Example: According to new LinkedIn data, personalized posts generate 4x more engagement.

?? Here are X things you need to know if you [describe your audience]. Example: Here are 5 things you need to know if you’re a founder trying to grow your personal brand.

The idea is to spark curiosity or directly speak to your audience’s pain points.

A headline they can’t ignore + content that matters + real value delivered = a catchy hook into your offer

4?? Using Images That Don’t Make Sense Fast ??

Posting blurry screenshots of events or dense PowerPoint slides with too much text? That’s not going to catch anyone’s eye. If you’re sharing a statistic or key point, turn it into a clean, simple image. Think of one strong visual or quote, and let your text do the explaining. Make it easy to understand at a glance. Use Powerpoint or Canva for convenience and keep it focused. Avoid clutter - let your message come through.?

5??? Letting AI Do All the Talking ???

AI is great for formatting, brainstorming, and repurposing content, but it shouldn’t take over your voice. Your insights and personal experiences are what make your content unique. AI can’t replicate that. So, let it help, but make sure your posts still sound like you.

Imagine you’ve asked ChatGPT to draft a post about your latest project milestone. It delivers a clean, professional write-up that reads… well, just like everyone else’s AI content. Here’s how you can add your voice:

ChatGPT Draft: "Excited to share that our team has reached a major milestone in streamlining our product’s user experience. By implementing advanced features, we aim to enhance accessibility and provide a seamless journey for all users."

Your Rewrite: "Big day for our team! ?? We just rolled out features I’ve been dreaming about since we started this journey 7 months ago over a whiteboard and 5 X-Large pizzas. Our goal? Make the product feel like second nature for everyone who uses it. We believe UX should feel effortless—and I couldn’t be prouder of how our team made it happen."

Notice the difference? Your rewrite is direct, adds a touch of personality, and sounds like it’s coming from you, not just a template.

Let AI give you the bones, but make sure your final words still feel like yours.

6?? Not Posting at All ??

The biggest mistake is staying silent. If you’re not posting, you’re missing opportunities to connect, add value and build trust with your audience. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be you - your thoughts and experiences, your customer insights and expertise and your passion and purpose.

Bonus Tip: Show Yourself ??

Want more views? ?? Post pictures of yourself. People trust faces, especially familiar ones. Share photos of yourself in professional settings - speaking at events, leading a webinar, or simply working at your desk. It builds trust and shows that you're active and engaged.

If you want to see what else LinkedIn can do for you, I have a FAQ sheet that covers more insights on this topic. Just send me a DM with the word “FAQs,” and I’ll send it over!

Ready to Take the Next Step?

I have space for 2 more private clients in November to help prep your LinkedIn strategy for 2025. Let’s get your personal brand shining before the new year.

Interested? Send me a message and let’s talk!

Signing off until next time with some empowering words from the Man of Steel:

“You’re much stronger than you think you are. Trust me.” – Superman

Want to explore more ways to leverage LinkedIn to amplify your voice and win trust? Book a virtual coffee with me and let's chat!