Getting the Algorithm to work FOR you!

Oh, the LinkedIn algorithm. ?? We spend half the day complaining about it, and the other half thinking about how to beat it. ??

The algorithm determines what shows up in your LinkedIn home feed including what posts from what companies, people, and topics. What I love about LinkedIn is that their algorithm is favouring rich content, as opposed to ads (that you may be seeing on other platforms….??♀?), so the algorithm really favours content creators, engagement, and thought leadership. ??

Over the years there have been some doozy examples of people TRYING to beat the algorithm. ?? These strategies were met with some success at first, but they were short-lived victories as they pertained to their long-term LinkedIn goals.

• LinkedIn pods - remember those? Are they still around? If they are and you run across one….. RUN!!! ??
• Over-use of hashtags - this isn’t Instagram my friend ??
• Tagging everyone including your neighbour’s dog ??
• Avoid posting spam ?

Perhaps you think of the LinkedIn algorithm like in the Social Network, where Mark Zuckerberg has gathered up a bunch of computer geek frat boys that play drinking games and create code all night long.?I like to think about the algorithm as a woman - mysterious and elusive, but once you befriend her, you’re BFFs forever! ??

Instead of bemoaning the algorithm, I like to live by the phrase “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”.? Instead of bemoaning the algorithm and its effect on our content, let’s work with what we know about the algorithm, and use it to our advantage!!! ??

Luckily for all of us, there are LinkedIn masters out there that are always evaluating the algorithm, so I’m leaning on the expertise of one such genius Richard Van Der Blom. Richard has been studying the algorithm for years and sharing his observations freely with the LinkedIn community. ??

?? Two such posts can be found here (fall 2021) and here (spring 2022).?Even though his posts were 6 months apart, there are some stark differences in what he saw in the fall of 2021 compared to now. Some of these differences based on our homefeed experiences are:

• Text posts with an image are getting more reach
• Polls and carousels are getting less reach (but still a highly effective medium for creating engagement and getting a great number of views)
• We’re seeing more promoted company posts (this is good news if you’ve toyed with promoting one of your Company Page’s posts! Remember, work with her, don’t spite her ??)
• We are seeing less reach per post, but original posts are showing up in great numbers in our first 100 posts on our home feed

? What are some ways we can use the algorithm to our advantage?

• Create high-quality content-rich posts - low-quality posts
• Increase dwell time - you can increase dwell time with longer text posts, carousel posts (the slide deck of images), and with video
• Be active on the platform! The more you engage with others’ content, the more engagement you’ll get on your own content!
• Start off your post right! Getting people to click through “see more” is key, so the first few lines of your post act as a hook to get them to keep reading.
• Having a robust Social Selling Index score and an All-Star profile status will help increase the views on your post.

? Here is the algorithm rule of thumb I live by (take it for what it's worth).

LinkedIn favours the original content creator, the engager and those that keep their communities on the platform.??

If your content does this, you’re now using the algorithm to your advantage and building your LinkedIn credibility and Klout! ?? ??

Are you using the algorithm to your advantage? ?? What other algorithm hacks are you using and seeing success? Let us know in the comments! ??

To knowing your worth, ????

-Leanne

?? LinkedIn Leads Maximizer for Hotel and Destination Group Business is coming! Add your name to the waitlist here! ??

MPI’s World Education Congress - June 21-24

??? MPI’s WEC is heading to sunny California!! #WECSanFrancisco runs June 21-24 and will feature ground-breaking sessions around event design, contract negotiations, and event wellness.? There’s lots of LinkedIn love to go around - Dawn Rasmussen will be there presenting on LinkedIn on Tuesday, and? I’ll be presenting on both LinkedIn on Wednesday (and handing out my coveted Top 10 LinkedIn Tips cards for session attendees!) ??

The Canadian Meetings and Events Expo RETURNS THIS SUMMER, August 16+17

??? CMEE returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this August! Registration is FREE for meeting and event planners until July 1st - you can register here!

?? Book of the Week -Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World by Kelly Hoey. This gem draws on the real-life examples of networking pros and how they got their start in using networking to achieve their loftiest career goals! ??

??? Podcast of the Week - The Fanny Dunagan Show with Fanny Dunagan, bringing you tips and advice about content and video creation. The best advice Fanny has given her audience - just #doitscared! Slay your inner video naysayers, and let Fanny guide you to putting yourself out there on video! ??

?? Still missing the notifications bell? Find the person’s profile using the search bar, and you should see a bell under their profile. Ring their bell to be notified of new content! ?? Thank you Clare Carroll (#contentangel) and Jeff Young (#TheLinkedInGuru) for the hack!