Founders, let’s be honest. Your LinkedIn game is weak. You might have an amazing product, a strong team, and industry expertise, but if no one knows who you are or what you stand for on LinkedIn, you're leaving money on the table.

The reality is, most CEOs and founders don’t get seen on LinkedIn. You post, but no one engages. You share updates, but no one listens. You’re stuck in the LinkedIn wilderness—putting in effort, but with little to show for it.

But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to stay this way. With a little strategy and consistency, you can turn LinkedIn into your most powerful tool for building authority, connecting with the right people, and generating leads for your business.

Let’s break down how to create LinkedIn posts that actually get noticed, engage your audience, and help you grow your network and your business.

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Why LinkedIn Matters for Founders

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LinkedIn isn’t just another social media platform. It’s a professional networking powerhouse where decision-makers, investors, and industry leaders spend their time. If you’re not leveraging it effectively, you’re missing opportunities to:

• Build your personal brand: Showcase your expertise and thought leadership.
• Grow your network: Connect with potential clients, partners, and collaborators.
• Generate leads: Attract high-quality prospects who trust you and want to work with you.
• Drive business growth: Turn connections into customers and advocates for your brand.

As a founder, you are the face of your company. People want to see the person behind the business—their struggles, successes, and unique perspective. If you can share that story authentically, you’ll create a loyal following that sees you as a trusted authority in your industry.

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Why Most Founders Fail on LinkedIn

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Here’s the harsh truth: most founders are invisible on LinkedIn because they don’t know how to use the platform effectively. They make mistakes like:

• Posting content that doesn’t connect with their audience.
• Sharing overly formal, corporate updates that feel cold and impersonal.
• Posting sporadically with no consistency.
• Ignoring engagement, failing to respond to comments or messages.

These mistakes make it hard for people to connect with you, and they limit your reach on LinkedIn’s algorithm. The result? You’re putting in the effort but getting little return.

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The Psychology of a High-Performing LinkedIn Post

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The secret to success on LinkedIn isn’t just posting for the sake of it—it’s understanding what makes a post grab attention, spark engagement, and drive action. Every LinkedIn post you write should follow these key principles:

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1. Hook Them Fast

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Your first line is your most important line. On LinkedIn, only the first few words of your post are visible before someone has to click “See more.” If you don’t grab their attention immediately, they’ll scroll right past you.

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Examples of Strong Hooks:

• “Most founders fail on LinkedIn. Here’s why.”
• “I made this mistake in my first startup—and it cost me $50,000.”
• “The 3 lessons I wish I’d learned before becoming a CEO.”

A great hook creates curiosity and gives people a reason to keep reading.

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2. Keep It Snappy

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LinkedIn isn’t the place for long, dense paragraphs. People are busy, and their attention spans are short. Your posts should be:

• Written in short sentences.
• Organized into structured, easy-to-read paragraphs.
• Broken up with white space for readability.

Example: Instead of writing a long block of text, try this:

“Most CEOs struggle with LinkedIn.

They post, but no one engages.

They share updates, but no one listens.

Here’s how to fix that.”

This style is easier to skim and keeps people engaged.

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3. Show, Don’t Tell

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People don’t just want opinions—they want proof. Back up your claims with:

• Stats and data: Share numbers that support your point.
• Results: Highlight specific outcomes you’ve achieved.
• Real-life examples: Use stories from your own experience or your business.

Example:

Instead of saying, “Our product helps businesses grow,” say, “Our software helped Company X increase their sales by 40% in three months.”

Specificity makes your posts more credible and impactful.

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4. Be Real

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Authenticity wins on LinkedIn. Don’t just share your successes—share your struggles, too. Talk about the challenges you’ve faced as a founder, the mistakes you’ve made, and the lessons you’ve learned.

This vulnerability makes you relatable and human. It also helps your audience see you as someone they can trust.

Example:

“I’ll never forget the first time we launched a product. We spent months building it, only to realize we didn’t understand our customers well enough. It flopped. Here’s what I learned from that failure…”

People love stories, especially ones that show growth and resilience.

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5. Provoke Action

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Every LinkedIn post should have a clear purpose. Are you trying to:

• Spark a discussion?
• Share a valuable insight?
• Drive traffic to your website or a landing page?

Use curiosity and urgency to encourage your audience to take action. For example:

• “What’s your biggest challenge as a founder? Let me know in the comments.”
• “Want to learn how we increased our LinkedIn engagement by 300%? DM me for the details.”
• “If you’re struggling with LinkedIn outreach, this free guide will change the game: [link].”

A strong call-to-action (CTA) gives your audience a reason to engage.

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6. Stay Consistent

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One post won’t change the game—you need to show up consistently to build trust and grow your audience. Aim to post at least 2-3 times a week.

Consistency doesn’t just mean posting regularly—it also means maintaining a consistent voice, tone, and message. Over time, people will start to recognize your style and associate your content with value.

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7. Test and Refine

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LinkedIn isn’t a one-size-fits-all platform. What works for one founder might not work for another. That’s why it’s important to experiment and analyze your results.

Pay attention to:

• Which posts get the most engagement (likes, comments, shares).
• The type of content your audience responds to (stories, tips, data-driven posts).
• The times of day your posts perform best.

Use this data to refine your strategy over time.

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How to Use LinkedIn Outreach to Build Your Network

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Posting is just one part of the equation. To truly succeed on LinkedIn, you also need to actively engage with your audience and expand your network. Here’s how:

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Engage with Others

• Comment on posts from people in your industry. Add thoughtful insights to their discussions.
• Reply to every comment on your own posts. This builds relationships and boosts your post’s visibility.
• Send personalized connection requests to people you want to connect with. Mention something specific about their profile or posts to make your request stand out.

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Use LinkedIn Messages Wisely

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When reaching out to prospects or potential partners, avoid generic pitches. Personalize your messages by mentioning:

• A recent post or article they shared.
• A mutual connection or shared interest.
• How you believe your product or service can help them specifically.

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Final Thoughts: Founders, Your Expertise Deserves to Be Seen

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As a founder, you have unique insights, experiences, and expertise that people want to learn from. Don’t let that go to waste by staying invisible on LinkedIn.

By creating engaging posts, sharing your story, and consistently showing up, you can build a loyal following, generate leads, and position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

LinkedIn is a tool—it’s up to you to use it wisely. Start today, and watch how your efforts transform your business and your personal brand.

Ready to elevate your LinkedIn game? Let’s make your expertise impossible to ignore.