How Does the LinkedIn Algorithm Work?

LinkedIn has become a go-to platform for professionals looking to grow their network, engage with industry peers, and share content that positions them as thought leaders. 

But have you ever wondered why some posts seem to get all the attention while others fall flat?

The answer lies in the LinkedIn algorithm. 

LinkedIn’s algorithm recently introduced key changes to enhance user engagement and promote relevant content in user feeds. 

And staying on top of these updates can be a game-changer for your content strategy.

So, if you’re keen on boosting your personal brand and want to know how does LinkedIn work, you’ve come to the right place. 

How does the LinkedIn algorithm work: The four-stage process

Whenever you post on LinkedIn, the algorithm doesn’t just randomly spit out content on feeds. 

Instead, it goes through a multi-step evaluation process to determine the visibility of your content. Understanding these stages helps you successfully structure your LinkedIn posts so the algorithm can recognize them.

Here’s how LinkedIn’s algorithm works:

Stage 1: Content quality filter

Immediately after you post, LinkedIn’s algorithm checks whether the content meets certain quality standards, including the platform’s community policies. 

Your LinkedIn content might not make it through if the post includes excessive external links, looks overly promotional, or has too many hashtags. 

The reason behind this is that LinkedIn focuses on ensuring that spammy or low-quality posts don’t clog up users’ feeds. 

Apart from spammy content, the LinkedIn algorithm will also flag content that appears to be low quality. 

To keep your content high-quality for LinkedIn’s eyes, here’s a checklist:

• Make sure your content is easy to read.
• Pose engaging questions.
• Use only 3 to 4 or fewer hashtags.
• Incorporate juicy keywords relevant to your niche.
• Tag only specific individual profiles likely to join the conversation.
• Address outbound links in the comment section.

For a quick overview, here’s a flowchart shared by LinkedIn on what their content quality filter looks like:

Stage 2: Limited audience test

LinkedIn doesn’t push your post out to all your connections at once. 

Instead, the LinkedIn algorithm shows your content to a small segment of your audience—typically people with whom you’ve had recent interactions. 

This initial group serves as a test: If they engage with your post (through likes, comments, and shares), LinkedIn will consider it valuable enough to show to more people.

This means that the first hour of your post is critical. 

To boost your LinkedIn post impressions or visibility, engage with your network regularly so they’re more likely to see and engage with your content.

Stage 3: Content scoring based on engagement

Once your post garners initial engagement, LinkedIn assigns it a score. 

Comments are weighted more heavily than likes, while shares provide additional reach. 

But it’s not just about the number of reactions you receive. LinkedIn considers the quality of engagement an important factor as well. 

For example, comments that spark discussions (instead of simple “Great post!” replies) help to rank your content higher.

If a comment seems automated, spammy, or part of an engagement tactic, LinkedIn will not count it as high quality. 

This stage is when LinkedIn begins to push your post to a broader audience, especially if it’s gaining engagement. Posts with relevant hashtags, valuable insights, or engaging media like videos tend to score higher.

Also read: How to Boost LinkedIn Engagement With Carousel Posts and Ads

Stage 4: Long-term LinkedIn engagement monitoring

After your post has been live for a few hours (or even days), LinkedIn continues to track how users interact with it. 

If people are still commenting and engaging, your post can stay relevant in feeds for much longer than its initial run. 

This is why certain posts might pop up in your feed days after posting them, as they’re still gaining traction.

Pro tip: If you want to boost long-term LinkedIn engagement, try engaging with other relevant content on your feed before and after posting anything. 

Engaging with other posts after posting signals to the LinkedIn algorithm that you are an active contributor to the community, so your content has a higher chance of getting noticed. 

Apart from this, keep an eye out for LinkedIn’s analytics and the kind of numbers you receive in terms of engagement, impressions, and the kind of people who notice your posts. 

Tracking your post metrics can help you optimize your LinkedIn marketing strategy by understanding what posts work well and whether your target audience resonates with your content. 

For example, if your target audience is company CEOs, but your posts attract mostly software engineers and individuals with tech backgrounds, you should consider adjusting your scope of content. 

6 key ranking signals that influence LinkedIn’s algorithm

Now that you’ve understood the stages behind the LinkedIn algorithm, the next step is to understand what kind of elements the platform likes to boost. 

LinkedIn’s algorithm uses several ranking signals to decide how to feature your posts prominently. 

The more you align with these signals, the better your chances of extending your content’s reach.

1. LinkedIn engagement from connections matters most

LinkedIn is primarily a relationship-driven platform, so the engagement you receive from your first-degree connections (people you’re directly connected with) plays the biggest role. 

