How to beat the LI algorithm

How to beat the LI algorithm

On social media, algorithms rule. They are what ranks content, based on how likely we are to like it and interact with it.

For the LinkedIn user, understanding the way the algorithm works can help extend your brand reach. It doesn’t guarantee that every post you write will go viral, but by being more strategic about your posting, you can certainly increase your chance of wider exposure.

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Choose the right time to post

The latest stats suggest that 7-8am and 5-6pm are generally the best times to post your content, with 10pm-6am the worst. However, this will vary a bit from account to account though, so we recommend checking with your own LinkedIn analytics to double check your optimum time. You can do this through your company page by clicking the Analytics tab.

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Acknowledge what content performs best

LinkedIn aims to show users the most relevant content, which can be images, videos, LinkedIn article posts, external webpage links, or text updates. Learn from your past post performance and create the type of content that reaches the bigger audience or has the most engagement. This content is performing well for a reason, so capitalise.

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Don’t overlook hashtags

Using hashtags on a LinkedIn post categorises content and highlights relevant posts to other users. LinkedIn recommends sticking to three hashtags per post, to avoid looking spammy and clogging up the feed. Choosing one or two general hashtags per post, plus one or two specific hashtags is a good bet. By doing this, you’re targeting those interested in the overall topic, whilst also targeting those with your unique viewpoint.

An effective way to choose the right hashtags is to type your topic into the search bar and read through the list of suggestions. While you can’t see what the most popular hashtags are on LinkedIn, you can see how many followers each hashtag has, which will help influence your choices.

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Reacts and comment

The first 60 minutes after posting are crucial. If your post isn’t getting any engagement in the first hour, chances are it won’t perform beyond that. One quick and easy win is to notify employees and colleagues about to optimise internal communication -when they like and share more people will see your post. Respond to every comment made and engage with new users too. And if you’re quoting or sharing content, always tag the user.

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Connect, Connect, Connect

As with every social platform, connecting with new users weekly and engaging with 4 or 5 of their posts, automatically boosts your chances of engagement and improves your position in the news feed.

LinkedIn is a valuable platform to start conversations and build a presence for your brand, so working with the platform’s algorithm could open up a realm of rewards. Driving conversation can be the difference between getting noticed on LinkedIn or getting lost in the noise.

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