The LinkedIn Algorithm in Practice
How LinkedIn decides to distribute your post
LinkedIn first shows your post to a small sample of your network. If they stop, read and react fast, it widens the reach. Otherwise, it buries it.
graph LR
A[Post published] --> B[Shown to part of your network]
B --> C{Engagement in the first hour?}
C -->|Strong| D[Wider reach to 2nd, 3rd degree]
C -->|Weak| E[Distribution stopped]
The 3 concrete levers (and what to do)
| Lever | What LinkedIn watches | Your action |
|---|---|---|
| Dwell time | How long people stay on your post | Write posts that get read in full: airy, one idea per line |
| The "see more" | Whether people click to expand the text | Nail your first 2 lines (the hook) |
| Comments | Conversations, especially long ones | End with a question; reply to everything |
On LinkedIn, a comment is worth far more than a like, and replying to a comment relaunches distribution. Your first hour after posting is decisive: stay available to reply.
The "golden hour": your first-60-minutes to-do
When you publish, do this within the hour:
- Reply to every comment (it doubles engagement)
- Go comment on 5 others' posts (you appear, people come back to you)
- Do not edit your post right after (it can break distribution)
- External link → put it in the first comment, not the post (links in the post reduce reach)
The format that gets read: "LinkedIn" layout
Nobody reads a wall of text. Compare:
❌ Wall of text (nobody clicks "see more"):
Today I wanted to share with you a reflection on hiring that came to me
after several years of experience in the field and that seems important
because many companies still make the mistake of...
✅ Airy (people read to the end):
Hiring isn't a CV problem.
It's a messaging problem.
Here's what I tell the SMEs I work with 👇
[continues line by line]
Layout rules:
- 1 idea = 1 line
- Skip a line often (white space = reading comfort)
- Short sentences
- The hook (first 2 lines) must make people want to click "see more"
Formats that work in 2026 (by effectiveness)
| Format | Strength | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Text post (storytelling, list) | Simplest, very effective | By default, 80% of your posts |
| PDF carousel (document) | High dwell time, very shareable | Tutorials, step methods |
| Post + simple image | Catches the eye in the feed | Screenshot, diagram |
| Short video | Shows the human | When you're comfortable on camera |
Start with the text post. That's where LinkedIn is most generous and where you learn copywriting.
B2B psychology in 30 seconds
A decision-maker follows you for 3 concrete reasons:
| Driver | How to trigger it |
|---|---|
| "This helps me in my job" | Give methods applicable right away |
| "This creator thinks clearly" | Take clear, argued positions |
| "I want to follow their thinking" | Be consistent on 1-2 precise topics (you become THE reference) |
Classic mistake to avoid
Posting to "be seen" without bringing anything (vague quotes, "happy to announce," serial congratulations). It builds no authority. Every post should make the reader think: "useful," "well said," or "that's me."
Exercise
- Take one of your posts (or an idea) and lay it out "airy" with a real 2-line hook.
- Identify 3 creators in your niche whose posts you'll comment on this week.
Summary
LinkedIn distributes based on first-hour engagement: nail the dwell time (airy posts, read in full), the "see more" click (2-line hook), and above all the comments (a comment >> a like; reply to everything). Apply the golden-hour to-do (reply, comment elsewhere, link in first comment). Favor the airy text post, then the carousel. On B2B psychology, people follow you to help in their job, for your clear positions, and for your consistent thinking on a precise topic. Next chapter: a workshop on writing posts that perform.