Why your LinkedIn posts get no traction (and how to fix it).

Feb 16

3 min read

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When I first started posting, I was eagerly refreshing, waiting for reactions—only to hear crickets. It was frustrating. I thought I had valuable insights—so why was no one engaging?

Now? My posts get 150-200 reactions regularly. But here’s the truth: it wasn’t luck. I had to learn—the hard way—what makes LinkedIn content work.

And most people never figure it out.

If your posts are stuck in LinkedIn’s graveyard, here’s why:

Man in glasses and white shirt sits with arms crossed in an office. Blurred reflections on glass, calm expression, cityscape visible. — The secret to high engagement? No snake oil—just systems that work.

1. Your posts die before they even live:

Your audience isn’t online? Your post is dead on arrival.

My personal rule? Test different times and track results.

Best times depend on your audience. Senior execs engage early. Job seekers check in post-lunch. Marketing professionals? Evenings can work. If you don’t post when they’re online, you’re posting into a void.

2. You ignore the ‘Golden Hour’ (and pay for it):

Your first 60 minutes decide your post’s fate. No engagement? No reach.

I learned this the hard way. I used to post and check back hours later—by then, it was too late. If you’re not there replying in real-time, LinkedIn assumes no one cares.

The fix? Block time right after posting to respond. It doubles your reach.

3. You treat LinkedIn like a soapbox:

You post—but never engage. LinkedIn sees you as inactive.

I didn’t realize my posts were invisible because I wasn’t engaging on others’ posts. I expected people to comment on mine while I ignored theirs. It doesn’t work that way.

Fifteen minutes of commenting a day builds algorithm authority. LinkedIn starts prioritizing your posts.

4. You post, then ghost:

A post without conversation is a dead post.

I reply to every comment with at least 20 words. Not just because it’s polite, but because it tells LinkedIn the conversation is worth boosting.

Why does it matter? Your own responses give your post a second life.

5. Your first line is weak:

Ever heard of the power of hooks? Just like in fishing, if yours isn’t sharp enough, nothing bites.

If your post starts with “I was thinking about…” or “The other day, I realized…”—it’s over.

What works instead?

A bold statement: Most executives fail on LinkedIn because…
A tough question: What’s the #1 mistake professionals make when posting?
A surprising fact: 80% of posts get under 10 reactions. Here’s why.

If your first line doesn’t stop them scrolling, nothing else matters.

6. Your visuals don’t earn their spot:

Good images make people stop. Bad ones make them scroll.

I used to use polished stock photos, thinking they made my posts more professional. They didn’t. They made them blend in.

High-contrast, simple images work best. If the image doesn’t add value, don’t use one.

7. You post like a blog, not a conversation:

LinkedIn doesn’t reward monologues—it rewards conversations.

I used to write long, structured posts that explained everything. The problem? There was nothing left to say in the comments.

The fix? Ask a direct question at the end. It forces interaction.

8. You play it too safe:

The biggest engagement killer? Being forgettable.

I used to write “safe” posts that shared balanced perspectives. They got polite likes but no discussion. When I started challenging common advice, my engagement exploded.

Safe content doesn’t make people react. Strong opinions do. Challenge, question, or flip a belief on its head.