Our latest “Ask Us Anything About LinkedIn” was a real-world-meets-content-strategy masterclass. Alongside our regular trio – Emo, Tedy, and Dari, Chris Donnelly brought algorithm insights, while the rest brought stories of real-life chaos (think: blackout-level chaos). But once the mics were on, it was all about trends, strategy, and the sweet spot between personal and professional.
The mood? High-energy. The takeaways? Next-level.
The ‘Forbidden’ Topics on LinkedIn – Do They Even Exist?
Emo opened the floor with a story about a post that recently stirred controversy. A woman shared her job-hunting journey – 80 applications, 20 interviews, 8 offers, all declined and received unexpected backlash. What caused the drama? A mismatch between the cheerful birthday photo and the vulnerable message, a lack of context around her decisions, and a post that got reshared by a big HR voice, sparking even more noise.
The question: Are there topics that just don’t belong on LinkedIn?
Tedy and Dari’s take was clear: it’s not about the topic, but about how you present it. Self-censorship is real, especially on professional platforms. But we as a community have a choice – do we criticize first, or support first? LinkedIn isn’t just about business success; it’s about empathy, too.
How Does the LinkedIn Algorithm Work? Chris Donnelly Explains
Right on cue, Chris Donelly joined the live show – fresh out of traffic and straight into insights from his latest State of the Algorithm report. Chris Donnelly is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and content creator on LinkedIn. He built and sold his first agency in an 8-figure deal by 30, co-founded Lottie. Today, he runs a media, education, and investment business, helping founders scale and sharing no-fluff advice across LinkedIn, YouTube, and The Wake Up Podcast.
With 3+ million followers and a reputation for data-backed strategy, Chris broke down what’s working on LinkedIn right now and what’s already losing steam.
Documents? Still leading in follower growth, but not for long. His data shows that infographics, lead magnets, and downloadable resources are quickly gaining traction – especially if your focus is on business results, not just engagement.
His key takeaway? Creators who adapt their timing, tone, and format are the ones the algorithm rewards.
What stood out the most was Chris’s emphasis on quality and consistency over everything else. He broke down what makes posts go viral, how to think in terms of value instead of vanity, and why reposts and dwell time matter far more than comments or reactions. One piece of advice that stuck: don’t just post content that people like – post content they’ll share because it helps their own audience. That’s how you grow.
He also touched on mistakes – like making posts too personal to be relatable, ignoring post structure (hook, body, CTA, visual), or not learning from your outliers. According to Chris, when a post performs significantly better than others, that’s your cue to analyze, not ignore. He even shared how his own brand has evolved – leaning into lead gen and strategy-focused posts that may get fewer likes, but drive more sales and email subs than ever before.
AI vs. Authenticity: What Matters on LinkedIn
Chris’s view on AI-generated comments and content. While the tools can help, he emphasized the importance of keeping it human. People feel the difference between a real reaction and a generated one and if you’re not showing up authentically, you’re not building trust. He also reminded us that posting every day isn’t just about visibility – it’s about setting expectations with your audience. Consistency builds credibility.
We’re really happy to have this incredible speaker with us, who’s presenting the topic so thoroughly! For anyone who wants even more information and details, the full report can be found here.
After Chris dropped a ton of insights, Tedy and Dari jumped in with their takeaways. Tedy pointed to new tools worth trying, like video covers for articles. Dari echoed Chris’s core message – this isn’t about ego, it’s about showing up with confidence and consistency.
Missed it live? You can catch the full recording anytime on Spotify or YouTube.
That’s it from us for now – time for a well-deserved break! We’ll be back on September 5th, so until then, keep an eye on what’s happening on LinkedIn and start collecting your questions. See you soon!