If your closest contacts comment on or like your post, LinkedIn will know your content is relevant and worth further promoting. These interactions serve as a trust signal for the algorithm.

But it’s not just about interactions. 

LinkedIn’s algorithm also looks at how frequently you engage with these individuals. 

Are you liking their posts, leaving thoughtful comments, or sharing their content? 

If yes, LinkedIn will likely show them your posts more often, increasing your potential for engagement.

Learn How to Increase Connections on LinkedIn: 11 Proven Ways

2. Content relevance to your audience

LinkedIn’s algorithm works hard to match content with users who will find it most relevant. 

The platform doesn’t just analyze your post’s content but also your audience’s professional interests. 

This means that the more closely aligned your content is to your network’s field or industry, the higher your chances of getting engagement on LinkedIn.

For example, if you’re in a marketing-focused network and your post discusses SaaS marketing tactics, your content will resonate well with your audience, and LinkedIn will rank it higher.

As a result, it’s important to strategically build a network with individuals who belong to your target audience. Instead of accepting and sending random connection requests to LinkedIn users, pay attention to which industry they belong to and their current role. 

This way, your content is more likely to be noticed by the right people, as your network will comprise your target audience. 

3. Variety in content type

While all content has a chance to perform well, LinkedIn tends to favor certain types over others, depending on engagement trends. 

Currently, videos and carousel posts are among the most heavily promoted content types.

These highly interactive formats lead to more time spent on the post, which LinkedIn values.

That doesn’t mean text-only posts can’t perform well. 

Mixing up your content with visuals or even polls increases your chance of engagement. Videos, in particular, are seen as more dynamic and engaging.

4. Timeliness of posting

It might sound simple, but the time of day you post can significantly impact your reach.

LinkedIn content published during peak hours—like 8-10 a.m. or 4-6 p.m. on weekdays performs the best. 

These are the time slots when most professionals are active and scrolling through their feeds. 

Most professionals on LinkedIn scroll through the platform in the mornings, just before they get busy with work, and in the evening, when winding down from the work day, 

Posting during non-peak hours, like lunch breaks or on the weekend, can result in your content being lost simply because fewer people are online to engage with it.

Learn more about: The Best Time to Post on LinkedIn

5. Educational value of LinkedIn content

The LinkedIn algorithm has always favored value-driven content, but recently, this focus has intensified. 

Posts that offer real, actionable insights or teach something new perform best. Think of educational articles, case studies, or posts that provide specific takeaways or personal insights.

Since the algorithm favors informational content, your post will receive far less visibility if it is recognized as promotional. 

Overly promotional content is one of the quickest ways to lose favor with the algorithm. Posts that appear spammy or are overly self-serving (e.g., constantly pushing your product or service) can hurt your visibility. 

Instead, aim for content that educates, informs, or solves a problem for your audience. 

Offer unique insights into your LinkedIn posts by sharing personal opinions, experiences, and stories. This makes your content look authentic and relatable for readers and helps you come across as an authentic individual in your field. 

Avoid repeating ideas and posts that have already been shared by others, as this will only create an echo chamber. If you are inspired by a LinkedIn post or an article you came across, create a post where you add your insights and takeaways instead of just reiterating the same ideas. 

In case you still want to promote a product or service, make sure you do it subtly or ensure that the promotional content provides some kind of informational value. 

6. Conversations over reactions

Getting likes and reactions used to be enough to boost your LinkedIn content. 

However, the LinkedIn algorithm has started emphasizing comments and discussions over impressions and like counts.

Posts that spark genuine conversations, debates, or dialogue are prioritized in the feed.

To capitalize on this, structure your posts to encourage comments. Ask for opinions, share a controversial take, or invite people to share their experiences. 

Also read: How Often to Post on LinkedIn for Optimal Engagement

LinkedIn best practices to maximize engagement 

The LinkedIn algorithm has evolved, and so should your strategy. 

To get the most out of LinkedIn, focus on strategies that go beyond the basics. Prioritize actions that build genuine engagement, establish your professional credibility, and keep you relevant to your network.

Here are some data-driven best practices to follow that can help your LinkedIn rise above the noise:

1. Optimize your LinkedIn profile for algorithm signals

The LinkedIn algorithm increasingly relies on how well you present your expertise and relevance as pages with complete information get 30% more weekly views.

Here’s how you can improve your LinkedIn profile for maximum reach:

• Craft a unique headline and summary: Showcase your area of expertise clearly. This allows LinkedIn to categorize your content accurately, boosting visibility among relevant professionals.
• Highlight skills and endorsements: LinkedIn factors in your listed skills and endorsements when deciding which audience your content should reach. Make sure these align with your posts to improve relevance​. 
• Leverage recommendations: Strong recommendations from colleagues and clients further validate your professional authority, increasing the algorithm’s trust in your content.
• Complete your company description: Use industry-specific keywords to help LinkedIn categorize your business.
• Leverage employee advocacy: Encourage employees to share company content to increase reach.
• Feature top-performing content: Pin high-engagement posts or case studies to your page.

