26 LinkedIn rules for 2026 (the only guide you need this year)
The platform keeps changing. So I put together this guide. 26 rules for LinkedIn in 2026.
Hey,
I study what works on LinkedIn to help you create content that connects.
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In this issue, you’ll find:
26 LinkedIn rules for 2026 (the only guide you need this year)
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26 LinkedIn rules for 2026
Most LinkedIn users are lost right now.
The platform keeps changing. The algorithm shifts. What worked last year doesn’t work anymore.
People are confused. Frustrated. Posting into the void.
I get it.
So I put together this guide. 26 rules for LinkedIn in 2026.
I was inspired by a recent post from Jasmin Alic, one of the top LinkedIn creators. He shared his take on what’s working now. I’ve added my own experience and organized it into something you can use.
This isn’t fluff. This is the playbook.
Save it. Bookmark it. Come back to it.
Let’s go.
Profile Rules
1. Align your topics with your profile.
The algorithm doesn’t reward fitness tips from finance experts anymore.
If your profile says “marketing consultant,” your content should be about marketing. Stay in your lane. Build topical authority.
2. Your headline draws people IN. Your banner and story make them STAY.
Your headline gets them to click. But once they’re on your profile, the headline becomes irrelevant.
Your banner and About section do the heavy lifting. Make them count.
3. Design a banner with a call to action.
95% of LinkedIn banners I see have no CTA.
What a waste.
Your banner should tell visitors what to do next. “Download my free guide.” “Book a call.” “Join my newsletter.”
Make every visit count.
4. Add a link to your profile.
Send visitors to your most important offer. A lead magnet. A booking page. Your website.
Track clicks if you can. Measure what’s working.
5. Pick ONE core offer.
Even if you do multiple things, model your profile around one offer.
Confusion kills conversion. Clarity wins.
6. Re-optimize your profile every 3 months.
Your profile isn’t “set and forget.”
Every quarter, review it. Update your headline. Refresh your banner. Tweak your About section.
You’re evolving. Your profile should too.
Content Rules
7. Add links to your posts.
People used to say “links kill reach.”
Not anymore. Adding links is fine. Do it when it makes sense.
8. Comment more than you post.
This is the most underrated rule.
You can only post 3-5 times a week. But you can comment 20-50 times a day.
Engage with 4 groups: your ideal clients, big creators, peers, and small creators.
9. Forget posting every day.
3-5 posts per week is enough. Quality over quantity.
Good content lives longer in the feed now. Frequency won’t change that.
10. Add visuals when needed.
Faces are the most powerful. Show yourself.
But don’t force it. Only add images or videos when they support the message.
11. Stop sharing contextless selfies.
Unless selfies are part of your brand, stop posting random photos of your face.
Every image should have a purpose.
12. Text posts are making a comeback.
Write more. Carousels and videos are fine, but text posts are working again.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
13. Share your opinions, not just tips.
Information is everywhere. Your perspective is what makes you unique.
Hot takes. Unpopular opinions. Your point of view.
That’s what people remember.
14. Ask better questions.
Stop asking “What do you think?”
Ask nuanced questions. Questions that spark real conversations.
“What’s a common practice in your industry that you secretly think is BS?”
That’s way better than “Thoughts?”
15. Stop using AI for comments.
Just... stop.
People can tell. It’s lazy. It doesn’t build relationships.
Your fingers. Your brain. Your words.
16. Write for the first 3 lines.
Everything else is irrelevant if they don’t click “see more.”
Obsess over your hook and re-hook. That’s the game.
17. Share moments, not just tips.
“Just last week, I took time off and flew across the world.”
Moments stick. Tips are forgettable.
Share what’s happening in your life. Make it real.
18. Optimize your settings for visibility.
Most people don’t know this, but your settings affect who sees you.
Enable “InMail” so non-connections can message you. Make sure your profile is public.
Be findable.
19. Write longer posts from time to time.
Short posts are great. But long-form content builds authority.
Mix it up. Some short. Some long.
20. Post at least 1 video per month.
Video builds trust faster than text.
You don’t need fancy production. Just your phone and something valuable to say.
Engagement Rules
21. Write every day, even if you don’t publish.
Writing is a muscle. Practice daily.
Publish your best. Shelve the rest.
22. Stop trying to appease the algorithm.
The algorithm changes constantly. If you’re chasing it, you’ll never succeed.
Focus on creating valuable content. The algorithm will follow.
23. Talk about your failures more.
Not everything can be a highlight reel.
Failures connect. They humanize you. They make people think “this person is real.”
24. Flex more. Not less.
I know this sounds weird. But hear me out.
Talk about what you’ve done and what you’re doing. Nobody else will do this for you.
It’s not bragging. It’s showing people why they should listen to you.
25. Support and connect with new creators daily.
Every day, find someone new. Comment on their post. Send a connection request.
Small creators remember who supported them early.
26. Support small creators. Daily.
This is so important it gets its own rule.
Big creators don’t need your comments. They get hundreds already.
Small creators? Your comment might be the encouragement they need to keep going.
Lift people up. It comes back around.
The Mindset Behind All 26
Here’s the thing.
These rules aren’t magic tricks.
They won’t make you go viral overnight. They won’t get you 10K followers in 30 days.
But if you follow them consistently, for 300 days, for a year, for two years...
Everything changes.
LinkedIn rewards consistency. Not hacks.
Show up. Stay patient. Trust the process.
Your Homework
Don’t try to do all 26 at once. You’ll burn out.
Pick 5 rules to focus on this month.
Maybe it’s:
Re-optimize your profile (rules 1-6)
Write for the first 3 lines (rule 16)
Comment more than you post (rule 8)
Support small creators daily (rule 26)
Post 3-5 times per week (rule 9)
Start there. Build momentum. Add more later.
Consistency beats intensity.
That’s it for this week.
If any of these rules made you go “a-ha!” or “huh?!”, reply and let me know. I’d love to hear which ones hit.
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).
If you love this episode and want to support us, spread the word about us by sharing The LinkedIn Secrets with colleagues. I really appreciate it!
Thank you for reading!
P.S. How do you find the newsletter without top weekly posts? Do you prefer it with only main topic or main topic + 3 viral post breakdowns?