5 Mistakes Killing Your LinkedIn Engagement (And How to Fix Them Before Your Posts Die Again)
Let’s rewind to my early LinkedIn days.
I wrote this masterpiece of a post.
In my head, it was brilliant.
It had big words like innovative, synergy, and scalable solutions.
I imagined recruiters gasping, marketers clapping, and CEOs sending me job offers.
I hit “Post.”
I waited.
I refreshed my notifications every 5 minutes.
By the end of the day?
Three likes.
One from my mum, one from my cousin, and one from a random crypto guy offering me “the opportunity of a lifetime.”
That’s when I realised:
my engagement didn’t just drop… it got killed.
And the killer?
Bad posting habits I didn’t even know I had.
If your posts keep flopping, here are 5 mistakes you’re probably making and exactly how to fix them.
1: Writing Like a Corporate Robot
LinkedIn isn’t your old office notice board.
If your posts sound like they were ripped out of a company policy manual, people will scroll past before you can say leverage cross-functional synergy.
Posts written in a natural, conversational tone get up to 60% more engagement than corporate-speak.
Why this kills engagement:
People come to LinkedIn to learn, connect, and be inspired, not to decode formal business riddles.
Example:
❌ “Our organization remains steadfast in its commitment to client-centered operational excellence.”
✅ “We messed up a project last month.
Here’s what it taught us about actually listening to clients.”
Write like you talk.
If you wouldn’t say it in a coffee shop, don’t type it on LinkedIn.
2: Posting Once in a Blue Moon
If you post once every 3–4 weeks, you’re basically invisible.
LinkedIn’s algorithm is like a friend who forgets you if you don’t call often, it gives priority to people who show up regularly.
Why this kills engagement:
The less you post, the less the algorithm trusts you to keep people on the platform, so your content doesn’t get shown.
Post 3–5 times per week.
Not every post needs to be “viral material.” Share:
✅ A short tip you learned that day
✅ A quick story with a lesson
✅ A screenshot of something interesting in your niche
✅ A relatable work struggle
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| Image from the author. |
3: Treating Your Comments Like a Ghost Town
Imagine someone says “hi” to you and you just… stare. That’s what ignoring comments feels like.
LinkedIn boosts posts that have active conversations in the comments.
The more you reply, the longer your post stays alive in feeds.
Why this kills engagement:
Comments are not decorations.
They’re opportunities to build relationships, get more reach, and keep people engaged.
Reply to every comment, yes, even the one that just says “Great post.” You can say:
“Thanks! Which part stood out to you?”
“I appreciate you reading this!”
4: Being All Take, No Give
If the only time you interact with LinkedIn is when you post, you’re that friend who only calls when they need money.
Why this kills engagement:
Engagement is a two-way street. The algorithm rewards users who keep other people’s content alive too.
Spend 10–15 minutes daily leaving thoughtful comments on other people’s posts.
5: Your First Two Lines Are Sleep Medicine
The first two lines of your LinkedIn post are your hook. If they’re boring, nobody clicks “See more.”
And if no one clicks, LinkedIn assumes your post is dead and buries it.
Why this kills engagement:
Hooks determine whether your post gets read or ignored.
Make your opening spicy.
Trigger curiosity, surprise, or emotion.
Example:
❌ “Networking is important in business.”
✅ “Your networking strategy is dead and it’s your fault.”
Your Rescue Plan
If you want your LinkedIn engagement to go from “Who’s this?” to “I see you everywhere!”, here’s what to do starting today:
✅ Write like a real human
✅ Show up consistently (3–5 posts/week)
✅ Reply to all comments
✅ Engage with other people’s posts
✅ Nail your first two lines
Do this for 30 days and your engagement graph will start looking like it drank an energy drink.
And if you see me on your feed, drop a comment, I promise I’ll reply.
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