LinkedIn Top Voice Badges

Last winter marked a pivotal moment with the launch of ChatGPT, captivating us with AI's potential to revolutionize our capabilities - making us smarter, faster, and more efficient, particularly in the field of marketing.

This groundbreaking shift, reminiscent of landmark introductions like the calculator, the personal computer, the internet, and email, sparked a mix of enthusiasm and apprehension.

Undoubtedly, marketers are at the forefront of this AI revolution, integrating it into nearly every tool - from Google to Canva, AgoraPulse to Descript, enhancing traditional functions in unprecedented ways.

Amidst this initial wave of transformation, LinkedIn subtly introduced its AI Collaborative articles, signaling yet another stride in AI's evolving journey.

What are AI Collaborative Articles on Linkedin?

According to LinkedIn:

Collaborative articles are knowledge topics published by LinkedIn with insights and perspectives added by the LinkedIn community. These articles begin as AI-powered conversation starters, developed with our editorial team, but they aren't complete without insights from our members.

The key to these articles lies in their collaborative nature, a feature that first caught my eye as I noticed colleagues adding their insights to these pieces on my LinkedIn feed.

This unique blend of shared knowledge and the opportunity to contribute my own thoughts sparked a deep curiosity.

Have you ever wondered how your perspective might enrich a collectively crafted article?

An Opportunity to Write

I love writing, and I love teaching. During the four years I spent as a community manager for a large Facebook community I enjoyed sharing my expertise as a social media strategist the most!

I spent hours answering questions and helping fellow social media managers with conflict resolution, pricing, content strategy, and more.

Discovering the potential of LinkedIn's Collaborative Articles, I saw an opportunity to reignite my passion for writing and constructively share my expertise.

7 Reasons Why I Contributed Over 600 Pieces of Content to LinkedIn's Collaborative Articles

I've contributed over 600 times and this is why:

1. I use the time to write as a time to reflect upon my skills and knowledge.
2. Many of my contributions sparked ideas for LinkedIn feed content. (Reuse & and recycle!)
3. Writing allows me to unwind at the end of the day.
4. I've gained confidence from writing. I am a better writer.
5. Earned 8 LinkedIn Top Voice Badges.
6. I was noticed ON LinkedIn.
7. I was noticed BY LinkedIn - and invited to a small gathering at their NY headquarters! (Due to food poisoning, I was unable to attend.)

Ch-Ch-Changes

At the end of 2023, the Collaborative articles and its badges underwent some changes and while I am not an expert - and I have no insider insights - I do know that myself and many of my colleagues lost their coveted Top Voice badges overnight!

Or maybe I should say, it seemed as if it was overnight, but we'd been warned that these badges would only last 60 days unless we continued to contribute!

As I am slowly earning my badges back, private messages asking me what I am doing to earn them back started coming in.

After answering some, I realized I was better off creating a shareable piece of content.

In the next two paragraphs, I've laid out the things that have moved the needle for me in the past year. My wish is to make the process less confusing for those who want to earn a Top Voice badge.

If You Lost Your Top Voice Badge(s), Try This

If you lost your Top Voice Badge(s) try this to earn them back one by one.

• Find the list of badges you'd previously earned (I had taken a screenshot, thank goodness!)
• Go to this link - and find the topic of the badge you want to earn back.
• Add at least 1 response to 5 articles on that same topic.
• Wait up to 72 hours > If you don't see your badge reappear, repeat.
• Once you have earned back the badge, note the date on your calendar, and 55 days out, contribute to 3-5 additional articles.
• Rinse and repeat for any additional Top Voice Badges you want to earn back.

If You Hope To Earn Your First Badge, Do This

For those of you who regularly contribute to articles but have yet to earn a badge, here are my best tips that might help you earn one.

No guarantees!

However, let me tell you that I made the mistake of not paying attention to the topics and I was all over the place, initially adding contributions to over 30 different topics! ??

No wonder it took me a few months to earn my first Top Voice badge!

My tips:

• Go to this link - and find the topic of the first badge you want to earn.
• Now select at least 5 articles on that same topic to contribute to.
• Each time you contribute keep in mind to:
• ?? Stick to the same topic
• ?? Submit 1 response to several articles?the same day (I can do five or so before I hit topic fatigue and my mind goes to mush.)
• ?? Repeat daily until you have a badge
• ?? Try to respond to the first paragraph of the article (top of the page) for better visibility
• ?? Use as close to 750 characters as you can each time
• ?? Like, heart, lightbulb etc. your own contributions
• ?? Share some of your contributions to LinkedIn and ask your audience for their reactions
• ?? When you see a connection contribute, like their content, too
• ?? Look for articles that don’t have too many contributors

Top Voice Badges, What's the Big Deal?

While these badges come and go, I've personally seen positive results from having these Top Voice badges on my LinkedIn Profile including:

• An uptick in connection requests and followers
• Consulting opportunities
• Not proven, but it seems to me I show up in LinkedIn searches better (several potential clients mentioned my badges when making initial contact)
• Social proof, of some sort, that I am doing the work I say I do
• Accountability to keep writing and sharing my knowledge

Got Questions? Ask!

If you have questions, let me know.

In the meantime, go explore. Write. Write some more, and earn (back) those badges.

What LinkedIn Top Voice badge will look the best on your LinkedIn profile?

Dorien

PS This is shareable! ;)