Engagement & Growing Your Audience

LinkedIn's algorithm rewards engagement velocity — how quickly a post gets reactions and comments in the first 60-90 minutes after posting. PHASE 1 (0-60 min): Shown to a small test group (~1-5% of connections). If they engage well, moves to Phase 2. PHASE 2 (1-8 hrs): Broader distribution. If engagement holds up, Phase 3. PHASE 3 (8-24 hrs): Reaches non-connections via hashtags and interest graphs. Virality zone. IMPLICATION: Post at peak engagement times for your audience. B2B typically: Tuesday-Thursday, 7-9am or 12-1pm AEST. Respond to every early comment immediately — it triggers the algorithm. HASHTAGS: Use 3-5 specific hashtags. Too many (10+) actually reduces reach. Pick hashtags your specific audience follows.

The fastest way to grow on LinkedIn isn't posting more — it's commenting better. COMMENT STRATEGY: Spend 15-20 minutes daily leaving meaningful comments on posts by people in your target audience or who influence them. Not 'great post!' — add a perspective, a counterpoint, or a relevant experience. WHY IT WORKS: Your comment is seen by everyone who sees the original post. Each comment is essentially a mini post. Consistent, thoughtful comments build recognition faster than posting alone. CREATOR MODE: Turn it on. Replaces 'Connect' with 'Follow' on your profile. Better for building an audience vs a network. COLLABORATION: Tag relevant people in your posts (sparingly). Co-create content with one non-competing founder per month. Cross-pollinate audiences.