I posted 383 times on LinkedIn in the 365 days.
I studied and watched the paid courses from top creators: Matt Gray (700,000+ followers) and Justin Welsh (600,000+ followers).
Here are 5 impactful LinkedIn algorithm growth hacks that I’ve verified for myself and found to be effective:
1) Repost / Like Ratio
“Reposts are the ultimate metric on LinkedIn” ~ Matt Gray
“I’ve seen if I’ve gotten a post over 400 reposts, that post is likely to get 500K+ impressions”
Reposts from the “right people” are the most effective way to grow on LinkedIn.
I know…
That is a big statement.
I’m not done exploring the LinkedIn algorithm, so I can’t say for certain that I’ve discovered the complete truth.
I’m close, but I need to find out until I’m absolutely sure.
At this moment, I have found that reposts from people who are likely to buy will explode your impression count to MORE, of the RIGHT people.
There is no other metric that does increase your impressions as much.
BUT, it’s not easy to get reposted.
Calculate your repost to like ratio.
Or calculate your repost to impression ratio.
Example: Matt Gray’s most reposted post has 7,857 reposts and 76,235 likes (a 10.31% repost-to-like ratio).
Impression counts of other creators aren’t public, but likes are, allowing you to compare YOUR ratio with other creators.
Use both ratios to spot patterns and improve your posts.
PS: I’m working on an Automated Social Media Analytics Dashboard that includes both ratios and many other KPIs from all platforms.
Get access here when it’s ready.
BUT…
As I mentioned…
Getting reposts is not “easy”.
LinkedIn (for most people) is a hiring platform, and people care about how they appear (not just on LinkedIn)
They won’t repost something that makes them look bad, EVEN IF they agree with it. People care about Appearance > Reality.
So how do you get them?
To get reposts, make people look smarter. Ask yourself: “Would someone look smarter after reposting this?”
Also, make your posts inspiring. Trigger that impulse to repost.
Pro Tip: Analyze who reposts your content. Are they your ideal clients? If not, it’s okay IF you notice the algorithm shows your post to more of the right people.
But if silly billy’s repost your content leading to MORE silly billy’s seeing your post…you’re building vanity on vanity.
2) Engagement is the Cheat Code (with a Caveat)
What do I mean?
There are so-called “pods” (often large group chats for exchanging likes and comments).
Often with low-quality engagement, especially if they’re primarily from third-world countries.
This can hurt (future) monetization.
How?
Your posts can get shown to more of the “wrong people” lowering your current OR future Purchase/Follower Ratio:
1,000 true fans can beat a 1M general audience. Temperature beats size.
The algorithm categorizes you based on who engages, and you could end up with tons of followers and a tiny conversion rate (like 0.01% instead of 1%).
On top of that…you are more likely to end up with MANY followers BUT with a low purchasing power.
So I’ve never used these pods.
The alternative? One-on-one relationships with “the right people”.
This is safe (not against TOS), effective, and natural – no forced engagement.
3) Hand-Drawn Posts have a higher “Viral Ability”
Before I explain…
Matt Gray has been posting handwritten notes for 18+ months now.
They are his ONLY “post type” on LinkedIn.
He doesn’t post carousels.
He doesn’t post videos.
He posts handwritten notes.
And since he started using them in (I believe) January 2023…his LinkedIn exploded.
At its peak growing 110,000 followers per MONTH.
They are EFFECTIVE.
Why?
They’re unique and eye-catching. They stand out…nobody uses them.
There’s also input bias.
People pay attention when you pay more effort.
More hours/money/resources put into something will be valued higher by the audience.
Simply put: More effort = More perceived value.
More so when you SEE the Effort > When you’re TOLD the Effort.
Long story short…
Hand Drawings with the “right notes” are effective.
They have a higher “viral ability” because the same post with a carousel or selfie on LinkedIn simply gets LESS impressions.
Just try it out for yourself.
Same copy.
A → with your normal image or carousel.
B → with an image of a complementary hand drawing.
I’ve also seen that Hand-drawn posts attract a more sophisticated audience willing to engage with longer-form content and more likely to become a client.
So 6 months ago I wanted to post them myself
BUT…
They take a lot of time:
❌ To decide on the layout of each point
❌ To choose what visual to include
❌ To choose what headline is best
❌ To choose what to write
But also…
🔴 To decide on the CTA
🔴 To draw the whole piece
🔴 To upload, post-edit & manage all the files from each shoot
🔴 To photoshoot the notebook with natural lighting & right background
And doing all of the above every single day…again & again
So delegating this proven post type is key for me.
So that’s what I did…
I spent 7+ hours writing and rewriting, writing and rewriting, and more writing & rewriting the SOP for my assistant.
So she can manage the process from A-Z for ±7 Hand Drawings/week.
🔴 Without AI-written BS
🟡 Without ghostwritten (not “in my words”) posts
🟢 But actually polished hand drawings in my own words
While I spent only 10 minutes a week approving the layouts.
Before they are ready to go on LinkedIn.
But also Instagram, YouTube community, Twitter, and even short-form videos from the hand drawings.
4) Don’t use Outbound Links if you want more Reach (But There’s a Workaround)
LinkedIn wants people to stay on the platform.
“But we need links for leads/orders/email subscribers Jordan!”
Solution?
Add them later.
Matt Gray, Justin Welsh, and I do this: set an alarm for 30 minutes after posting.
Why this works: It allows for organic reach before the link potentially reduces it.
The “golden hour” (first hour) is crucial on LinkedIn.
Outbound links in LinkedIn posts are momentum killers. Build speed first, then offer directions.
But the most important…
5) Find out which content makes you money
This is not short-term thinking; it’s about building the right audience – one that converts (now OR when you launch a product).
Most people will never buy from you.
And that is fine.
But why would you create FOR THEM?
And reach MORE OF THEM?
IF you can find out how to reach more people who will buy from you?
Better to have 10,000 engaged, “hot” prospects than 1,000,000 disengaged, “cold” followers.
This impacts the algorithm too, creating a cyclical effect where you attract more of the wrong audience.
PS: I figured out a data-driven way to identify profitable content.
Even for those without a product yet (and want to build an audience of people who are likely to become profitable).
Get Access to the Free Content Money Map Training™ here when it’s ready.
I prefer to build a “warm” audience, primed for conversion so that I make more profit (not views/followers/vanity metrics)
Remember: “Content fades; audience stays.”
These are five growth hacks that I’ve found to be Effective to grow your personal brand on LinkedIn.
I’m committed to profitability over vanity metrics, and I believe these strategies will help you achieve the same.
Talk soon
~ Jordan (Profit, NOT Vanity) Kruk
PS: I watched Matt Gray’s paid LinkedIn course and share 22 LinkedIn Secrets here:
PPS: Get the Hand Drawing A-Z SOP here (before I raise the price)
