Don't be a sheep: be the boss of your LinkedIn feed
The LinkedIn algorithm determines what content you see in your LinkedIn feed. The goal of the algorithm is to keep you engaged and scrolling. It does this by delivering content that is - hopefully - relevant, engaging, and valuable to each user, based on their past clicks and preferences. It also takes into account trending posts, hot topics and what makes LinkedIn money.
While the goal of the algorithm is admirable and for the most part it succeeds in providing useful content that people are interested in, do you sometimes get the feeling that the algorithm is getting the better of you? It has the control. You're seeing things that it wants you to see, not necessarily the information that you would find most useful. You're being reactive instead of proactive... that you're like a sheep being led by a shepherd... 🤔
Unlike a playlist you can fully customise, LinkedIn doesn’t let you handpick whose posts you see or what topics dominate your feed. This can make it tricky to keep your feed focused on the things that matter most to you.
Here's a few tips for how to strike back and proactively seek out the information you want, rather than be the passive consumer of whatever the algorithm decides you should see
Visit profiles directly
The algorithm won't always show you updates from people or companies you care about. No big deal—just go directly to their profiles. Check out what they’ve been posting lately. It’s an easy way to stay in the loop.
Pro tip: Create a LinkedIn article listing the people and organisations you're interested in. This can act like a page of bookmarks. It will help you remember who to visit directly. You could even share the page with like-minded connections who might also find it helpful.
Here's an example of a LinkedIn article that has links to people and organisations relevant to the topics of the digital workplace, intranets, communication, content, collaboration and SharePoint.
Use the search
This one might sound obvious but use the search bar! Want to learn about “AI trends” or “remote work tips”? Type it in and explore. You’ll find articles, posts, and discussions that might never pop up in your regular feed.
Pro tip: The LinkedIn search filters are great for further refining your search results. Each filter has a secondary filter as well that really allows you to really drill down.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Visit LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn Groups are like gold mines of niche content. Join a few that match your interests and proactively check out their posts to see what's happening.
Pro tip: Here's a couple of groups I run that you might want to join if you're interested in modern ways of working and the digital workplace.
Be more intentional with how you engage
The algorithm takes its cues from your likes, comments, and shares. So, if you keep engaging with cat memes, the latest political discussion or clickbait, guess what? That’s what you’ll get more of. Be intentional. Interact with posts that are meaningful to you or align with your professional interests.
Pro tip: You can also proactively Unfollow connections or indicate if you are Not interested in a post by clicking the 3 dots. I use this myself and I've noticed it seems to work.
Save the posts you like
If you do come across posts or articles you like, don't forget to save them. I find it's almost impossible to find a post once it's disappeared from my feed. Many times I've had the feeling of frustration as I tried to find that interesting article that I saw last week.
Pro tip: Over time, you can build a handy library of resources. You could even add your saved articles to the aforementioned page of people and organisations, building up a very nice reference page.
Why bother?
Taking control of your LinkedIn feed is worth it. You’ll:
LinkedIn can be an awesome if you make it work for you. The algorithm might try to steer the ship, but you don’t have to be a passive passenger. Trim your feed, follow what matters, and engage with intent. With a little effort, you’ll turn your LinkedIn feed into a resource that truly supports your goals. Don’t be a sheep—take control and make your feed your own!