13 Misconceptions About LinkedIn
People repeat the same “rules” so often that they start to sound like facts. But a lot of them were never true.
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I break down what makes LinkedIn posts go viral, so your content gets seen.
In this issue, you’ll find:
13 Misconceptions About LinkedIn (That Are Quietly Killing Your Growth)
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13 Misconceptions About LinkedIn (That Are Quietly Killing Your Growth)
LinkedIn runs on recycled advice.
People repeat the same “rules” so often that they start to sound like facts. But a lot of them were never true. And some stopped being true years ago.
The problem is these myths cost you. They push you toward the wrong habits and scare you away from the stuff that actually works.
I’ve tested most of these myself. So let me set the record straight.
Here are 13 things people believe about LinkedIn that are just plain wrong.
1. “Hashtags help your reach.”
They don’t. Not anymore.
Maybe back in 2019 they did something. Today they do close to nothing.
Stop wasting time hunting for the perfect hashtag combo. Spend that energy on your first line instead. That’s what actually decides if people read.
2. “Links in your post tank your reach.”
This one won’t die. And it’s wrong.
The problem was never the link. It’s when the entire post exists just to deliver the link.
Lead with value. Tell a story. Teach something. Then drop the link for people who want more. Reach stays perfectly fine.
3. “Nobody will read my posts.”
Have you tried posting something worth reading?
Not another “thrilled to announce” corporate update. An actual story. A real lesson. Something with a point of view.
Most people who say “nobody reads my stuff” have never posted anything interesting. Fix the content, and the readers show up.
4. “Big follower counts mean big money.”
Nope.
Your follower number has almost nothing to do with your ability to land clients.
I’ve seen accounts with 50K followers that can’t sell a thing. And accounts with a few hundred followers that are fully booked.
The number on your profile doesn’t pay you. The right relationships do.
5. “You have to warm up the algorithm first.”
Liking ten posts before you publish. Scrolling for a bit to “activate” your account. All of it is nonsense.
This was a trend a few years ago. It’s done.
There’s no secret ritual. Post good content, then stick around to reply to comments. That’s the whole thing.
6. “Commenting eats too much time.”
It really doesn’t.
You know what actually burns your time? Mindlessly scrolling a messy feed for half an hour.
Set up a few focused feeds, comment on the right posts, and you’re done in 15 minutes. Commenting is one of the highest-return things you can do. Scrolling is the time sink.
7. “Carousels get the most reach.”
No single format wins.
Carousels, text posts, images, all of them can work. What matters is whether the thing is written well.
A sharp text post beats a lazy carousel every time. Obsess over the words, not the packaging.
8. “Premium gives you a reach boost.”
It doesn’t.
Premium comes with some handy features. Extra visibility is not one of them. The algorithm couldn’t care less whether you pay.
Buy it if the tools help you. Don’t buy it expecting more eyeballs.
9. “You post to become an influencer.”
Wrong goal.
You’re not trying to be famous. You’re trying to be the person your industry knows and trusts.
Those are very different things. Chasing reach gets you a big number. Building trust gets you a business. And trusted people end up with real influence anyway, without ever chasing it.
10. “Only people who talk about LinkedIn grow on LinkedIn.”
This one always makes me smile.
Your ideal clients aren’t LinkedIn gurus. They’re in your actual field.
Follow people from other industries. Post about your niche to the people who care about it. The “LinkedIn about LinkedIn” bubble is tiny. The real opportunity is everywhere outside it.
11. “The algorithm just doesn’t like my stuff.”
Stop right there.
You can’t pin weak writing on the algorithm. You can’t pin your own lack of engagement on it either.
Nine times out of ten, the algorithm isn’t the issue. Your hook is. Your topic is. Whether you showed up in the comments after posting is. Look there first.
12. “LinkedIn is only for job seekers.”
Tell that to the founders closing deals here every day.
Job hunting is one slice of what this platform does. It’s also where people build authority, find clients, and grow companies.
If you think it’s just a place to hunt for work, you’re leaving the best part on the table.
13. “LinkedIn is too serious for personality.”
You can run a serious business and still be a human.
You can crack a joke. Show your personality. Write the way you actually talk.
The people who treat this place like a stiff corporate conference are usually the most forgettable ones here. Lighten up. It’s not that deep.
The Thread Running Through All of These
Look closely and you’ll spot the pattern.
Almost every one of these myths does the same job: it hands you an excuse to skip the real work.
“Links kill reach” lets you avoid sharing your offer.
“Nobody reads my posts” lets you avoid writing anything good.
“The algorithm hates me” lets you avoid getting better.
“It’s too serious” lets you stay safe and boring.
The myths stick around because believing them is easier than doing the work.
But the actual game is simple, even if it isn’t easy:
Write better. Engage more. Talk to more people. Have some fun doing it.
Everything else is just noise you picked up along the way.
Your Homework
This week, do this:
Find the one myth here you’ve secretly believed. Be honest with yourself.
Notice what it’s talked you out of doing.
Do the opposite this week. Post the link. Write the bold take. Say the thing.
Watch what happens once you stop believing it.
Most of what’s holding you back on this platform isn’t real.
It’s just a story nobody bothered to check.
That’s it for this week.
If one of these hit a little too close, reply and tell me which one you believed. You won’t be the only one.
See you next time.
That’s a wrap for today.
See you next week! If you want more LinkedIn tips, be sure to follow me on LinkedIn (link).
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Your compadre,
Anton “LinkedIn growth strategies” Cherkasov