Algorithm Insights
Mark Williams
Delivering LinkedIn?? advice since 2008 · LinkedIn?? visibility · Informed Podcast host · One to one online coaching · Speaker · Social Selling · Online sessions
It's that time of the year when the legend that is Richard van der Blom publishes his LinkedIn?? algorithm insights report so in this episode I discuss some of the highlights, what we can learn and why we need to treat the results with caution.
Also covered;
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Services.
One of the least impressive, half-cocked features of LinkedIn?? is the services page and it has undergone a refresh, or perhaps better to say that it has mainly changed how it's showcased in your profile...at least for some of us anyway as the change is rolling out.
I have long since given up on this feature. It has had so little attention that I assumed they had given it to an intern to create as project one summer and since forgotten it existed!
On hearing that it had been revamped I visited my services page only to find two previously unseen requests! One was from a 'snake oil salesman' using it to promote a LinkedIn?? automation tool so no big deal but the other was a genuine request sent 6 months ago! To be fair I did find an email alerting me about this (that got lost amongst a myriad of other less important emails from LinkedIn??) but I'm annoyed that there isn't some sort of obvious alert on LinkedIn?? itself, maybe a badge showing the number of unopened requests highlighted somewhere.
As far as I can see this revamp has actually made the feature worse! Instead of your services being highlighted very near the top of your profile (above the fold), they are now being demoted to further down. There is more information visible however, including media such as a video, which can now be native video as well as your most recent review (Premium users only). This would be great if they still had the summary at the top of your profile.
This actually sits beneath your 'About' section which, for creators is quite far down. It remains to be seen where it will sit when creator mode is abolished in March (see below).
Rather than a 'services revamp' I actually think this change has been motivated by a need to create more space at the top of our profiles...for what exactly remains to be seen!
Creator Mode.
2 years ago, LinkedIn?? finally woke up to the fact that the main reason people find this site useful is because of the content that it's users create and so they implemented creator mode to give those authors more tools and support.
I actually thought it was a good move but now they feel it's time to make everyone a creator by dumping the mode altogether.
Here's the announcement...
The interesting bit is the CTA because this suggests that it will now make 'follow' the default CTA for everyone, not just creators. We will have to wait till March to see if this is the case but if so, I'm in favour and see it as a positive move.
Connecting is massively overused in my opinion and should only be utilised in the circumstance where you are committed to building a relationship with someone.
Profile Verification.
I've stated previously that I'm a fan of verification and recommend that everyone do it because we all need to play our part in making LinkedIn?? a safer, more genuine place.
That said, verification alone is not the answer to reducing fake profiles and the prevalence of bad actors. Anyone can still claim that they work for any company they want and that is, and has always been, utterly ridiculous!
This was a highlighted again this week when a CEO of a company got this response from LinkedIn?? when they asked for a fake employee to be removed from their company page
Quote: "You recently notified us about information on a LinkedIn member's profile that you believed was inaccurate. We received a counter-notice from that member and as a result, will not remove the content. If provided with formal judicial process, we'll revisit the matter.Feel free to reach out to us again in the future if anything changes or if you have any further questions."
Thanks, Regards, Simi LinkedIn?? Member Safety and Recovery Consultant
What the actual...!!!!!!!!
So in summary, a bad actor can claim to work for your company and when you try to remove them, if they merely reply to LinkedIn?? with "nope, I don't agree" then you have to go through a legal process (at great expense) to get them removed!
That is nuts!
I've stated many times, the solution is remarkably simple. Employees can only add a current employer if they have an email domain for that company or they are approved by the page admin for that company.
I fail to see why LinkedIn?? refuse to do this but they have stubbornly refused to for many years.
2024 Algorithm Report
This years algorithm report is very very detailed. At 123 pages long it takes some time to get through so I have summarised what i consider to be the main highlights.
Firstly I have two important points to make...
You can view and download the full report via this post from Richard van der Blom
This years report felt a bit different to me in that the data and analysis is also supplemented with advice. Richard is using the opportunity to guide you on best practice and his advice is mostly good.
No time to read this now?You can save this for later by clicking on the 3 dots above and right ● ● ●
This one had me confused. The first 60 mins, the golden hour has always been important so I get that. The second one (after 6 hours) influences the next 18 hours which makes sense but what about 2-6 hours? The 3rd one makes no sense to me at all! 'Interactions received after the first day can either prolong or cause it to fade'...erm what? Maybe it's just me but I can't make any sense of that one!
So those are my thoughts. It's a very impressive report and a very useful tool but as previously mentioned, please don't follow it religiously. Try things and judge for yourself whether it's right for your audience.
A big thanks to Richard for once again producing such a comprehensive, thought provoking report.
That's all for this week, I didn't receive any nominations for a post of the week and didn't see any worthy ones myself...oh if only we could filter a post search by engagement levels!
Take care, have a fantastic week and I will be back soon.
Absolutely on point with your insights! ?? Albert Einstein once said, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." The changes you've highlighted reflect this dynamic digital landscape. ?? Staying informed and adaptable is key! ???? Remember to keep diving deep into these insights; they pave the way forward. ??? #Innovation #StayInformed #AdaptAndOvercome
Associate Vice President/Chief Communication Officer @ Providence | Award-winning communication, PR and marketing executive | Board member | Industry speaker | Author
1 年Mark Williams great information. One thing I can't figure out - where do saved posts go and how do you find them later?
Promotional Product Disruptor | Marketing strategy to bring new business to you ?? Maximize brand awareness impact with targeted merchandising products & video brochures | Business strategies to start new conversations
1 年Always so much to learn from your newsletter summary and updates Mark Williams It’s not something to miss ??♂???♂? Roy Kowarski : Strategic Brand Marketing Expert and founder of Out There Branding, sharing #brandingtips and #marketingideas
Founder & CEO @ UP, the Scroll Happy?? Social Platform. See the real results by using our slider at scrollhappy.com.
1 年Great insights, thanks for sharing! ??
Helping B2B Sales & Marketing Teams Turn LinkedIn into a Lead Generation & Business Growth Engine | Social Selling Expert | International Keynote Speaker| 4x Investor
1 年Thanks for digesting our 123-Page document and personally I really get fed up with the CTA to verify my profile. My passport won't allow me and I can't switch off that notification.