By optimizing these elements, you’re feeding LinkedIn the information it needs to push your content to the right people, ensuring higher visibility.

You might also like: A Guide to LinkedIn Profile Optimization Tips

2. Embrace employee advocacy

Employee advocacy is an underrated activity that can bring significant results for businesses on LinkedIn. 

In fact, employee posts generate 8 times more engagement than company-driven content​. 

Employee advocacy refers to when a company leverages employee profiles to promote its brand across social media. 

Encouraging your team to share company updates or industry insights significantly amplifies your content’s reach across second and third-degree connections. 

As a solo content creator, creating deeper relationships with your network through personalized comments and thoughtful engagement can mirror this effect.

Here’s what you can do to maximize your employee advocacy strategy for LinkedIn:

• Foster a culture of sharing: Encourage your team or network to share and engage meaningfully with posts by adding comments that expand the conversation.
• Showcase company achievements or thought leadership: Position your brand as a thought leader by consistently posting valuable insights or achievements that are worth sharing.

By involving employees in content distribution, you gain access to networks beyond your immediate reach, making your posts more likely to gain visibility and meaningful engagement.

3. Experiment with LinkedIn newsletters and articles

LinkedIn newsletters and long-form articles are making a comeback.

The LinkedIn algorithm highly favors these content formats because they emphasize in-depth knowledge and expertise. LinkedIn articles and newsletters are also favored over external blogs because readers won’t bounce off of the platform. 

More importantly, LinkedIn newsletters deliver content directly to subscribers’ inboxes, ensuring guaranteed visibility​. 

4. Encourage meaningful engagement early

Engagement in the first hour of your post going live is critical. 

LinkedIn’s algorithm heavily favors content that sees quick and meaningful interactions.

This means posts that gather early comments and reactions are much more likely to be pushed into more users’ feeds​. 

To boost early LinkedIn engagement:

• Ask questions or invite opinions: Questions relevant to your audience are great for sparking discussions. For example, instead of a simple concluding statement, end your post with an open-ended question like, “What’s been your biggest challenge in managing a remote team this year?”
• Engage with comments quickly: The more active the conversation, the longer your post stays relevant. Reply to every comment promptly to keep the engagement going.

The LinkedIn algorithm prioritizes content that fosters meaningful, ongoing interactions, so ensuring engagement happens early is crucial.

5. Feature top-performing content on your profile

A highly underrated tactic for making LinkedIn content stand out is by featuring top-performing content on the top of your profile. 

This serves two purposes: it showcases your best work and provides social proof. 

Any visitor who comes across your LinkedIn profile will see your featured posts as the highlight. 

For example, if one particular post garnered a significantly high engagement, it’s smart to feature it prominently on your LinkedIn profile so new visitors immediately see the content that resonated most with your audience​. 

6. Leverage LinkedIn Live and LinkedIn Audio events

Video content has become a must on LinkedIn, but in 2024, LinkedIn Live and LinkedIn Audio Events are the standout performers. 

Video posts get 5x as much engagement on LinkedIn as conventional posts, and Live Video posts get 24x more engagement.

These formats offer real-time interaction, which LinkedIn’s algorithm rewards because they foster immediate engagement through live comments and reactions.

Here’s how to use these tools effectively:

• Host LinkedIn Live events: Conduct live Q&As, product demos, or interviews with industry leaders. Live sessions allow for real-time interaction with your audience, which keeps them engaged longer, boosting dwell time—one of the key metrics LinkedIn values.
• Leverage LinkedIn Audio events: For a more casual, cost-effective format, audio events offer an interactive way to discuss industry topics or share insights. These events are less resource-intensive than video but still provide a high level of engagement.

Promote these events well in advance and follow up with content highlights to extend their reach even further. 

LinkedIn’s algorithm is all about boosting content that truly engages your audience, but keeping up with fresh, tailored posts can be challenging.

That’s where Socialsonic can make a difference. 

Socialsonic’s AI taps into trending topics and top-performing content to help you craft posts that hit the right notes with your audience so your LinkedIn presence stays strong without the hassle.

Want to see how much easier (and smarter) your LinkedIn strategy can be? 

Let Socialsonic craft your next post and watch the engagement roll in.

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Saloni Kohli

Saloni Kohli, Content Writing @ Writesonic. A content marketing expert with a passion for storytelling and a flair for crafting engaging SEO-driven content. Turning ideas into impactful strategies.