LinkedIn is Full of Used Car Salesmen

And They Aren't Selling You Anything But Hot Air

Wanna learn how to take advantage of everyone around you and become rich? If you subscribe to my shitty blog and wait till next Friday, I might just tell you my?secrets.

I know you’ve seen far too many nauseating variations of this. I know because I see so many posts, get so many DMs?—?it’s relentless.?

They’re about “improving metrics,” blatantly flaunting sales numbers (how do their clients feel about that?), shamelessly bragging?—?likely exaggerating or outright lying?—?and generally exhibiting cringey gatekeeping behavior.

This is a global problem, but today we’re zooming in on LinkedIn.

Warning: If you’re the kind of person who posts about posting, or if you’re hustling people into buying your “LinkedIn growth package” to boost follower counts, this isn’t for you. In fact, it’s going to upset you deeply, so you might wanna stop reading now.

So, what’s the issue here? Whose neck am I coming at, and why is it?cringe?

Well, I’m referring (generally) to those posts that flood your feed with empty promises and overblown hype:

• “Ready to SKYROCKET YOUR SALES? I’ve got a foolproof method to get you more leads, more calls, more followers, and more money!”
• “Just closed a $100K deal in 24 hours using my proprietary system! DM me to learn how!”
• “Struggling with engagement? My 5-step program will transform your LinkedIn presence and triple your income!”

It’s the same recycled drivel, packaged differently but smelling just as stale.

But why do we all hate these posts so much, and if we all hate them, why are they still?there?

They’re still there because the people behind these posts are preying on hopeful, inexperienced individuals and taking them for a ride. It’s a classic case of snake oil salesmanship in the digital?age.

Why are these posts worthless?

Most people are not ready for a massive influx of clients or?traffic.?

According to a study by CB Insights, one of the top reasons startups fail is scaling too quickly. In fact, 70% of startups fail because of premature scaling. Most businesses aren’t prepared to handle rapid growth, and a sudden influx can overwhelm them.

The posts add no actual value?—?they are vapid and?empty.

Harvard Business Review emphasizes the importance of meaningful content in building professional relationships. These hollow posts contribute nothing substantive.

They don’t drive genuine human connection.

LinkedIn’s own research shows that authentic engagement leads to better networking opportunities. The spammy posts fail to create real connections, defeating the entire purpose of the platform.

They create a false sense of hope and misrepresent the reality of growing a?brand.

Building a brand takes time, effort, and authenticity. Entrepreneur Magazine notes that sustainable growth is a marathon, not a sprint. Quick fixes simply don’t lead to lasting success.

They’ve created an ecosystem where growth is a lottery ticket and is not tied to actual performance.

This mentality undermines hard work and skill, suggesting that luck is more important than dedication and competence.?

They’ve led to an environment where most viral posts are about the act of?posting.

It’s a self-referential loop of emptiness. The content lacks substance and contributes nothing to the collective knowledge or professional growth of the community.

What is the?Impact?

The Illusion of Instant?Success

These posts peddle the idea that you can achieve overnight success with minimal effort, which is a dangerous fallacy. Psychologist Angela Duckworth’s research on “grit” shows that perseverance and passion are key to long-term success?—?not quick hacks.

Exploitation of the Inexperienced

New professionals and entrepreneurs are particularly vulnerable. They’re eager to grow and may not yet recognize these tactics for what they are. This exploitation is unethical and harms their careers.

Degradation of Professional Platforms

LinkedIn was designed as a professional networking site, but the spammy bullshit is turning it into another cluttered social media platform. This shift diminishes its value for genuine users seeking meaningful connections and opportunities.

Erosion of?Trust

When people encounter these hollow promises repeatedly, it breeds cynicism. Trust in online interactions has diminished substantially, making it harder for sincere professionals to connect and collaborate.

What can we do about?it?

Stop Engaging with Cringe?Content

The LinkedIn algorithm promotes content that gets engagement. Just simply don’t engage with the garbage. Don’t get sucked in.?

Call It?Out

Without being disrespectful (if you can), challenge the substance of these posts. Ask questions that require meaningful answers. This can discourage the poster from continuing the practice and alerts others to the lack of value.

Promote Authentic Content

Engage with and share posts that offer genuine insights, experiences, and value. This helps shift the platform’s content landscape toward quality. Post authentically!

Educate Others

Share articles and resources about effective networking and authentic growth strategies. Help others recognize and avoid the scams by educating them about how things actually work.?

Final Musings

We risk ending up in a society overrun by disingenuous sales tactics if we don’t push back against this trend. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with sales?—?my father was a used car salesman, and while he had his (so many) flaws, at least there was an honest business transaction?—?a tangible product exchanged for money. These LinkedIn hustlers, on the other hand, ain’t sellin’ shit but hot air.

Let’s strive for authenticity.

I don’t think our professional world needs more empty promises and flashy gimmicks. It needs genuine connections, valuable insights, and people willing to put in the hard work without resorting to deceitful tactics.

About the Author

Sam Hilsman is the CEO of CloudFruit? and BotOracle. If you’re interested in investing in BotOracle or oneXerp, reach out. If you’d like to become a developer ambassador for BotOracle, visit www.botoracle.com/dev-ambassadors to sign up.